Budō Charter
The following information is used with permission from the Nihon Budōkan Official Website 日本武道館 (English Guide)
The philosophy of Budō
Budō, the Martial Arts of Japan, have their origins in the traditions of Bushidō – literally, "The way of the warrior". Practitioners of Budō study Martial Arts with an aim to perfecting skills while striving to unify mind, technique and body; to develop his or her character; to enhance their sense of morality; and to cultivate a respectful and courteous demeanor. Practiced steadfastly, these admirable traits become intrinsic to the character of the practitioner.
Budō serves as a path to self-perfection. Practitioners of Budō continually engage in self-examination and endeavor to make a useful application of the philosophy of Budō in their lives. It is hoped that the elevation of the human spirit through the practice of Budō will contribute to social prosperity and harmony, and ultimately, benefit the people of the world.
To this end, the member organisations of the Japanese Budō Association, have established The Budō Charter to illustrate for students the fundamental principles at the heart of their practice.
The Budō Charter for young people
ARTICLE 1: Objective of Budō 目標
Endowed with a strong sense of justice, courage, consideration for others, and healthy bodies and minds achieved through training in the techniques of Budō, we will aspire to become people useful to society.
ARTICLE 2: Keiko(Training) 稽古
When training in Budō, we will abide by the traditional forms of etiquette and the lessons of our teachers. We will practise the fundamental techniques as accurately as possible, trying to learn not only the techniques, but will strive to strengthen our bodies and minds to the best of our abilities.
ARTICLE 3: Shiai (Competition) 試合
In matches (shiai) and demonstrations (embu) we will make every effort to demonstrate the skills we have acquired in the course of our training. We will do so with an earnest and dignified attitude, without becoming obsessed with winning or losing.
ARTICLE 4: Dōjō (Training Hall) 道場
The dōjō is a place where we learn our skills and cultivate strength in body and mind. We must follow the rules, behave in a polite manner, and keep the dōjō clean and safe.
ARTICLE 5: Friends 友人
We must treasure the friendships we make in the dōjō, and co-operate and support each other. Let us enjoy our training together and strive to make friends with all those around us.