Intentional design
Everything we do starts with why
Build with love
Our passion for the sport is what drive us
A team with purpose
Real snowboarders on a mission to elevate the sport of snowboarding
What do we stand for?
The Butter Dojo
In American snowboard culture, the term "butter" refers to a style of trick where the rider uses the flex of the snowboard to perform presses, spins, and surface tricks while keeping the board mostly in contact with the snow. It often involves shifting weight between the nose and tail of the board, using balance, finesse, and control to manipulate the snowboard in creative ways — much like “buttering” a piece of toast with smooth, flowing motion.
In Japanese, the term 道場 (dōjō) literally means:
- "Place of the Way"
Breaking it down:
- 道 (dō) = "the way" or "path" (as in bushidō – "the way of the warrior")
- 場 (jō) = "place" or "location"
Deeper Meaning:
A dojo is traditionally a training hall for martial arts like karate, judo, aikido, and kendo. But it's not just a gym — it’s a sacred space for disciplined practice, self-mastery, and learning a "way" of life. The dojo represents respect, repetition, and internal growth, not just physical skill.
In the same way, The Butter Dojo is more than just a brand — it's a community where like-minded snowboarders can come together to grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. Rooted in discipline, creativity, and presence, the dojo offers a path for riders to master their board, sharpen their focus, and deepen their connection to the mountain and themselves. Whether you're here to unlock new tricks or discover a new version of yourself, this is where your true journey begins.
At the heart of every product lies a unique story, driven by our passion for innovation and also the pain of our own journey. Each product is designed to enhance your progression in learning the art of Guratori
Our Mission
Spread the art of Guratori and inspire a new generation of riders
The feeling of being able to dance freely down the mountain, completely immersed in the present moment, is a feeling that words cannot explain. Our mission, is to help you experience that feeling.
How we aim to accomplish that is to guide you along the path of Shu-Ha-Ri (守破離) the Japanese concept of learning and mastery.
Shu (守)
The initial stage emphasizes learning and adhering to the fundamentals, techniques, and established wisdom of a sensei. This is where we come in and help you build a strong foundation.
Ha (破)
In the Ha stage, practitioners begin to question the established norms and explore variations and alternatives. They start to adapt the techniques to their own understanding and context, developing their own style and approach
Ri (離)
The final stage, Ri, signifies transcendence and mastery. Practitioners at this level have fully internalized the principles of the discipline and can act intuitively and creatively, going beyond the limitations of the original teachings. They may even innovate or develop new approaches based on their understanding.
Our Solution
Guiding you to mastery
We know the process of mastering Guratori is long and challenging. We are still in this process ourselves. That is why we are focused on creating solutions that will accelerate this process.
Between our free content across social media and our paid courses, we will equip you with the knowledge and technique to build a strong foundation.
But knowledge itself is not enough, for there are no shortcuts to mastery. It is built through repetition and discipline.
And that is why we created The Butter Pad. So that you can have a place to hone your skills regardless of what season it is.
I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.
Frequently asked questions
What is Guratori?
"Guratori" (グラトリ) is a snowboarding style, a contraction of the Japanese term "グラウンドトリック" (ground trick), referring to tricks performed on flat surfaces or gentle slopes, often involving spins and presses. It's a popular style for both beginners and advanced riders, focusing on creativity and style over big air.
- Ground Tricks: Guratori specifically involves performing tricks like spins (including 360s and more), presses (where the board is held in a specific position), and other maneuvers on flat or gently sloped terrain.
- Beginner-Friendly: SBN FREERUN says it is often seen as a good starting point for learning snowboarding, allowing riders to develop their balance and control before attempting more advanced jumps and features.
- Creativity and Style:While it can include technically challenging tricks, Guratori also emphasizes the rider's personal style and creativity in combining different elements.
Although flat ground tricks and butters originated in the United States, the Japanese have taken inspiration and turned it into a full fledged riding style. Every year they have dozens of Guratori battles / tournaments. The tricks and techniques they have developed has taken Asian snowboarding culture by storm.
Guratori is very similar to dance and martial arts requiring the practitioner to hone tricks over and over again until it looks smooth like butter.
The most engaging characteristic about this emerging new style of snowboarding is that the possibilities are utterly endless.
Once you have mastered the fundamentals, you can combine different presses and spins in endless configurations that feel unique to you!
Dive into the world of Guratori with The Butter Dojo!
What snowboard do I use?
If there was a short answer for the question it would be to get a japanese groundtrick board.
But the real answer is much more nuanced than that. Choosing a snowboard largely depends on the practitioners ideal riding style, skill level, and also physical attibutes.
In guratori (japanese style groundtricks) the rider needs their snowboard to become an extension of their body. To do accomplish this, the rider has to find a board that complements their strength.
Too stiff and the rider will be unable to bend and twist the board.
Too soft and the board won't support the rider in presses or propel them into the air while doing jump tricks.
What is The Butter Pad? Is it worth it?
The Butter Pad is a dry ski training mat developed by us to practice groundtricks on.
It is particularly useful for riders just getting into guratori because it allows you to hone basic techniques and combos without the added difficulty of sliding down a mountain.
It is also an incredibly useful training tool for practitioners who can't make it to the mountain as many times as they would like to.
I can't afford the course, what can I do?
The last thing we want is to have riders unable to pursue guratori because they cannot afford proper instruction.
Here is a general road map for you to follow:
- Basic Presses
- Press Spins
- Nose Up / Tail Up
- Ollies / Nollies
- Scissoring
- Drive Spin
- Owen
- Sone
How long will learning Guratori take?
This largely depends on how much time and effort you put into training. With the butter pad we've seend riders become really good in 2 years. Most of the japanese riders we've interviewed have been practicing guratori for 7+ years.
Who are we?
Our founder : Kai
A deluded optimist, Kai is the heart and soul behind The Butter Dojo. He envisions a future where millions of snowboarders will develop presence, self awareness, and mastery over the ego through the pursuit of Ground-Tricks mastery.
Who are we?
Our co-founder : Ernest
A man without a filter, Ernest is the brains behinds The Butter Dojo. He is consumed by the desire for Guratori knowledge and spends every waking moment researching and compiling information on Guratori techniques and equipment.
Our Products
The Butter Pad
The Butter Pad
