What makes a dojo a dojo?

What makes a dojo a dojo?

Let’s look at a common definition of the word dojo.
A dojo (道場 dōjō?) is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". As such it can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of a martial arts style to conduct training, examinations and other related encounters.

“Dojo” Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia. (2006, February 13). FL: Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Retrieved February 13, 2006, from http://www.wikipedia.org

What is “the way”? What does it mean to all members of a dojo?

This may appear as a strange concept to westerners, but “the way” is interpreted as the great way of life that governs the universe. It is through participation in our dojo that one follows the path of self-cultivation. We seek a better understanding of this “way” through the study of karate.

What makes a dojo special is not its location or physical characteristics, but one’s behavior and involvement in it. What is essential is a group of participants willing to work in the spirit of self and mutual respect. A dojo is more than just a school where you practice and learn karate, it is a place where you learn and evolve into a moral and ethical person. Students take part in a personal “ownership” of their school and their studies. Our dojo is the physical representation of all of the people who share the study of Shotokan Karate as an aspect of their lives.

Essentially Karate is a type of Budo. We translate this into English as "Martial Art", but reading the kanji would paint a different picture. The kanji for Bu is composed of the character "to stop" and the character for "spear". Thus the meaning can be loosely translated as "to stop the spear". The kanji for Do comes from the Chinese word "tao" meaning "way”. But this does not simply mean the "way to do something" rather it has to do with the "way to lead a spiritual life". Thus one who studies any Budo is not studying the art of fighting, but rather the way to become a better person.
(Adapted from “Going to the Dojo: by George Leonard printed in Radar Magazine, January, 2006)

The frame of mind held by the members of a dojo governs its ability to function, as well as its place in the rest of the universe. Gichin Funakoshi the founder of Shotokan karate believed that karate is not only self defense; it also begins and ends with courtesy. We should all live by this example. We need to be mindful of others; stay focused, and always be respectful. This is very important for all students to remember, including myself.

Part of how I can tell that our dojo has this quality, is how others in our community have a high opinion of our school and its members. We have been asked repeatedly to demonstrate at various functions and have an excellent public reputation. We should feel proud to represent an organization that has such positive ideals and is so well respected.

Take a moment and think for a second about how our students are the embodiment of our karate school. A dojo cannot exist without the active involvement and support of its members in all areas. Yep, that means you.

These are just some questions every karate student should ask themselves:

*Are we taking care of our own physical and psychological health so that we can perform well in all areas of our lives? (Sleeping, healthy diet, hygiene.)
*Are we actively participating and trying our best in class?
*Are we participating in school activities such as demonstrations and fundraisers?
*How are we behaving correctly in karate class and more importantly in other activities outside of our dojo?
*Are we helping to strengthen ourselves and our fellow students through positive actions and ethical choices?
*Are we courteous and kind toward one another?
*Are we making time to help care for our dojo?

All students need to remember how they act, not only in the dojo, but also in the outside world and what they represent. Try and keep this in mind when you are at home and in other public places. The study of karate is a way of life and demands that we be courteous and respectful at every moment of our conscious lives. We are always representatives of our dojo. Although at times this may prove to be difficult, ethics and morals require as much discipline and practice as learning a self defense technique or even a Kata.

Keep in mind that I am in no way the epitome of what I am getting at. I just try and practice what I preach. I do the best that I can. The bottom line is that I have found this process to be continually rewarding and it improves the state of my life everyday. Remember to do your very best and that is all that anyone would ask of you.

The whole of any successful group is the sum of its parts as is any good dojo. Remember how important you are as a student here at FMK karate. As they say, what goes around comes around. Follow the “way” and be a moral example of what a good person should be and be an active part of our dojo.

Karate and Overcoming fear

This appeared in the FMK newsletter for this past month.

