What is the judo moral code?
The judo moral code is an eight-part set of values, invented by judo’s founder Jigoro Kano. The eight values are courage, courtesy, honour, honesty, modesty, respect, self-control and friendship and all eight are covered in the Koka Kids judo moral code series, with supporting material for coaches to use including poster and sticker templates.
In this eight part Moral Code series we look at how we can encourage these values in a dojo through every-day examples.
Honesty
Honest hearts produce honest actions! An honest person does what he or she says they will do, and so becomes a trusted member of the dojo.
There is also the aspect of self-honesty, being truthful about your own abilities. Once you are honest about your weaknesses then you can begin to improve them. So, how can we get our young judoka thinking honestly and acting honestly. Perhaps we can do so by highlighting every-day situations in the dojo like these…
Six examples of honesty in the Dojo
- Responding thoughtfully and truthfully to when asked a question.
- Realising a score has incorrectly gone up on the scoreboard in your favour and letting the referee know.
- Finding a team mate’s belt in the changing room and handing it in.
- Being honest about your own abilities. Once you are then you can begin to improve them.
- Following the rules and refusing to cheat
- Not making excuses, admitting the real reason for missing a training session.
Bring the judo code into your dojo
- Create a focal point, a wall with all the moral code posters, so judoka can study them before and after class. See “Moral Code in the Dojo” poster series.
- Print up a load of stickers, and hand them out when you see a judoka demonstrating the moral code.
- Use these study sheets. Print, and give out to your judoka to take home where they can note down examples in their own time.
See six dojo examples of Courtesy.
