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DOJO KUN
The Japanese dojo kun, as
many of you can recite, is:
- Hitotsu!-Jinkaku
kansei ni tsutomeru koto
- Hitotsu!-Makoto no
michi o mamoru koto
- Hitotsu!-Doryoku no
Seishin o Yashinao koto
- Hitotsu!-Reigi o
omonjiru koto
- Hitotsu!-Kekki no yu
o imashimeru koto
In English the Shito-ryu
dojo kun has been dismally translated from the Japanese as:
- Seek Perfection of
Character
- Be Faithful
- Endeavor
- Respect Others
- Refrain from Violent
Behavior
Let's look at each
statement of the dojo kun and see if we can find discrepancies
or similarities in meaning and
intention. These translations, you ought to note, are mostly my
own. I have consulted with Japanese linguists
here in Japan as to the best expression of each word and
have tried to open up the words to explore their nuances
and subtler interpretations. You are invited to investigate
these matters further on your own and share them here
with other visitors. Any errors that have occurred in the
following analysis of the dojo kun are mine alone and if you
have anything to add or share please do not hesitate to contact
me through this web page. The statements we find
in the dojo kun, particular in translation, can be interpreted
on a very personal level. You should feel free to find the
words necessary to apply these noble sentiments to your own
life and in
your own way.
What is Dojo Kun?
A dojo kun is the five
statements often said at the end of the training session. They
are also often written in beautiful
Japanese calligraphy and hung in a central place in the dojo.
What the dojo kun is all about is explained in some depth
elsewhere in this site but basically the dojo kun represents
the motto's of the karate student and teacher. In Japan, the
dojo kun is usually read aloud together after the children's
practice. Adults, who ought to have already applied the mottoes
to their lives, simply end the training session with a bow and
then go home. What is a Sensei?
Sensei means "teacher" in the broadest sense of the word. In
Japan any medical doctor or lawyer may be called sensei as
well. If we break the word down into its specific meaning we
come up with sen which means "before" or "prior" and sei
which means "life". When we apply these meaning to the
individual who teaches karate, or anything for that matter, we
can infer that sensei really means something like, "someone who
has lived before" or, "someone who has longer life experience".
This interpretation has with it a nice sense that the teacher is
not a master but, like the student, is on the
same path of learning. The only difference between the sensei
and the student is that one has more experience, is merely
further along the pathway.
In Japan, the word is never used to refer to oneself, ever. It
is terrible manners to call yourself a sensei and makes the
individual
look like a bore. Sensei is a term of identification, of
acknowledging another person in a favorable way, and to
your instructor as a term of some affection. The teacher ought
never say, "Yes, I am a karate sensei." It sounds terrible.
What is much better is something like, "I teach karate" or "I
am a karate instructor". The Japanese use the word "Kyoshi"
when identifying themselves as teachers.
Furthermore, some karate
teachers behave like masters. That means that the student must
be something like a slave.
This is not an ideal relationship for learning, maybe for
various forms of punishment, but not great karate. This is
something
else to keep in mind when you are looking for a karate teacher.
What is a Senpai and what is a
Kohai?
Senpai means upperclassman
and kohai means lower classman. In some karate dojo's, however,
these words take on a
shade of meaning that may not be desirable in the place where
you may wish to train. In Japan, the Senpai is someone
who is supposed to look after the kohai, to nurture and support
the lower classman, and to give them a listening ear and
a person to rely on. Senpai is often used as a term
of endearment. The kohai does not serve the Senpai.
In the dojo the Senpai
usually are seated in the most senior positions during training
and are important to the culture of
the training environment in their roles as leaders. Senpai
students ought to be the best examples for newer and less
experienced students, they may be called to assist the
instructor in demonstrating the application of technique. Kohai
students just get to learn, be observant, and do their best.
They are not punching bags and not servants. They are students
that need to be shown how to develop in karate. |
