Precept 3: Karate Stands on the Side of Justice

Precept 3: Karate Stands on the Side of Justice

Gichin Funakoshi’s third precept “karate stands on the side of justice” (一、空手は義の補け Hitotsu, karate wa, gi no tasuke) naturally follows the second precept “there is no first strike in karate”. While the second precept asks karate students...
Precept 4: First Know Yourself Then Know Others

Precept 4: First Know Yourself Then Know Others

“First know yourself, then know others” (一、先づ自己を知れ而して他を知れ Hitotsu, mazu jiko o shire, shikashite ta o shire) is the fourth of the twenty precepts that Gichin Funakoshi wrote to guide his students in the development of both spiritual and technical aspects...
Precept 5: Mentality Over Technique

Precept 5: Mentality Over Technique

“Mentality over technique” (一、技術より心術 Hitotsu, gijutsu yori shinjutsu) is the fifth of the twenty precepts that Gichin Funakoshi wrote to guide his students in their martial arts and character development. This post discusses its meaning and how it might be...
Precept 6: The Mind Must Be Set Free

Precept 6: The Mind Must Be Set Free

“The Mind Must Be Set Free” (一、心は放たん事を要す Hitotsu, kokoro wa hanatan koto o yōsu) is the sixth of the twenty precepts that Gichin Funakoshi wrote to guide his students in their martial arts and character development. As mentioned in discussions of precepts...
Precept 7: Calamity Springs from Carelessness

Precept 7: Calamity Springs from Carelessness

“Calamity springs from carelessness” is the seventh of the twenty precepts that Gichin Funakoshi wrote to guide his students in their martial arts and character development. This seventh precept is written in Japanese as “一、禍は懈怠に生ず Hitotsu, wazawai wa ketai ni...
Precept 8: Karate Goes Beyond the Dojo

Precept 8: Karate Goes Beyond the Dojo

“Karate goes beyond the dojo” is the eighth of the twenty precepts of karate written by Gichin Funakoshi. This precept is written in Japanese as “一、道場のみの空手と思ふな Hitotsu, dōjō nomi no karate to omou na”. There are a number of different translations but with...