{"id":11095,"date":"2007-04-12T11:25:59","date_gmt":"2007-04-12T18:25:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/2007\/04\/12\/mojo-dojo.html"},"modified":"2007-04-12T11:25:59","modified_gmt":"2007-04-12T18:25:59","slug":"mojo_dojo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2007\/04\/12\/mojo_dojo.html","title":{"rendered":"Mojo Dojo"},"content":{"rendered":"

So what do we actually do <\/em>at karate class?<\/p>\n

Well, part of it is, of course, the karate training.  We do a few minutes of warm-ups and stretching (some of which I can do well, other bits of which I … don’t), then we go through a standard set of training moves that changes each month.  Then sensei does some further set of exercises, usually changing each session:  different moves, sparring, etc.  The last 15 minutes are taken up with kata practice, usually four or five run-throughs (usually with the black belts going first, then higher colored belts, then us n00bs; the higher belts will run through different katas each time, while on the other end I, as a white belt, get to practice mine over and over).  Finally, we do a stretching\/cool-down.<\/p>\n

Pretty straightforward, but there’s a also a bunch of Japanese ritual bits that take place at the beginning and end (and even some in the middle that are kind of interesting.  While one could, in theory, teach karate completely divorced of its cultural background, it appears that most dojos including something of the traditions.<\/p>\n

While not our dojo, these “Procedures and Formal Rituals” from the JKA Dojo in the Springs<\/a> matches up pretty well with what we do, including the rituals at the beginning and the end, involving kneeling and bowing and recitation and the like.<\/p>\n

Some  might find that an uncomfortable set of traditions, though they are primarily meant to show respect (and thanks) to the sport and its founders, the sensei <\/em>of the class, and the black-belts (sempei<\/em>).  The bow to the front of the class is most problematic in some eyes.  In most dojos (i.e., those not set up at rec centers like ours), there’s usually “something” there — a small religious shrine if the dojo has that flavor (Shinto or Buddhist, mostly found in Japan), or (and this is found in most martial arts) what looks like a shrine to the founder of the school or art, or to the dojo’s rules (this is generally secular in nature, though in a Japanese perspective the line can get blurry). <\/p>\n

One interesting bit, at the end of the class, is the recitation of the Dojo Kun<\/em>, the guilding principles \/ rules \/ precepts \/ creed \/ motto of the dojo, and the lessons to take out of the dojo into the rest of the world.  Most karate dojos have the same kun <\/em>(and not all recite it in that fashion), but there are multiple translations.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

The Japanese is:<\/p>\n

\n

Jinkaku kansei ni tsutomuru koto.
Makato no michi o mamoru koto.
Doryoku no seishin o yashinau koto.
Reigi o omonsuru koto.
Kekki no yu o imashimuru koto.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In the Japanese, each of the lines is prefaced with Hitotsu<\/em>, “first,” i.e., the rules are all equally important.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

This is translated (and recited) in our dojo as:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Seek perfection of character.<\/li>\n
  2. Be faithful.<\/li>\n
  3. Endeavor.<\/li>\n
  4. Respect others.<\/li>\n
  5. Refrain from violent deeds.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Other translations I dug up are:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Strive for the perfection of character. \/ Work to perfect your character \/ Strive for a good moral character. \/ Work very hard to perfect or complete human character.<\/li>\n
    2. Be sincere. \/ Protect\/defend the way of truth. \/ Have fidelity in seeking a true way. \/ Keep an honest and sincere way. \/ Protect the way of honesty and sincerity.<\/li>\n
    3. Foster the spirit of effort. \/ Cultivate a spirit of endeavor and perseverance \/ Put maximum effort into everything you do<\/span>. \/ Cultivate a spirit of perseverance, a will for striving. \/ Nurture the hard working spirit.<\/li>\n
    4. Honor the principles of etiquette. \/ Respect the rules of etiquette. \/ Always act with good manners. \/ Develop a respectful attitude. \/ Value or respect etiquette and manners.<\/li>\n
    5. Guard against impetuous courage. \/ Refrain from violent and uncontrolled behavior \/ Develop self-control. \/ Restrain from physical aggression through spiritual attainment. \/ Restrain the desire to be aggressive.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      They are supposedly derived from 21 rules set forth by Ginchin Funakoshi, who introduced karate to Japan, and who is the founder of the Shotokan school.<\/p>\n

      Of course, being a ritualistic\/liturgical guy like I am, I love this stuff (it also means I probably give it a lot more thought than others do).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      So what do we actually do at karate class? Well, part of it is, of course, the karate training.  We do a few minutes of warm-ups and stretching (some of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-karate"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":10282,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2007\/02\/28\/karate_watch.html","url_meta":{"origin":11095,"position":0},"title":"Karate watch","author":"***Dave","date":"Wed 28-Feb-07 7:40am","format":false,"excerpt":"Wrapping up my first month of karate, I'm really enjoying it. A few random thoughts\/observations: We always start off (and end) with stretching exercises. I'm really surprised by where I'm...","rel":"","context":"In "Karate"","block_context":{"text":"Karate","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/category\/karate"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":11776,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2008\/02\/04\/orange_is_the_new_white.html","url_meta":{"origin":11095,"position":1},"title":"Orange is the new White","author":"***Dave","date":"Mon 4-Feb-08 8:50pm","format":false,"excerpt":"Went to karate tonight instead of tomorrow, since tomorrow I'll off at the Caucus (woo-hoo). 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Of course, that means that we've gone from...","rel":"","context":"In "Karate"","block_context":{"text":"Karate","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/category\/karate"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/images\/yellow-belt.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11462,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2007\/08\/23\/my_eyes_are_dim_6.html","url_meta":{"origin":11095,"position":4},"title":"My eyes are dim …","author":"***Dave","date":"Thu 23-Aug-07 6:53am","format":false,"excerpt":"A few weeks back in karate, Sensei was telling us about how to gauge the appropriate distance to stand from an opponent.\u00a0 You don't want to be too close (as...","rel":"","context":"In "Health"","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/category\/health"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/images\/spectacles.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12703,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2008\/02\/21\/life_as_kata.html","url_meta":{"origin":11095,"position":5},"title":"Life as kata","author":"***Dave","date":"Thu 21-Feb-08 2:17pm","format":false,"excerpt":"I've noticed something funny recently. 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