(Approx 1 minute 50 second read)

People often say that karate builds character. I don’t think so. Your character is shaped over many years and through many different experiences in life – not just by what you do in the dojo.
.
The Japanese term shūyō (修養) refers to the steady refinement of mind and behaviour through discipline. It’s about development that comes slowly, shaped by honest effort and the challenges you face.
.
There is another Japanese term I like, which was pointed out to me by a senior instructor. By contrast, kōgyō (功業) means meritorious achievement or distinguished accomplishment – something recognized or noteworthy, earned through effort. It points to what you achieve outwardly.
.
Shūyō and kōgyō are not traditionally paired in Japanese thought, but in my interpretation they are connected. Inner discipline (shūyō) lays the foundation for outward achievement (kōgyō); without it, accomplishments are hollow.
.
This is where karate today often falls short – many chase ranks and titles, but without the foundation of discipline and character, those outward achievements don’t mean much.
.
I wrote before about whether karate builds character and noted that, in the old days, students were expected to have a good character before joining a dojo, especially if they wanted to be taught by a great master.
.
That expectation is rare today. Most dojos welcome anyone who walks through the door, and while this makes karate more accessible, it also changes the role it can play in shaping who we become. I’ve also seen many instructors who are not good people, yet they teach. It’s a sad reality, and it shows that titles and ranks alone do not reflect character or true achievement.
.
It’s important to separate karate as a pastime from karate as a path. Practicing for fitness, competition, or social reasons can be enjoyable and worthwhile, but it isn’t the same as using karate as a means of shūyō.
.
I also think it helps to be honest and clear in naming what we practice – sport-karate, karate-do, or karate-jutsu etc. – so we understand whether the goal is personal discipline, competition, or practical application.
.
In the end, karate does not automatically build character. It offers a mirror, a challenge, and a framework. How much you grow depends entirely on the effort you bring, the honesty you demand of yourself, and the patience to keep walking the path – quietly, steadily, and without expectation of recognition.
.
Karate can point the way, but it cannot walk it for you. In my opinion, true achievement, true kōgyō, comes only when inner discipline – shūyō – guides every step. That is the path, and it is never finished.
.
.
Written by Adam Carter – Shuri Dojo