Principles of Conduct
At the core of NCK are Professor Cerio's five Principles of Conduct. As a student of NCK, you are to pay strict attention to learn and not break any of the five. They are as follows:
EFFORT
Effort is the foundation of the Principles of Conduct. It is the catalyst by which you achieved the other four. Effort was not just to give 100 percent. It is to give 100 percent consistently. It takes discipline to give consistent effort. That is what Professor Cerio always looked for.
ETIQUETTE
Etiquette is the unsung hero of the five Principles of Conduct. It is not good enough to give great effort in the dojo. Professor Cerio expected that you give great effort outside the dojo as well. That meant manners and treating others with respect. It again takes effort and discipline to have good etiquette. Not just to your friends, but also to people that would do you harm. This was greatly valued by Professor Cerio. This can be summed up in one of Professor Cerio's more famous quotes: "To win a fight without fighting, that's the true goal of a Martial Artist."
SINCERITY
Sincerity is the silent hero of the Principles of Conduct. In short, it means honesty. It's easy to tell the truth when you think you'll be rewarded for doing so. It's not so easy to tell the truth when you think there will be negative consequences for doing so. Professor Cerio greatly admired those people who would tell him the truth to his questions and not just tell him what you thought he wanted to hear. He sometimes would ask you a question to test your sincerity. He could tell the difference instantly and you earned his respect by being honest with him.
CHARACTER
Character is doing the right thing even when nobody is watching. Again, we get back to effort and discipline. Does one put the extra effort into their work or does one settle for less than they are capable because of their lack of discipline. Character was tested regularly by Professor Cerio. Many times he didn't fully know who he could trust. If you were a longtime friend or student of Professor Cerio's, then you know how he tested your character. It may be in your lesson or by him asking you to do a favor for him. In the end, your actions speak louder than your words.
SELF-CONTROL
Self-control is achieving the discipline to know when to act and not to act to achieve a desired outcome. More often then not, the greater self-control is knowing when not to act. Self-control is the culmination of the Principles of Conduct. It starts with effort and discipline. The self-control of showing kindness and respect toward others in the form of Etiquette. Also self-control can only be achieved by being honest with yourself and your true emotions and character. Thus, self-control is the true goal of the Principles of Conduct. To obtain self-control meant more than just knowing the other four, it meant a consist effort over time to master the other four.
