Gichin Funakoshi is considered the father of modern karate-do. Mr. Funakoshi was born in the Okinawan capital of Shuri into a family of the Shizoku class (upper class). Gichin Funakoshi was instructed by Yasutsune Azato and Yasutsune Itosu and was the founder of Shotokan Karate.
Mr. Funakoshi was responsible for spreading karate to Japan and subsequently around the world.
He summed up his views of karate with 20 precepts.
The 20 Precepts of Gichin Funakoshi 1. Karate begins with courtesy and ends with courtesy.
2. There is no first attack in karate.
3. Karate is an aid to justice.
4. First control yourself before attempting to control others.
5. Spirit first, technique second.
6. Always be ready to release your mind.
7. Accidents arise from negligence.
8. Do not think that karate training is only in the dojo.
9. It will take your entire life to learn karate, there is no limit.
10. Put your everyday living into karate and you will find "Myo" (subtle secrets).
11. Karate is like boiling water. If you do not heat it constantly, it will cool.
12. Do not think that you have to win, think rather that you do not have to lose.
13. Victory depends on your ability to distinguish vulnerable points from invulnerable ones.
14. The battle is according to how you move guarded and unguarded (move according to your opponent).
15. Think of your hands and feet as swords.
16. When you leave home, think that you have numerous opponents waiting for you. It is
your behaviour that invites trouble from them.
17. Beginners must master low stance and posture, natural body positions are for the advanced.
18. Practicing a kata is one thing, engaging in a real fight is another.
19. Do not forget to correctly apply: strength and weakness of power, stretching and contraction of
the body and slowness and speed of techniques.
20. Always think and devise ways to live the precepts every day.
Quotes from Gichin Funakoshi "To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the highest skill.
To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill."
"The ultimate aim of the art of karate lies not in victory or defeat,
but in the perfection of the characters of its participants."
