the 7-5-3 Code

The 7-5-3 Code is a philosophy developed in the tradition of providing warriors with values by which to live their lives. It is largely inspired by the Samurai principles of Bushido, the code of moral principles observed by ancient Japanese warriors. Bushido (literally: “the way of the warrior”) was originated to temper the everyday violence of the samurai’s training and vocation with a moral code of conduct by which they could conduct themselves. The samurai developed this code to keep themselves from straying too far from a righteous path.

Practitioners of any martial art face humility every time they step on the mat, and this tends to help ground them in their daily lives. Studying their code of conduct can further cement within us of us the principles of right living.

The 7-5-3 Code is broken into 3 sections:

The 7 Virtues of a Warrior

The 7 Virtues of a Warrior help to guide the jiujiteiro in his interactions with others. With these virtues in mind we can hope to do right by others and ourselves, and not allow training to falsely inflate the ego, sense of power, and importance.

• Rectitude
• Courage
• Benevolence
• Politeness/Propriety
• Honesty/Sincerity
• Honor
• Loyalty
  

The 5 Keys to Health

The 5 Keys to Health assist each of us in ensuring that we are at our most physically fit, so that training does not suffer.

• Rational Nutrition
• Sensible Exercise
• Efficient Rest
• Proper Hygiene
• Positive Attitude
  

The 3 States of Mind

The 3 States of Mind guide our inner relationship, so that we think with clear mindedness and wisdom.

• Zanshin – Alertness/Awareness (Preparedness)
• Mushin – Clear Mind
• Fudoshin – Emotional Balance
  

This code aims at helping to give anyone a guiding set of principles to assist with our interactions with others, with health, and with self-awareness. As with other systems of thought, it is good to contemplate the ideas it contains daily until one understands and internalizes the concepts.