11/01/2026
Origin of the name SHIDOKAN 志道館
Grandmaster Katsuya Miyahira explains the origin and meaning of Shidokan this way.
“The great Chinese philosopher Confucius, who has had a huge influence on his country's scholarship and thought, taught and popularized an ethical system concerned with building proper character in people. The widely read Analects by Confucius has, from its earliest publishing been highly respected and has had a profound influence on the spiritual thinking of people in China, Japan and elsewhere.”
Grandmaster Miyahira relates that he took the name SHIDO from chapter seven, verse six in Book Four of the twenty volume collection; which reads...
“Determine in your heart to forever follow the Way.
Stay close to the sun of Virtue and do not stray.
Trust in the power of Benevolence for support.
Take pleasure from these abilities.”
The philosophy of this passage means "Enjoy the abilities you develop in your training, but also use them as a means to perceive greater abilities, namely, benevolence. Benevolent kindness will be a rock that you can lean on in difficult times; and virtue will protect you from the rain like an umbrella if you do not forget to keep it with you." And of course never stop practicing.
“Therefore, the meaning of SHIDO is that the physical discipline of practicing Karate builds character and is the starting point from which you can develop a higher form of kindness deep within your soul. And one must never give up trying to actualize this virtue and bring it into your life, right here and right now, to make of yourself a person worthy of emulation.
Thus, SHIDOKAN means the place dedicated to building a kind and benevolent character through the practice of Karate.
* Benevolence: With love as the foundation, to be virtuous and gentle of spirit to all people.
* Virtue: The way in which you conduct yourself during life. Your character.
* Excellence: The Master, or Sensei, is a cultured man of wisdom and learning worthy of society's respect for the man he is.”
Translated by Preston Groleau March 20, 1995
平成7年3月20日、翻訳者:プレストン・グローロ
#志道館