Dōjō and Zendō

A dojo (道場 dōjō^?) is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way".

Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples.

The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to conduct training, examinations and other related encounters.

The concept of a dōjō as a martial arts training place is a Western concept; in Japan,^{[citation needed]} any physical training facility, including professional wrestling schools, may be called dōjō because of its close martial arts roots.

A proper Japanese martial arts dōjō is considered special and is well cared for by its users.

The term dōjō is also used to describe the meditation halls where Zen Buddhists practice zazen meditation. It is sometimes used instead of the term "zendo" which is more specific, and more widely used. European Sōtō Zen groups affiliated with the International Zen Association prefer to use "dōjō" instead of zendo to describe their meditation halls as did their founding master, Taisen Deshimaru.