To everyone who participated in the Sunrise Sanchin Pilgrimage yesterday, “Thank-you for participating & I hope you were fulfilled by your Sanchin.” For my part, there wasn’t much sunrising as it was snowing, but it was spectacular to perform Sanchin in the cold, brisk morning air while the snow quietly blanketed the Earth. And then – of course – it was time to get the old snow shovel. And now, the current weblog article –
I thought I would share with you an important aspect of Shihan Thomas DeFelice’s Academy of Goshin-Do Karate-Do. You may wish to incorporate this aspect of the Dojo into not only your Sanchin practice but also your daily routine. The aspect is the Dojo Kun. Traditional Karate Dojo have a Dojo “Kun.” The Dojo Kun is essentially a statement of purpose, a raison d’être for the Dojo and the student’s who train therein.
Shihan Thomas DeFelice’s Goshin-Do Karate-Do patch
The kun has a rich and storied history and was, based upon conservative estimates, a guidepost for perhaps ten thousand students.
Patch commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Academy Of Goshin-Do Karate in 2005
The first nine statements date back to the earliest days of Shihan DeFelice’s Dojo which was originally located at 125 Broad Avenue, Palisades Park, NJ. The kun was displayed in a place of honor in the Dojo. In the photograph below, the Dojo kun can be seen displayed on the left adjacent to the photographs of historical karate masters.
The kun provided a refreshing means of reflection and contemplation before and after class. It also furnished a guideline for conducting yourself outside of the Dojo as you go about the drama of your life.
In 1997, I reproduced the kun for use in the Dojo which had relocated to 748 Paterson Avenue, East Rutherford, New Jersey. I also incorporated the kun into a student training manual for convenient reference. (See Endnote # 1). At that time, I added statement number ten, which is a proclamation that is personal to each student and a concluding statement; “Ichi-Nichi Issho” which translates as “One day – One lifetime.” This phrase was also used on the patch of the Issho Dojo.
Issho-Dojo Patch Of Sensei John Szmitkowski
While the kun is unique to the Academy of Goshin-Do Karate-Do, it can be of benefit to all. I hope you enjoy the kun and further hope it provides you with a convenient means of reflection and contemplation. Additionally for all of those who purchased my Sanchin Kata DVD, you may wish to reflect upon the kun during your Sanchin practice.
The kun is as follows:
ACADEMY OF GOSHIN-DO KARATE-DO DOJO KUN
1. WE ARE PROUD TO STUDY THE SPIRIT OF GOSHIN-DO. (FOLLOW THE PATH)
2. WE WILL ALWAYS OBSERVE THE RULES OF COURTESY.
3. WE SHALL ALWAYS PRACTICE PATIENCE AND HUMILITY.
4. WE SHALL ALWAYS STRIVE FOR PERFECTION OF CHARACTER.
5. WE WILL ALWAYS DEFEND THE PATHS OF TRUTH.
6. WE WILL BE QUICK TO SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY.
7. WE WILL GUARD AGAINST IMPETUOUS COURAGE.
8. WE WILL TRAIN OUR HEARTS AND BODIES FOR A FIRM AND UNSHAKEN SPIRIT.
9. WE WILL ALWAYS BE TRUE TO OURSELVES.
10. Student’s personal Kun.
Ichi-Nichi-Issho (One Day, One Lifetime)
Until the next submission, I remain living the Academy Of Goshin-Do Karate kun,
Sensei John Szmitkowski
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REMEMBER: SANCHIN can be performed by ANYBODY, ANYPLACE, ANYTIME. Here’s a few short video examples: Sanchin during a Harley-Davidson Electra-glide ride amidst the scenic Arizona cotton fields. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNbDxDHvlL8, Sanchin as a form of SELF-BAPTISM at the beautiful Lower Salt River, Tonto National Forest, Arizona, Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3MFNsl4mWg and Sanchin while fly fishing at Water Ranch lake, Gilbert, Arizona. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ncZJ0s0HNI
ENDNOTES:
1. Szmitkowski, John, Goshin-Do Kata-jitsu: Volume One: The Basic Kata (Issho Publications, 1997).
Sensei John is now on Facebook, under – FLY FISHING DOJO, you are invited to send a Facebook friend request.
For more on either Sanchin Kata as meditation or my new book on Sanchin Kata, please feel free to visit the “Sanchin Book” page of this weblog, or my website WWW.Dynamic-Meditation.Com.
You may wish to view my blog dedicated to the interrelationship between martial arts protocol & ideology to fly-fishing and fishing in general by clicking WWW.FlyFishingDojo.Com
Kata-RX For wellness 
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