Honor is one of those things you just can't put in a wheelbarrow. Yet, honor, i.e., honor cultures, honor sub-cultures and tradition-bound cultures, will all do violence to validate and enforce their cultures honor. Violence, meaning anything from a stern look as a mother might do to a misbehaving child; meaning what some call an EBD or educational beat down to enforce group rules; meaning to actually cause someone grave harm or death to ensure the rules of honor are enforced, etc.
Dojo-honor is the “idea of a bond between an individual and a dojo-group as a quality of a personthat is both of social teaching and of personal ethos, that manifests itself as a code of conduct, and has various elements such as valor, chivalry, honesty, and compassion. It is an abstract concept entailing a perceived quality of worthiness and respectabilitythat affects both the social standing and the self-evaluation of an individual or dojo-group such as a family, school, regiment or nation. Accordingly, individuals (or dojo-groups) are assigned worth and stature based on the harmony of their actions with a specific code of honor, and the moral code of the society (dojo) at large.”
Honor in the dojo is about rules and standards both unwritten and written, i.e., such as the dojo-kun, that spell out the groups rules and standards, group dojo dynamics. Every student, regardless, also brings with them into the dojo their own honor rules and standards from their culture and beliefs along with experiences and understanding.
Honor in the dojo usually bleeds over into the training and where that is critically important is when the training is for self-protection. Since dojo-honor are an intricate part of the dojo and its members as to both character and attitudes this becomes critical to the dojo, it's dai-sensei and sensei, to ensure that the members have a full, complete and comprehensive understanding of the dojo-honor and cultural rules and standards. It is critical because if the dojo pays it lip service it will show when the individual applies skills for self-protection.
Dojo-honor: rules and standards should span how one conducts their behavior to others. It is also about how one behaves when alone. It is something all must agree on and it is recommended that all members sign, publicly as in front of members who stand as witness to the agreement, and read the dojo-honor codes, rules and standards. Generally I would include the following:
1.One’s honor is based on and derived from a perceived virtuous conduct and personal integrity representative of that person and the members of the dojo.
2.One’s honor is based on a dojo-culture about how one practices and trains to lead toward how it is applied where full comprehensive understanding bleeds over into daily living as well as how it is applied for self-protection.
3.One’s honor pays respect to those who came before in regard to the culture and beliefs of training, practice and applicable methodologies for historical times, practices and applications, etc.
4.One’s honor derived from a belief, attitude and character based on moral and ethical behavior and excellence.
5.One’s honor derived from understanding the consequences of power and the power of applied self-protection from the start to finish involving awareness, avoidance, escape and evasion, deescalation, application of karate strategies and tactics, the aftermath of first responders investigations to ramifications of when it worked and when it didn’t work.
6.One’s honor based on morally right and legally bound self-protection avoiding revenge, false emotional actions and reactions, and other forms that cause harm rather than defense and protection toward personal and group safety, security and protection.
7.One’s honor based on proper applications with appropriate levels of force and power in regard to others regardless of whether known or unknown, in short respectful and understanding of potential adversaries, etc.
8.One’s honor based on willingness to conform to not just personal honor codes but those of others and to the groups such as dojo-dynamics, etc.
9.One’s personal honor, a willingness to extend that honor culture and belief to embrace and include others in the dojo as well as adjusting one’s honor to fit social standards and legal requirements to safeguard all concerned parties and individuals.
10. One’s understanding of ancient rules and standards often taught through dojo-kun, ancient classics and tomes like ken-po goku-i, etc.
11. etc., etc., ad nauseam …
Note: honor as having several senses, the first of which was “A sense of: nobility of soul, magnanimity, and a scorn of meanness".
Note: honor derives from the perceived virtuous conduct and personal integrity of the person endowed with it.
Note: honor in relationship to "reputation,” to "privileges of rank or birth", and as "respect" of the kind which "places an individual socially and determines his right to precedence".
Note: Honor: high respect; esteem; a privilege; regard with great respect; fulfill (an obligation) or keep (an agreement).
Note: Socially: Honor as a code of behavior defines the duties of an individual within a social group. An honor-based society "a person is what he or she is in the eyes of other people".
All too often, the proverbial dojo-kun is considered the defacto set of rules to guide the karate-ka in there ongoing endeavors to learn, study, understand and practice/train/apply skills of karate. The issue is that such terse “tomes” are often left to stand alone without guidance, definition and explanation as to how they apply to the modern dojo of karate or martial disciplines.
