The dojo kun is a short set of precepts, most closely associated with karate, that states the values and standards of conduct a school expects from its students both inside and outside the dojo. Common themes include effort, respect, self control and perseverance, though the exact wording differs between styles and individual schools.
Many schools recite the dojo kun together at the end of a class, often line by line after the instructor, as a way of reinforcing shared values rather than simply learning technique. This practice ties training to a wider sense of character and conduct, echoing the respect shown through rei at the start and end of a session.
Because wording and emphasis vary by lineage, a dojo kun learned at one school will not necessarily match another, even within the same art, and some schools use a shortened or adapted version suited to younger students. New students typically pick it up by hearing it recited regularly rather than being asked to memorise it in isolation from the start. See our martial arts overview for broader context on training culture.