The Essence of Gichin Funakoshi's
Karate
is in these Precepts
| 1. Karate begins and ends with
courtesy. |
11. Karate is like hot water;
without constant heat it will become cold. |
| 2. There is no first attack in
karate. |
12. Do not think that you have
to win. Rather think that you do not have to lose. |
| 3. Karate is an auxiliary of
justice. |
13. Victory depends on the
ability to distinguish vulnerable points from invulnerable ones. |
| 4. First know yourself, then
know others. |
14. The fight depends on how you maneuver guarded and unguarded positions. |
| 5. Techniques are inferior to intuition/spirit. |
15. Think of the hands and feet
as swords. |
| 6. Always be ready to release
your mind. |
16. When you leave home think
that you have one million enemies. Your behavior invites trouble from them. |
| 7. Misfortune always comes out
of negligence. |
17. Beginners must master stance
and posture; natural body position for advanced. |
| 8. Do not think that karate
training is only in the dojo. |
18. Practicing a kata is one
thing, and engaging in a real fight is another. |
| 9. Karate practice is for your entire life; there is no limit. |
19. Do not forget strength and
softness of power, stretching and contraction of the body, slowness and speed of the techniques. Apply these correctly. |
| 10. Put your everyday living
into karate and you will find a subtle mystery. |
20. Always think and devise ways
to live the precepts every day. |