For example: “Dōjō kun is a Japanese martial arts term literally meaning (training hall) rules. They are generally posted at the entrance to a dōjō or at the "front" of the dojo (shomen) and outline behavior expected and disallowed.”
For instance, this is the Goju-ryu dojo-kun:
The Dojo Kun consists of eight rules and are (in English) as follows:
Hitotsu: Be humble and polite.
Hitotsu: Train considering your physical strength
Hitotsu: Practice earnestly with creativity.
Hitotsu: Be calm and swift.
Hitotsu: Take care of your health.
Hitotsu: Live a plain life.
Hitotsu: Do not be too proud or modest.
Hitotsu: Continue your training with patience.
Lets do some nik-pickin, the term dojo kun is defined to English as follows:
Dojo-kun [道場訓]
道: road-way; street; district; journey; course; moral; teachings.
場: location; place.
訓: instruction; Japanese character reading; explanation; read.
Dojo is easy enough, a place or location where one receives teachings of someone. The third character one would have you believe means rules but it is more about explanation and instructions to be read. So, the dojo-kun is a place of training set of instructions to read as follows thereby followed, as the example above, “hitotsu: rule one, etc.”
English karate practitioners has resulted in one form of the translation, of a dojo kun, into the following; the most widely accepted outside Japan. Generally, the English translation states:
Each person must strive for the completion and perfection of one's character
Each person must be faithful and protect the way of truth
Each person must endeavor (fostering the spirit of effort)
Each person must respect others and the rules of etiquette
Each person must refrain from violent behavior (guard against impetuous courage)
A more terse translation:
Strive for completion of character (or Seek perfection of character)
Be Faithful
Endeavor
Respect others
Refrain from violent behavior
As can readily be seen and perceived this dojo-kun, in whatever form of translated characters/ideograms used by various styles, is terse and general enough that each individual can use their previous experiences and beliefs to create what they perceive as character, faithful, to endeavor, respecting others and to refrain from violent behavior.
In my conclusion, the dojo kun is fine for a fundamental way to train and practice a physical discipline but as to dojo-honor as perceived through this effort in writing needs - more splainin Lucy! Rules and standards, etc., especially to carry a way of life in and out of the dojo, especially in self-protection, needs more “meat” on the bone.
Here is what I would use as a code in my dojo:
The Code:
Code One: Never strike first. Assume courtesy and respect with appropriate kindness in all your personal encounters. No actions taken are with out consequences for others. Anticipate what those consequences will be and act accordingly. How we choose to respond dictates the outcome.
Code Two: Develop proper attitude in you daily life. Look inside yourself for ways to cope successfully with life's difficulties with out ignoring the outside world. Remain positive in every thought and with every deed.
Code Three:Pay Attention! When ever you encounter another you must "to attend to" or pay attention. Remain alert to the person, environment, and be diligent in attending to the appropriate changes necessary to create a positive outcome to the encounter. To pay attention is to demonstrate your expression to the other as a worthy person. Your acknowledgement of the person validates them and shows your desire to treat them as equals and establish them as worthwhile individuals.
Code Four: Keep vigilant in your encounters, actions, and/or deeds when with others to validate their existence, their importance in society, and their personal feelings.
Code Five:Always think the very best of others. Assume the best and act accordingly with out losing sight of positive awareness in case of a sudden change. Approach every encounter with others as if they are good, honest, and sensitive.
Code Six:Possibly one of the most important rules you can assume in life is to "Listen". Listening or lack thereof is the most common reason for conflict. Listen to the words and feelings; focus on the person communicating; let silence be your primary means of action; let go of your past experiences and be in the present moment; disregard all thoughts of the future and be in the present moment; concentrate on just listening before doing anything else; establish eye contact; let you body reflect the positive; let your voice, tone, and response be on the others comments, actions, body language, intent, and so on; don't rush to agree or disagree; simply show understanding.
Code Seven:Speak kindly and never speak ill of others. Be the person others speak of as the one who never uttered an unkind word. Let that be your legacy. Always keep in your mind that you are speaking/interacting with a living, breathing, vulnerable human beings; always remember the power of words. Remember:
* When we speak to anyone in a derogatory manner we hurt.
* It is a coward who resorts to the use of words or deeds to attack another.
* How we speak to others reflects on ourselves.
