20 Precepts of Karate
Philosophy of JKA
Before he established the JKA, Grandmaster Gichin Funakoshi laid out the Twenty Precepts of Karate, which form the foundations of the traditional Japanese art. Within these twenty principles, lies the philosophy of the JKA.
Never forget: karate begins with rei and ends with rei (Rei means courtesy or respect, and is represented in karate by bowing)
There is no first attack in karate
Karate supports righteousness
First understand yourself, then understand others
The art of developing the mind is more important than the art of applying technique
The mind needs to be freed
Trouble is born of negligence
Do not think karate belongs only in the dojo
Karate training requires a lifetime
Transform everything into karate; therein lies its exquisiteness
Genuine karate is like hot water; it cools down if you do not keep on heating it
Do not think of winning; you must think of not losing
Transform yourself according to the opponent
The outcome of the fight depends on one’s control
Imagine one’s arms and legs as swords
Once you leave the shelter of home, there are a million enemies
Postures are for the beginner; later they are natural positions
Do the kata correctly; the real fight is a different matter
Do not forget control of the dynamics of power, the elasticity of the body and the speed of the technique
Always be good at the application of everything that you have learned.