What is a dojo?

The dojo is the physical location of martial arts practice. It’s the school where knowledge is transferred from the teacher to the student. It’s the place where words become action, the place where the virtues of obedience, discipline, persistence, respect, and devotion are tested and developed through physical practice.

The dojo closely resembles the principles of the ancient gymnasium – where ideas and physical training were being practised in harmony – but remains quite far from the «gym» of the western world.

The essential difference between the dojo and that of the modern gym lies in the meaning of the «do» in ( do-jo). "do" signifies a place with direction. A traditional dojo depicts simplicity in both the physical space of the room and in the appearance of teacher and students - as everything is tuned to assist the «direction» (shaping the character, our real self) and not creating impressions.