Kanzenki Karate Club

Shoto Niju Kun - the twenty precepts of Gichin Funakoshi

Inspired by the Ten Articles of Karate by Sensei Itosu, Sensei Funakoshi recorded his own Twenty Precepts (published in 1938), excellent advice for all students of karate.

Karate begins and ends with rei (courtesy and respect)
There is no first attack in karate
Karate stands on the side of justice
Know yourself before attempting to know others
Mentatlity is more important than technique
Set free your mind
Calamity springs from carelessness
Karate goes beyond the dojo
Karate is a life-long pursuit
Apply the way of karate to all things - therein lies its beauty
Karate is like boiling water - it must be kept heated or it will cool
Do not think of winning - think, rather, of not losing
Make adjustments according to your opponent
The outcome of a battle depends on how one handles emptiness and fullness (weakness/strength, hard/soft)
Think of the opponent's hands and feet as swords
When you step beyond your own gate you face a million enemies
Formal stances are for beginners - later one stands naturally
Perform kata exactly; actual combat is another matter
Do not forget the employment or withdrawal of power, the extension or contraction of the body, the swift or leisurely application of technique
Be constantly mindful, diligent, and resourceful in your pursuite of the Way (Karate-Do)

"The ultimate aim of the art of karate lies not in victory or defeat,
but in the perfection of the character of its participants"

- Gichin Funakoshi