Kyokushin Spirit in
Dojo Oath

written by the founder of Kyokushin Karate
Mas Oyama (1923-1994)
Kyokushin Karate is a Martial Art called BUDO.
Without truly understanding the philosophy, a practitioner
never reaches his or her full potential. The Dojo Kun (Oath)
is the foundation for fulfilling the true Kyokushin Spirit. The Dojo Kun
was written by Kyokushin's founder Sosai Mas Oyama, with the assistance
of Eiji Yoshikawa, author of "Musashi", which details the life and exploits
of Japan's greatest warrior, Musashi Miyamoto.
Dojo Oath 1

We will train our hearts and bodies for a firm unshaking spirit.
Our goal is to train both our physical body, as well as our spiritual being.
Our primary goal is to improve our spirit with daily practice and discipline.
When acquiring a new technique, it is to be done with grace and integrity.
Dojo Oath 2

We will pursue the true meaning of the Martial Way, so that in time,
our senses may be alert.The essence of the Martial Way lies within the Art of Combat.
Through training, we learn to anticipate our opponent's movements and control the
outcome of a fight. Over time, our senses sharpen, making us aware of our surroundings.
Dojo Oath 3
With true vigor, we will seek to cultivate a spirit of self denial.
We all know that we are prone to bad habits. We often give into these desires, even
though we instinctively know that the long term outcome will be negative. Through training,
we nurture our spirit to control our weaknesses and develop a spirit of self denial.
Dojo Oath 4

We will observe the rules of courtesy, respect our superiors and refrain from violence.
The techniques we learn in class must be mastered with courtesy. That is, we are to be courteous
inside and outside the Dojo. Treat people the way you expect to be treated, respect your elders,
and use violence only as a last resort.
Dojo Oath 5

We will follow our religious principles, and never forget the true virtue of humility.
Through training, we learn to be humble and we never forget the challenges we faced as beginners.
We must always remember that our dedication to training, could not have been possible without the
support of our family, friends, team mates, instructors and society.
Dojo Oath 6
We will look upwards to wisdom and strength, not seeking other desires.
The authority granted to higher belts, does not come from their physical strength but from the
wisdom that they have gained through their training. They understand their strength and do not
abuse this power. Sosai's quote: "Power without Justice is Violence. Justice without Power is
Meaningless." is one way to sum up this principle. We must acquire both wisdom and strength.
Dojo Oath 7
All our lives, through the discipine of karate, we will seek to fulfill the true meaning of the Kyokushin
Way. Kyokushin Way is directly connected to "OSU". The word consists of two
Japanese characters: "O" and "SU". The first word means "To push oneself". The second one means
"Perseverance". OSU is the essence of Kyokushin Karate. A lifetime commitment is required to fulfill
the true meaning of Kyokushin Way. Osu!