Kodawari Hombu Dojo

My Shotokan Story

(What Got Me Started On My Path)

I feel like the disclaimer above is, again, needed for this post. My comments below about Shotokan (and Tae Kwon Do) might anger some folks. They may find those comments to be rude or disrespectful. Please do know that this is NOT my intent. I am not trying to be bombastic. But, I have promised to tell everyone the truth and to NOT deal with any BS. I have also said very clearly that you SHOULD question everything that I say. If my comments anger or upset you, then I challenge you to do the HONEST research behind both systems and see if “your truth” still holds water.

Shotokan¹松濤 – Shoto – translates to “pine waves” and kan – 館 – which translates to “house” or “hall”.…many folks that are familiar with me might be surprised that this was the first martial art that I studied.

(for another time…stay tuned)

Old school vs Modern TKD (1999 vs 2021)

Shotokan Karate-do History

Funakoshi Gichin

Founder – Shotokan Karate-do

Father of Modern Karate

black belt

tiger

Kenneth Funakoshi

Shihan, 9th dan (九段)

Shotokan Karate-do

Asai Tetsuhiko

浅井 哲彦

(June 7, 1935 – August 15, 2006)

Shihan, 9th dan (九段)

Japan Karate Shoto-Renmei

Asai Sensei The Greatest Karate Master in the World

Remember!

It’s Shotokan Karate-do

That Makes A Difference!

Shotokan Karate-do Dojo Kun

To get an idea as to what I am referring to, one only need to look to the Shotokan Karate-do Dojo Kun.²If you are not familiar, Dojo Kun – 道場訓 – translates (roughly) to “training hall rules” or (very specifically) to “place of the way doctrine”, “place of the way precept(s)” or “place of the way lesson(s)”. These are verbal affirmations that are usually recited by all of the students and usually at the end of each training session. You will also often find the Dojo Kun of a school or style printed and displayed within a dojo, normally some where at or near the entrance (genkan – 玄関) of the dojo and/or at the shomen (正面) or front of the dojo where students bow towards at the end of the class. Shown above is the Shotokan Karate-do Dojo Kun as passed down by Funakoshi Gichin.

人格完成に勤むること

Jinkaku Kansei ni Tsutmuru koto

Seek Perfection of Character

誠の道を守ること

Makoto no michi wo mamoru koto

Be Faithful

If you have not read it yet, the post What’s In A Name Part I – Kodawari Hombu Dojo might be of interest to you and you can read it by clicking below (or using the text link).

What Is In A Name Part ILearn More Kodawari And What It Means

Other than a brief stint in Tae Kwon Do, the first martial art that I studied was Shotokan Karate-do.

• 1
  松濤 – Shoto – translates to “pine waves” and kan – 館 – which translates to “house” or “hall”.
• 2
  If you are not familiar, Dojo Kun – 道場訓 – translates (roughly) to “training hall rules” or (very specifically) to “place of the way doctrine”, “place of the way precept(s)” or “place of the way lesson(s)”. These are verbal affirmations that are usually recited by all of the students and usually at the end of each training session. You will also often find the Dojo Kun of a school or style printed and displayed within a dojo, normally some where at or near the entrance (genkan – 玄関) of the dojo and/or at the shomen (正面) or front of the dojo where students bow towards at the end of the class.

• 1
  松濤 – Shoto – translates to “pine waves” and kan – 館 – which translates to “house” or “hall”.
• 2
  If you are not familiar, Dojo Kun – 道場訓 – translates (roughly) to “training hall rules” or (very specifically) to “place of the way doctrine”, “place of the way precept(s)” or “place of the way lesson(s)”. These are verbal affirmations that are usually recited by all of the students and usually at the end of each training session. You will also often find the Dojo Kun of a school or style printed and displayed within a dojo, normally some where at or near the entrance (genkan – 玄関) of the dojo and/or at the shomen (正面) or front of the dojo where students bow towards at the end of the class.