by Matthew

This is what they say down at the dojo:

礼に始まり礼に終る

Not that I have ever set foot in one. But if you watch the judo or sumo on TV you get it.

Bow;
Kick arse;
Bow.

My student said he was keen for his son to learn karate because it would teach him these things about life, as well as kicking [...]

by Matthew

義を見てせざるは勇なきなり
ぎをみてせざるはゆうなきなり

which means:
道義を知る者が、正しいことと知りつつ、それをしないのは、ほんとうの勇気がないからだ。孔子の言葉。君子として恥ずべき事として挙げたことの一つ。語:義物事の理に叶った正しい筋道。道義。
If a person who knows moral principles, while knowing the right course of action, does not follow it, they are not truly brave. These are the words of Confucius (孔子・こうし). As a man of virtue (君子・くんし)…. [I get stuck here...]
This bit 理に叶った is an idiom — means “be reasonable”. The rest of it stumps [...]

もし、おやじは日本語が話せば…

by Matthew

こう言うことを言うだろうと思う:

五十歩百歩
ごじっぽひゃっぽ

or if you prefer: “Six of one, half a dozen of the other.” Less poetically put as: “There is not much to choose between the two.”