Physical Communication for Safety and Trust
A movement method from Japan
for maintaining safety without harming others.
Protecting safety, dignity, and trust through physical communication.
What is Godo?
Godo is a movement method developed in Japan.
It teaches how to maintain safety during physical interaction without harming the other person or yourself.
Rather than relying on strength or force, Godo uses body mechanics, balance, and natural movement to guide situations safely.
The purpose of Godo is not to control people, but to respond to difficult situations in ways that protect safety, dignity, and trust.
Godo can also be understood as a form of physical communication, a way of interacting with others through the body while maintaining respect and human dignity.
Why Godo Was Developed
Godo was born from the personal experience of its founder, Hiroki Doshin, within his own family.
Hiroki’s child has a disability and would sometimes experience intense panic. In those moments, there was a risk that people around the child might be injured, and there was also a possibility that the child himself could be hurt.
In response to these situations, Hiroki began applying the body movement principles he had learned through martial arts. He tried to find ways to respond that would prevent harm to both himself and his child.
Through this process, he discovered that by adjusting body movement and positioning—rather than using force to restrain—the child could sometimes calm down.
This experience led Hiroki to realize that the way the body is used can create a safer situation for everyone involved.
Later, Hiroki came to understand that similar situations occur not only within families but also in many other environments, such as schools, welfare facilities, and medical settings.
He realized that many people working in these environments needed ways to ensure safety without harming the person they were trying to support.
Hiroki then began working in caregiving settings, where he repeatedly tested and refined these methods through real-world practice.
Through years of practical experience and verification, these methods gradually developed into what is now known as Godo.
How Godo Is Different
Many martial arts focus on winning fights, controlling an opponent, or defeating an attacker.
Godo takes a different approach.
The goal of Godo is not victory over another person, but mutual safety.
Instead of overpowering someone, Godo seeks to guide situations in ways that prevent harm to both people.
Another difference is that Godo is designed not only for martial arts practitioners but also for people working in caregiving, education, and support environments.
Because of this, the techniques emphasize calm interaction, safety, and the preservation of human dignity.
In this sense, Godo can be understood not only as a physical method but also as a way of communicating through the body.
Principles of Godo
Godo is based on several fundamental principles.
Non-Harm
The techniques of Godo are designed to avoid causing injury.
When physical contact becomes necessary, the goal is to guide the situation safely rather than overpower the other person.
Non-Confrontation
Godo does not rely on force against force.
Instead of resisting movements directly, it uses balance, positioning, and timing to redirect the situation.
This approach helps prevent escalation.
Dignity and Trust
In caregiving and support environments, physical responses can strongly affect human relationships.Godo emphasizes protecting the dignity of the person being supported and maintaining trust between people.
Fields of Application
Godo is practiced in environments where safety and human interaction are important.
Examples include:
• Caregiving and welfare services
• Education and schools
• Disability support
• Medical environments
• Safety training for support professionals
In these fields, Godo is used as a method for maintaining safety while respecting the dignity of the person being supported.
Books
Publications explaining the philosophy and techniques of Godo.
Resources
You can learn more about Godo through the following materials
DVDs
Instructional videos demonstrating practical techniques
Videos
Online videos and demonstrations introducing the principles and applications of Godo.
Founder of Godo
Hiroki Doshin
Headmaster, International Godo Federation
Hiroki Doshin was born in January 1972 in Japan.From a young age he became interested in Bushido and martial arts after learning that his family lineage traces back to samurai of the Nabeshima domain in Saga.
He began martial arts training at the age of fifteen and studied Shorinji Kempo at seventeen. At nineteen he began training in karate and later received a black belt from the renowned karate master Hideyuki Ashihara.
He continued studying many Japanese martial arts including jujutsu, kenpo, and iaido, achieving the rank of sixth dan in iaido and serving as head instructor at his dojo.
He also researched international martial arts and combat sports including Chinese martial arts, boxing, Muay Thai, Savate, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
In addition to his martial arts career, Hiroki is the father of a son with an intellectual disability. Through his experience raising his child, he developed ways to guide panic situations safely without harming either person.
This experience eventually led to the development of the concept of Mutual Protection, which later became the foundation of Godo.
Hiroki later established the International Godo Federation and continues to work toward spreading the principles of Godo in caregiving, education, and support environments.
In 2022 the organization was incorporated as the General Incorporated Association Godo.