11/03/2025
Gameness vs Bushido:
Disclaimer: I do not advocate for dog fighting. However, I do think it is wrong to think all fighting dogs are the same. I also have nothing against gamedogs themselves. I love my Pitties, BTs, etc… I simply disagree with the philosophy stewarding them.
With that in mind, allow me to make this clear: The Tosa is not "game", nor is it a gamedog. Period.
They never have been and never will be. To try to understand them on a scale of "gameness" is like trying to rate apples by how much they taste like a banana: It's a fundamental disconnect from the reality.
The Tosa is meant to be the embodiment of Bushido, which has absolutely nothing to do with “gameness.”
To best understand this, we need to understand the following:
1. Bushido is a set of values that comprise a philosophy.
2. “Gameness” is an attempt to build a philosophy around a single “virtue” that those who seek it, most often, don’t actually understand.
For purposes of this discussion, consider these Philosophies as two different ways to go about life. They are not the same thing, not even close.
Consider...
“Gameness” is shrouded in controversy and plenty of people in and out of gamedogs question it’s merit. On the other hand, Bushido is a set of virtues against which there is no law, by definition. Let me put it this way, if you met someone who truly sought to embody the simple and pure concept of “game” you would count them insecure, compensating, and unstable. You would wonder what was wrong with them. In contrast, people who seek to embody the simple and pure tenets of Bushido, is literally everyone (yes you, too), INCLUDING those who might or might not subscribe to “gameness” as a philosophy.
Moving on…
Tosas are the canine embodiment of Bushido. (We know this because Samurai were instructed to watch the Tosa, not for entertainment or fighting technique, but to learn Bushido.) Bushido is an entirely different philosophy from an entirely different world.
To make my point, please consider the following tenets of Bushido...
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1. Righteousness (義, gi)
Be acutely honest throughout your dealings with all people. Believe in justice, not from other people, but from yourself. To the true warrior, all points of view are deeply considered regarding honesty, justice and integrity. Warriors make a full commitment to their decisions.
2. Heroic Courage (勇, yū)
Hiding like a turtle in a shell is not living at all. A true warrior must have heroic courage. It is absolutely risky. It is living life completely, fully and wonderfully. Heroic courage is not blind. It is intelligent and strong.
3. Benevolence, Compassion (仁, jin)
Through intense training and hard work the true warrior becomes quick and strong. They are not as most people. They develop a power that must be used for good. They have compassion. They help their fellow men at every opportunity. If an opportunity does not arise, they go out of their way to find one.
4. Respect (礼, rei)
True warriors have no reason to be cruel. They do not need to prove their strength. Warriors are not only respected for their strength in battle, but also by their dealings with others. The true strength of a warrior becomes apparent during difficult times.
5. Honesty (誠, makoto)
When warriors say that they will perform an action, it is as good as done. Nothing will stop them from completing what they say they will do. They do not have to 'give their word'. They do not have to 'promise'. Speaking and doing are the same action.
6. Honour (名誉, meiyo)
Warriors have to face their ideal as judge of honor and character, they are accountable. They act with the knowledge that the decisions they make and how these decisions are carried out are a reflection of who they truly are. You cannot hide from yourself.
7. Duty and Loyalty (忠義, chūgi)
Warriors are responsible for everything that they have done and everything that they have said and all of the consequences that follow. They are immensely loyal to all of those in their care. To everyone that they are responsible for, they remain fiercely true.
8. Self-Control (自制, jisei)
The usual translation of jisei (自制) is "self-control," but the sei (制) in jisei means "to govern" or "to regulate," so the term "self-mastery" is a better fit. Once again, there are two sides, the omote and ura, involved in self-mastery.
One side of jisei is self-control, meaning to STOP oneself from doing impetuous or harmful things. The other aspect is self-discipline, which is forcing oneself to DO beneficial and intentional things. Together, self-control and self-discipline produce true jisei—self mastery.
Jisei in the context of Bushido refers to self-control, self-mastery, or self-discipline. It is a core principle of the samurai code of conduct, which emphasizes the ability to control one's emotions, desires, and actions to maintain composure, clear judgment, and rational behavior in all situations.
Key aspects of Jisei
*Mastery of emotions: It meant not being ruled by anger, fear, or other impulses, especially in high-pressure situations like combat.
*Disciplined action: Jisei ensured that a samurai's actions were deliberate and aligned with the principles of Bushido, rather than being impulsive or emotional.
*Personal integrity: It is deeply connected to a samurai's honor, requiring a high degree of self-restraint and accountability for their words and deeds.
*Holistic application: This principle applied to all aspects of a samurai's life, from the battlefield to their personal and social interactions.
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Again, Bushido is a set of values that comprise a philosophy. “Gameness” is an attempt to build a philosophy around a single “virtue”. Bushido was made by and for warriors who knew that, for instance, power without benevolence is tyranny. (仁, jin) Tyranny is not strength. Bushido presupposes the strength of the true warrior and rather than demanding “proof” by turning their sword against another for simple exposition it demands compassion and using the presupposed power for the benefit of others. (Power is not about you or your bragging rights. Or to put it differently, "With great power comes great responsibility.")
Bushido is meant to make a whole and complete human being, note there are no rules of fighting in Bushido. That is the wildest part!
For those who don’t know, Bushido is a compound word. It literally translates to
“Warrior Way”
That is, "the way of the warrior." Can we take a moment and consider the fact that there are no “Principles of how to stab efficiently.” or “Punch when you don’t have a knife.” etc… There are ZERO rules in Bushido about fighting. (There are principles that can be applied in fighting but they are not about fighting. Consider the principle of frugality, for instance...)
