Generally accredited to Gichin Funakoshi (but rumoured to have been created by Sakugawa, an Okinawan karate enthusiast in the 18th century) the Dojo Kun, or dojo rules, serves as a set of five (5) guiding principles, recited at the begining of each Shotokan training session, intended to frame the practise within an ethical context. Gichin Funakoshi (船越 義珍 Funakoshi Gichin, 1868–1957) was an Okinawan karate master who formally introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921. ... Shotokan (松涛館) is a school of karate, reflecting the style of the initial students (including his son, Yoshitaka) of master Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957). ...

The five rules (in Japanese) are:

• Hitotsu. Jinkaku kansei ni tsutomuru koto
• Hitotsu. Makoto no michi wo mamoru koto
• Hitotsu. Doryoku no Seishin wo yashinau koto
• Hitotsu. Reigi wo omonzuru koto
• Hitotsu. Kekki no yu wo imashimuru koto

...although in the US these are typically recited in English, signifying:

• Each seek perfection of character
• Each be faithful (protect the way of truth)
• Each endeavour (foster the spirit of effort)
• Each respect others
• Each refrain from violent behavior (guard against impetuous courage)

The word Hitotsu means "one" or "first" and is prepended to each rule to place it at the same level of importance as the others. The word koto which ends each rule means "thing" and is used as a conjunction between rules.

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