The Principles of Karate #8

Adapted from Gichin Funakoshi’s Book, The Guiding Principles of Karate)

8.) Karate Goes Beyond The Dojo.

How we live our day-to-day lives should be consistent with how we train in the karate dojo. We work hard at being our best in the dojo. Through focused effort we strive to always improve and grow our skills and abilities. We should have that same mindset in how we live our lives outside the dojo as well.

Master Funakoshi says, “The objective of karate-do is to polish and nurture both the mind and body. The cultivation of one’s spirit and mental attitude begun during practice in the dojo should not cease after the physical and mental exertions end for the day. Rather, this should continue outside the dojo to our daily routine.”

Essentially, we should strive to improve ourselves in all facets of our lives. To be haphazard in how we live outside the dojo will most likely affect our training habits inside the dojo. If, for example, we have habits that are detrimental to our health such as immoderate eating and drinking and not getting enough rest, then we will find our training in the dojo will suffer.

Bottom line…whether inside or outside the dojo, karate practitioners must always aim to develop and train both their minds and their bodies.