Courtesy and Humility in Karate

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We “enter the dojo,” we perform certain rituals, we perform “mokuso” and then we adhere to things like the “dojo-kun” and other terse renderings of rules and requirements. They are all based loosely on things like “bushido” or precepts that dictate the actions and deeds along with character and personality of those who would practice in this dojo. 

There are many explanations as to why this is important, such as to adhere to the traditions of the system or discipline and to learn and practice according to those traditions passed down from teacher to student as done by those who came before. I have another reason why I feel these symbolic actions of courtesy and humility, reishiki if you will, are important to the practitioner. 

As people who practice and train in karate know, karate is originally a brutal method of hurting other people who are intent on hurting us. One of the major defense models that all karate-ka must know, understand and implement in self-protection, especially in our modern society, is avoidance and deescalation. 

Deescalation entails one aspect that involves the ability to present both body language and verbalization of things that, hopefully, will turn the heat down on potential violence. It is and would be impossible for someone without the humility and courtesy of one of character and personality to convey and present both verbal and body language that would effect the other person to; first, safe face, second, to actively listen, and third, to allow violence to ebb away and then allow all concerned parties to actually walk away with their ego’s, pride and social status intact. 

Dojo Reishiki is about the enhancement, development and evolution of one’s character and personality toward a state of humility and ability that radiates to those in close proximity; first, an aura of ability that says this is not going to go easy or well if it becomes violent while, second, conveying that there is a willingness to allow and take a path less dangerous and damaging while, third, allowing face saving communications that prevent and deter higher aggressions and greater violence. 

The aura one projects shows confidence, ability, willingness and open-mindedness that are all necessary to communicate in a way that allows everyone concerned to accept alternatives in lieu of violence. Reishiki is that practice and training that builds the dojo, its practitioner and its self-protection methodologies to a level that often means never striking first with the fist or foot but to “strike first with the mind, character, personality and spirit” that avoids aggressive violence altogether. 

Think, consider and meditate on this when next in the dojo, sitting seiza and performing mokuso. It puts a whole different light and mind-state on why one would want to practice those courtesies that build humility in karate-ka. 

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