Not listed here are other principles associated with Bushido, like Frugality, Gyoji (Discipline), Filial piety (孝, kō), Wisdom (智, chi), Fraternity (悌, tei), Duty (義理, giri), yet we don’t find anything about fighting in the “Warrior code”.
Let that sink in for a minute…
Now, back to this question of if Tosas are “game”…
Everything else aside, tenets 3, 4, and 8 are the end of the discussion of whether the Tosa even can be game. Let us consider this a second further to practice application. Let’s answer a common question you may have about the breed's behavior...
For example:
Q - *Should Tosas be dog aggressive/reactive?
(* I say "should they be," not "are they," as you decide the outcome for your dogs by what you tolerate: If you raise them “game” then you should expect a game dog, in which case may God have mercy on your soul. I mean to answer the question of what the breed should be. With that in mind...)
A - What does bushido say?
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(仁, jin)
Through intense training and hard work the true warrior becomes quick and strong. They are not as most people. They develop a power that must be used for good. They have compassion. They help their fellow men at every opportunity. If an opportunity does not arise, they go out of their way to find one.
(礼, rei)
True warriors have no reason to be cruel. They do not need to prove their strength. Warriors are not only respected for their strength in battle, but also by their dealings with others. The true strength of a warrior becomes apparent during difficult times.
(自制, jisei)..a core principle of the samurai code of conduct, which emphasizes the ability to control one's emotions, desires, and actions to maintain composure, clear judgment, and rational behavior in all situations.
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So the answer is no.
(I am not talking about protectiveness or hunting instinct. The samurai doesn't carry the sword in vain; the Tosa is an excellent hunter with a great nose and an unmatched guardian. However, that is not what we are talking about right now.)
Disagreements/corrections aside, males never -attack- females, house pets, young dogs, etc... Females, while "bossier" than males, don't start fights as much as or for the same reasons as most dogs (though they'll happily join/end one). Tosas do not take the insecurity/fear/reactivity of other dogs personally because they have the intelligence and clarity of thought to see it for what it is. They do great with other dogs and creatures that respect peace and harmony.
Does that mean they won't fight ever? Absolutely not. The samurai does not carry the sword in vain. It's just that he doesn't LIVE by it, brandishing it at everyone he sees, incapable of just being. The Tosa is a warrior that seeks peace, harmony, and justice. They will not tolerate something that disrupts the harmony they have strived to maintain, but they do not maintain that harmony through fighting first.
Concerning other dogs: They are not "aggressive" but they are zealous and competitive.
The fully grown individual should see themselves beneath no other dog and they should be immensely competitive, but not reactive/insecure/etc... On that note, they will not hesitate to challenge a soul that mirrors their own, to prevail in their domain. You shouldn't have to watch a Tosa as closely around other dogs as you have to when they are around another Tosa.
So to compare...
* Gamedogs are marked as authentic by their uncontrollable desire to fight all dogs they see. Gameness is a concept of fighting from compulsion, it does not know peace because it does not know self-mastery. This philosophy creates individuals that are not whole, with a sole focus on one state of mind and far less or no regard for anything else. The fight is the end, the dog is the means. You cannot build a being around a momentary high.
* When they fight, Tosas fight from pure desire to dominate and compete. It is voluntary and not compulsive, as they choose only the ones they deem worthy opponents. They do not seek to kill outright and will not begrudge one who surrenders. They are unburdened by doubt, fear, insecurity, malice, etc. and their greatest tool is their mind: clarity of thought, balance, and surety.
Further, Tosas are marked as authentic by their ability to not fight and their habit of using their skill and talent to make peace without harm. Bushido is a philosophy that creates a complete being. The fight is a means, the complete dog is the end/goal.
For better or worse, Tosas were crafted after people who were doing what the the dogs were asked to do. They knew from personal experience that the warrior needs to win the battle against his/her own nature before they can challenge someone else. The Samurai were not just fighters, but public figures and public servants. They were fathers and mothers, widows and orphans, they were human first. Many lost the struggle against themselves, they were not perfect. However, for those who managed to do so, in balancing their humanity, they became legendary to this day. The canine embodiment of Bushido is no different.
No hate. Gamedogs are great animals for what they are, but they are set up to lose the internal battle by definition. Similarly, many breeds in the west are expected to work on impulse and judged by that. They are selected by impulse and then people try to teach commands (think Malinois puppies hanging off a man's pants who are then taught bitework). Tosas are selected on strength of character and balance, then the journey of character is continued from there. As the Japanese dogman would say, "Tosas are not taught to fight, any dog can fight." The Tosa's education is one of character and self-mastery.
There can be no comparison in philosophy:
In every second of every day, the Tosa fights only one opponent,
The gamedog, on the other hand, fights for only minutes to hours in life, fights at least two opponents and they fight the second because they have already lost to the first.
When you understand these philosophies you are better able to call out untruths and false narratives.
Like the ideas that:
* Pits or other bull breeds were bred into the Tosa “to increase gameness.” The Japanese didn’t have need or use for the notion of “gameness,” as Bushido was far older and more complete.
* Pits “have made a comeback in Japan and are being bred back into the Tosa since the 80s.”
When we look at the records we find that there are at least two breeds banned from being added into the Tosa in Japan for at least a few decades. They are the Pitbull and the Presa. The reason given was “Such individuals are impulsive, undisciplined, and dangerous.”
Now you know why that matters.
So in closing...
No. The Tosa is not "game."
That is why they are so capable of whatever you give them to do in or out of the ring. They will continue to embody Bushido even when the ring is gone.
Again, the Tosa is not "game." Period.
That is why the Tosa Token, proper, is without equal.
Thank you for reading. I hope this makes sense.
