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morality – civility – honor

civility: Civic virtue is the cultivation of habits of personal living that are claimed to be important for the success of the community. An individual act or a manner of behaving which conforms to social conventions of propriety.

morality: Concern with the distinction between good and evil or right and wrong; right or good conduct. Concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles.

honor/honorable: Not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent; the quality of deserving honor or respect; worthy of respect.

When you look at the fighting arts in a strictly physical form it is no more than techniques used to cause great bodily harm to another. Morality, civility, and honor should be viewed as the buffer or a layer developed and utilized to screen situations before the physical aspects of karate are used. This is a precept that provides the “Do” of karate its depth and meaning.

Other adjectives that should be a part of the “Do” in karate-do:

intent – restraint – action

intent: An anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions.

restraint: the act of controlling by restraining someone or something; discipline in personal and social activities.

action: something done (usually as opposed to something said); carry through: put in effect; execution of a decision.

humanity – justice – courtesy

humanity: the quality of being humane; regard for the health and well-being of another; compassionate.

justice: the quality of being just or fair.

courtesy: Etiquette is a code that governs the expectations of social behavior, according to the contemporary conventional norm within a society, social class, or group.

As one can readily determine by these precepts (precept – principle: rule of personal conduct) this is the metaphysical triad that must become one in order to temper and balance our practice of the fighting arts.