The Dojo, Respect and Discipline

We adhere to the ideals of respect, tradition and paying honour to our teachers. Karate is about the mutual respect of teacher and student, humility, shared knowledge and experience. You should become familiar with the practices of our dojo followed at each class.

Dojo Kun

The dojo is a place where we practice karate, but the literal meaning of dojo is a place where students seek to find the way of life. Kun means “lesson”, “teaching” or “guidance”. Therefore, putting those two words together, Dojo Kun means a set of guidelines we can use to seek the way of life through the practice of karate.

Doju Kun can also be translated as the “training hall rules” outlining the behaviour expected of students when training. In the many decades that Tino Ceberano Hanshi has taught karate in Australia, the Dojo Kun have been modified at times to reflect political correctness.

Of historic interest is an older photo of Tino Shihan with his Goju Kai instructor Oshiro Sensei showing an earlier version of the dojo kun that promoted students being ‘simple and manly’. The current I.G.K. Dojo Kun reflects the current values and principles by which we train.


Our dojo practices a bowing in and bowing out ceremony, kneeling in the seiza position, acknowledging our instructors and reciting the Dojo Kun at the end of each training session. They should be recited with strength, character and sincerity and a confident voice so that the class can hear them clearly and repeat them.

Repeating the Dojo Kun develops the mind and character of each student, reflecting their desire to strive forwards in life and applying what they have learnt in their everyday activities

We the students of I.G.K. do aspire to these virtues…

We are proud to study the way of Goju

We are courteous in manners

We strive to develop courage and fighting spirit

We cultivate fellowship and understanding

We respect the ideals of loyalty and honour traditional from olden times in Okinawa and Japan