* If we are present when ill words are spoken we can leave, remain silent, say something positive, or openly communicate to the attacker as to what they are doing.
Code Eight:A fundamental rule of society; one that is relevant and important when ever one comes into contact with another; decent behavior is when we care enough not to make problems, ours or theirs, into either our or their problem. The way we treat others is always a reflection of our own self-worth. Respect is a corner stone of any one persons contact with another. Assume they deserve it and then give it whole heartily.
Code Nine: Care for others as if they were a guest in your home. Be hospitable to every one you meet or connect with even if only for the moment. Get to know others by listening and when you talk to them talk from the heart. Always be considerate of others, no excuses.
Code Ten: Refrain for taking action or speaking with out thinking twice. How you communicate can result in either a peaceful resolution or a combative one which can turn quickly into a physical altercation. Self-restraint means we ignore the ego and stay in the current moment with complete respect and regard for the opinions of others regardless of our assessments. The goal is to have an amicable meeting of the minds when two connect in today's society. Civility or lack thereof are major causes of anger, fear, and conflict.
Code Eleven:Don't try to shift responsibility or blame to others. Take complete responsibility for all of your actions be they verbal or physical. Your attitude and how you express it can be either acceptable to all or not. When not, then you have conflict. Conflict does not benefit anyone.
Code Twelve: Develop the courage necessary to be brave. Bravery and courage does not mean jumping into any confrontation with the desire to win at all costs. It takes one who has courage to avoid conflicts, to find alternatives to doing battle. To create relationships that end in proper balance for all concerned is the epitome of bravery and courage. Anyone can take up arms and do battle yet only the very bravest; those with the most courage; are able to overcome the ego within and to achieve peace and tranquility within and in society.
Code Thirteen:Create good will among those who you come in contact by providing the type of influence that creates camaraderie; a societal connection of benefit for all. Be a benevolent guide to your fellow man; influence them to influence themselves; become someone who creates a desire in others to become a better person and a complete part of the society in which we all live.
Code Fourteen:Conduct yourself with the highest morality and personal values necessary to influence others to follow the path of civility; kindness to others. To provide others with good example of morals, proper conduct, and the type of courtesy that leaves a favorable impression is a great achievement.
Code Fifteen:To conduct one's life with ideals of both truth and honesty is the highest achievement of a bushi warrior or a solid citizen of society.
Code Sixteen:Loyalty to self, loyalty to the group, loyalty to society is a hallmark of a true citizen who contributes to the betterment of society. This is not blind but with a true heart in creating a bond among each of us that transcends the ego and creates a feeling of belonging and benefits all.
Code Seventeen: Make it your goal to achieve within yourself humility, respect, righteousness, trust, loyalty, will, endurance, perseverance, patience, and courage as your standards in living. At least make a commitment to "Try" every day for your entire life.
Code Eighteen: Make it a personal goal to look within yourself with truth and honesty with the outcome of acknowledgement as to your own foibles; to make it your life's measure to achieve dominance over such foibles; to never allow them to lead you astray from the noble path you have chosen; to never allow them to create disharmony among others; make this a most important trait of your personality and try to achieve the goals of the code daily, moment by moment. Make this your presence as a personal present to yourself.
Code Nineteen: Remember tolerance at all costs. Lack of tolerance is unfair to others and opens the door to discontent, anger, and conflict. Put yourself in another’s position as if what you say or do effects you and act/adjust accordingly. To remember that everyone is a person; a human being; vulnerable; sensitive and no different than ourselves before you speak or act is important; do it.
Code Twenty: Keep your balance. Study, train, and practice to achieve balance or In-yo (Yin-yang). Create the one by achieving balance. The ability to achieve balance is a cornerstone of a serene life. Balance in mind and body. To achieve emotional balance leads to life's balance and allows us to follow the way through our code reflecting on others, on society, for all our benefit.
The goal of the code is not to dictate to others our own personal perspective of what is acceptable or not to an individual or society. It is a personal code for the individual thus is provided in as a generic form as possible to fit everyone. It is a simple guide that assists others in creating a personal life to live that is conducive to creating a society that is humble and serene.
Remember "Giri" or that which is hardest to bear. It is a personal obligation that no one can require of you but you yourself. If you don't feel it then you don't have it. No one will take you to task for not assuming the obligation. No one will come down on you. You must decide for yourself that this is the path you desire most and then stick to it under all circumstances, to the end of this life. Giri, assume it or not. Your choice, choose wisely.
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