Charlie
13-08-2004, 04:49 AM
It is with great interest that I read in the latest Kendo World that our own Dr. A is sitting on a committee that is seeking to streamline the budo charter that was established in, what was it, 1987.
I don't know about you guys, but I find documents like the Budo Charter and the Kendo Charter of the ZNKR to be visionary statements that I take to heart. They help me define my place in budo and inspire me to live up to its ideals. Some people find "mission statements" irritating, probably because of the corporate culture that goes with them, but I think a mission statement is a galvanizing thing.
In fact, I write down a bit of inspirational words and keep it in my nafuda when I practice. I currently have something from Hagakure in there but before that it was the first article of the budo charter.
What do you think? I don't envy Dr. A and the committee their work but I do admire it. Here is the text of the budo charter, copied and pasted from judoinfo.com:
Budo, rooted in the martial spirit of ancient Japan, is an aspect of traditional culture that has evolved from jyutsu to do through centuries of historical and social change.
Following the concept of unity of mind and technique, budo has developed and refined a discipline of austere training which promotes etiquette, skillful technique, physical strength, and the unity of mind and body. Modern Japanese have inherited these values and they play a prominent role in forming Japanese personalities. In modern Japan the budo spirit is a source of powerful energy and promotes a pleasant disposition in the individual.
Today, budo has been diffused throughout the world and has attracted strong interest internationally. However, infatuation with mere technical training, and undue concern with winning is a severe threat to the essence of budo. To prevent this perversion of the art, we must continually examine ourselves and endeavor to perfect and preserve this national heritage.
It is with this hope that we establish the BUDO CHARTER in order to uphold the fundamental principles of traditional budo.
ARTICLE 1: OBJECT
The object of budo is to cultivate character, enrich the ability to make value judgments, and foster a well disciplined and capable individual through participation in physical and mental training utilizing martial techniques.
ARTICLE 2: KEIKO
When practicing daily, one must constantly follow decorum, adhere to the fundamentals, and resist the temptation to pursue mere technical skill rather than the unity of mind and technique.
ARTICLE 3: SHIAI
In a match and the performance of kata, one must manifest budo spirit, exert himself to the utmost, win with modesty, accept defeat gracefully, and constantly exhibit temperate attitudes.
ARTICLE 4: DOJO
The dojo is a sacred place for training one's mind and body. Here, one must maintain discipline, proper etiquette, and formality. The training area must be a quiet, clean, safe and solemn environment.
ARTICLE 5: TEACHING
When teaching trainees, in order to be an effective teacher, the budo master should always strive to cultivate his/her character, and further his/her own skill and discipline of mind and body. He/She should not be swayed by winning or losing, or display arrogance about his/her superior skill, but rather he/she should retain the attitudes suitable for a role-model.
ARTICLE 6: PROMOTION
When promoting budo, one should follow traditional values, seek substantial training, contribute to research, and do one's utmost to perfect and preserve this traditional art with an understanding of international points of view.
I don't know about you guys, but I find documents like the Budo Charter and the Kendo Charter of the ZNKR to be visionary statements that I take to heart. They help me define my place in budo and inspire me to live up to its ideals. Some people find "mission statements" irritating, probably because of the corporate culture that goes with them, but I think a mission statement is a galvanizing thing.
In fact, I write down a bit of inspirational words and keep it in my nafuda when I practice. I currently have something from Hagakure in there but before that it was the first article of the budo charter.
What do you think? I don't envy Dr. A and the committee their work but I do admire it. Here is the text of the budo charter, copied and pasted from judoinfo.com:
Budo, rooted in the martial spirit of ancient Japan, is an aspect of traditional culture that has evolved from jyutsu to do through centuries of historical and social change.
Following the concept of unity of mind and technique, budo has developed and refined a discipline of austere training which promotes etiquette, skillful technique, physical strength, and the unity of mind and body. Modern Japanese have inherited these values and they play a prominent role in forming Japanese personalities. In modern Japan the budo spirit is a source of powerful energy and promotes a pleasant disposition in the individual.
Today, budo has been diffused throughout the world and has attracted strong interest internationally. However, infatuation with mere technical training, and undue concern with winning is a severe threat to the essence of budo. To prevent this perversion of the art, we must continually examine ourselves and endeavor to perfect and preserve this national heritage.
It is with this hope that we establish the BUDO CHARTER in order to uphold the fundamental principles of traditional budo.
ARTICLE 1: OBJECT
The object of budo is to cultivate character, enrich the ability to make value judgments, and foster a well disciplined and capable individual through participation in physical and mental training utilizing martial techniques.
ARTICLE 2: KEIKO
When practicing daily, one must constantly follow decorum, adhere to the fundamentals, and resist the temptation to pursue mere technical skill rather than the unity of mind and technique.
ARTICLE 3: SHIAI
In a match and the performance of kata, one must manifest budo spirit, exert himself to the utmost, win with modesty, accept defeat gracefully, and constantly exhibit temperate attitudes.
ARTICLE 4: DOJO
The dojo is a sacred place for training one's mind and body. Here, one must maintain discipline, proper etiquette, and formality. The training area must be a quiet, clean, safe and solemn environment.
ARTICLE 5: TEACHING
When teaching trainees, in order to be an effective teacher, the budo master should always strive to cultivate his/her character, and further his/her own skill and discipline of mind and body. He/She should not be swayed by winning or losing, or display arrogance about his/her superior skill, but rather he/she should retain the attitudes suitable for a role-model.
ARTICLE 6: PROMOTION
When promoting budo, one should follow traditional values, seek substantial training, contribute to research, and do one's utmost to perfect and preserve this traditional art with an understanding of international points of view.