空KarateDecodedDecode the kata
Home › The Dōjō Kun: Shotokan’s Five Precepts

Karate philosophy

道場訓The Dōjō Kun: Shotokan’s Five Precepts

The Dōjō Kun (道場訓, “training-hall rules”) is the set of five precepts recited at the close of most Shotokan classes — the ethical code of the dojo, distilling karate’s character-development purpose. They are generally credited to Gichin Funakoshi.

The five precepts

RomajiEnglish
1Hitotsu, jinkaku kansei ni tsutomuru kotoSeek perfection of character
2Hitotsu, makoto no michi o mamoru kotoBe faithful / sincere
3Hitotsu, doryoku no seishin o yashinau kotoEndeavour (foster the spirit of effort)
4Hitotsu, reigi o omonzuru kotoRespect others / honour etiquette
5Hitotsu, kekki no yū o imashimuru kotoRefrain from violent, impetuous behaviour

Each line begins with “Hitotsu” (一つ, “one”). This is deliberate: rather than numbering them 1–5, every precept opens with “one” to signal that none ranks above another — all are equally important. English wordings vary between dojo; there is no single official translation.

Dōjō Kun vs. Nijū Kun

Do not confuse the two. The Dōjō Kun is the five short precepts recited aloud in class. The Nijū Kun (二十訓) is Funakoshi’s separate list of twenty guiding principles from his writings (published 1938) — the first of which is the famous “karate begins and ends with rei (respect).” The five Dōjō Kun are essentially a condensed, recitable summary of the broader twenty-precept code.

Honest note. Authorship is “attributed to Funakoshi / spread by the JKA.” Some traditions claim an older Okinawan origin (reaching back to Shuri-te figures such as Sakugawa), but that lineage is not firmly documented. Other styles keep their own dojo kun — Kyokushin’s eleven-line oath is a different text.

Frequently asked questions

What are the five Dōjō Kun in Shotokan karate?
Seek perfection of character; be faithful/sincere; endeavour (put forth effort); respect others and etiquette; and refrain from violent, impetuous behaviour. Each is recited beginning with “hitotsu.”
Why does every Dōjō Kun line start with “hitotsu”?
“Hitotsu” means “one.” Starting all five with “one” (instead of 1, 2, 3…) signals that each precept is equally important — none is ranked above the others.
What is the difference between the Dōjō Kun and the Nijū Kun?
The Dōjō Kun is the five precepts recited aloud in class. The Nijū Kun is Funakoshi’s twenty guiding principles from his writings. The five are essentially a short spoken summary of the larger twenty-precept code.
Who wrote the Shotokan Dōjō Kun?
It is generally credited to Gichin Funakoshi and spread by the Japan Karate Association, though some traditions claim an older Okinawan origin that isn’t firmly documented.