(To ask may be a moment’s shame, but not to ask and remain ignorant is a lifelong shame).

This adage signifies that we should never be too proud to seek knowledge. We should never be so concerned with ego and self-aggrandizement that we forget the quest for continuous improvement. If you don’t know what lies on the road ahead, ask one who has traveled it.

Orime Tadashi is a phrase that propounds the idea of presenting oneself properly in both appearance and conduct, both in and out of the Dojo. “Be careful with your thoughts because they can become words. Be careful with your words because they can become actions. Be careful with your actions because they can become habits. Be careful with your habits because they can become your character. Be careful with your character because it becomes you life”

The meaning of Giri is duty, responsibility, and honor. In the case of the relationship of the student to his Karate master, the student has a responsibility, debt, towards his master, because what the master is passing down to the student is unique. The obligation which the student has towards his Karate master is that no matter what the student will give or do for his master the student will never be able to repay the master for what he has given the student.

The philosophy behind Goju-Ryu is demonstrated in Master Chojun Miyagi's words, “Not to be hit, attacked or to hit/attack, the absence of conflict is the essence."