Karate and Overcoming fear

James Richtsmeier

Overcoming our fears can be one of the greatest challenges not just in Karate; fear is an obstacle we must face in our daily lives. To understand where fear comes from we must look at the definition of fear. “Fear is a powerful biological feeling of unpleasant risk or danger, either real or imagined.” This feeling can hinder a persons actions to the point at which they can not react or can be vulnerable to danger.

One of the most important principles of self defense is the ability to control your fear. Maintaining a calm and clear state of mind is the greatest advantage you can have over an attacker or opponent. The person who is attacking you is actually more vulnerable than you are. The attackers mind can be clouded by irrational thought. The karate student must remain calm and focused. Staying calm can be done through breath control and meditation practice. We must recognize these situations that may trigger feelings of fear and force ourselves to remain in a peaceful state of mind.

Never forget to make your mind work when your body is quiet, and to make your mind calm when your body is in action. Keep your spirit strong. Never let others detect your true intentions. According to the situation, you must judge matters objectively and make the correct decision no matter what situation you are in. Keep your mind clear and maintain a broad view of things. Train your spirit and improve your knowledge earnestly. You should tend to improve your judgment and keep your spirit calm at all times.

-Musashi Miyamoto (Quote taken from Secret Tactics: Lessons from the Great Masters of Martial Arts by Kazumi Tabata)

Fear can be evoked not only in confrontational situations it can also occur in situations that require interactions with large groups of people, (demonstrations or tournaments). One of the best ways to conquer these feelings of fear is to perform Katas or practice karate technique in front of others. We must clear our minds and remember that this situation requires the same level of inner peace and concentration as any other. It is hard to get up in front of a large or even small group of people and remain calm. Clear your mind and concentrate on breathing regularly. Remember to think only about what you are doing. Do not let your mind wander. Concentrate.

If you start to feel afraid, one should look at things objectively. Really, what is the worst thing that could happen? So what if you screw up or you fail? So you make a mistake. So what, big deal. We all can learn from our mistakes and failures and improve as a result. Part of controlling fear is not being afraid. You have to be brave. This process is all part of studying karate. The more experience you have and the more knowledge and control you will have. With experience, you will be able to defend yourself more effectively and the more confidence you will gain as a result.

With regard to dealing with fear, I would like to use an example from my own personal experience. In the course of the last month, I broke my nose as a result of an accident that happened during sparring practice. It probably has to have been the greatest test of overcoming fear I have ever had. I had never broken a bone in my life and was the first real serious injury I have had as a result of any physical activity.

The toughest part of the whole experience took place the moment the doctor told me that my nose had been broken. It actually put my training to the test; I had to really concentrate on remaining calm. I had to focus on the fact that regardless of the outcome everything would be fine. An injury can leave a person with feelings of self doubt and even insecurity. What happened was a mistake. There was no reason to blame myself or anyone else for what happened. I had to transform the accident into a learning experience.

If I did not come back to class and get back on the proverbial horse, nothing would be gained from the experience. All I could think about when I was being sewn up in the emergency room was that I had to get back to the dojo. The best way to bounce back was to get a move on and get back involved with karate classes. I could not quit.

Our dojo has always been exceedingly supportive of every student. There is no other place in the world that has made me feel so important. Every student in our dojo should remember how much strength we gain from our dojo as a cohesive whole. We all should remember how special our dojo is and help support our school. Every little bit helps. By helping our school to prosper we in turn help ourselves.

It is better to have a bad experience and learn from it, than not risk anything at all. Everyone makes mistakes, including me. Take a chance and try and learn new things. Come to class as much as you can. Push yourself. Remember to learn your own pace. No matter what happens do not give in to fear, do not quit. Learn from these experiences. Do not let fear run your life. Fear may always be there, but it does not have to control you. Nelson Mandela once said,” The greatest glory in living lies not in ever falling, but in rising every time we fall.

Not much to report.

Not much to report. The nose is healing well and they are replacing the roof on my house today. Probably will do a bit of shopping and whatnot. I have uploaded various videos from the karate school to youtube.