The 20 guiding principles of karate

Gichin Funakoshi was the founder of Shotokan, and is considered by many to be the most influential person involved in the popularisation and growth of modern karate. One of his most quoted works is his 20 guiding principles, (Niju Kun) in which he enunciates what he considers to be the most important philosophies for a karateka to understand and follow. It was published in 1938, long after he had altered karate to make it consumer-friendly, but it is suggested that the ideas were first penned (or brushed) in 1890 when he was jst 22, in which case, you might view them as the zealous gushings of a young man. If they were devised in 1938, when Funakoshi was 70 years old, then you may view them as the distillation of a lifetime in karate do.

Some of them seem to be reworded repeats, and some you may disagree with entirely. Nevertheless, you will hear these endlessly quoted and misquoted, as if their mere existence gives them divine truth. That's not the case. Funakoshi was just a man: he put on his hakama one leg at a time, just like the rest of us. But I think that there are many lessons to learn from them. I think that to understand their deeper meanings, you must realise that they pertain to karate do - the way of karate, not mere karate jutsu - the study of techniques. Do encompasses spiritual and emotional philosophies, as well as physical principles and tactics. Study well, and adopt as you see fit...

1. Do not forget that Karate begins and ends with rei
2. There is no first strike in karate
3. Karate stands on the side of justice
4. First know yourself and then know others
5. Mentality over technique
6. The heart must be set free
7. Calamity springs from carelessness
8. Karate goes beyond the dojo
9. Karate is a life-long pursuit
10. Apply the way of karate to all things. Therein lies its beauty
11. Karate is like boiling water, without heat it returns to its tedip state
12. Do not think about winning; think rather of not losing
13. Make adjustments according to your opponent
14. The outcome of a battle depends on how one handles emptiness and fullness (weakness and strength)
15. Think of hands and feet as swords
16. When you step beyond your own gate, you face a million enemies
17. Formal stances are for beginners; later one stands naturally
18. Perform prescribed sets of techniques exactly; actual combat is another matter
19. Do not forget the employment of withdrawal of power, the extension or contraction of the body, the swift or leisurely application of technique

20. Be constantly mindful, diligent, and resourceful, in your pursuit of the Way

Please note, Funakoshi prefixes each principle with the word "hitotsu" meaning first or one. This is done to make it clear that all principles are of equal importance.


1. Do not forget that Karate begins and ends with rei

Hitotsu, karate-do wa rei ni hajimari rei ni owaru koto a wasaru na
一、空手道は礼に始まり礼に終る事を忘るな

Rei, or a bow, symbolises respect. Respect for others and respect for the art. But more importantly, it shows an attitude of humility that means one is open to learn, and to receive new ways of thinking.


2. There is no first attack in karate

Hitotsu, karate ni sente nashi
一、空手に先手なし

Karate ka should not be aggressive in their attitude, nor look to provoke trouble. We should not be the ones to start hostility. This does not mean that we cannot throw the first blow if it is clear that we are about to be attacked.


3. Karate stands on the side of justice

Hitotsu, karate wa, gi no tasuke
一、空手は義の補け

The do of karate do, is "the way". This way, which comes to us from the budo code of ancient warriors, says that we should not use our skills for unjust pursuits such as bullying or rabble-rousing. In fact, we should have the courage to stand up (verbally or physically) for the weak when we see them under attack. With power comes responsibility.


4. First know yourself and then know others

Hitotsu, mazu onore o shire, shikashite ta o shire

一、先づ自己を知れ而して他を知れ

To know the ways of conflict, you must understand yourself. This refers both to your physical abilities, but also to your mind. There is no point understanding the way the world works if you do not understand how you interact with it.


5. Mentality over technique

Hitotsu, gijitsu yori shinjitsu
一、技術より心術

A sharp mind may defeat the sharpest weapon. Whether you use tactics to avoid a fight, or talk to diffuse one, your mind is your first weapon. Once the violence begins, it is your tactics that give you the greatest chance of winnng, not your physical abilities.


6. The heart must be set free

Hitotsu, kokoro wa hanatan koto o yosu
一、心は放たん事を要す

Do not get stuck into linear ways of thinking. Open your mind to all possibilities. Do not be trapped by your emotions - free your actions from emotional responses.


7. Calamity springs from carelessness

Hitotsu, wazawai wa ketai ni seizu
一、禍は懈怠に生ず

Carelessness or casualness in your words or actions towards others can cause offence and conflict. Carelessness or casualness in your personal affairs or training can bring about disaster in those areas.


8. Karate goes beyond the dojo
Hitotsu, dojo nomino karate to omou na
一、道場のみの空手と思ふな
Karate is not just something that is switched on and off as you enter and leave the dojo. Matters such as posture, movement and strength should be attended to all the time as you go through your daily life. The do in karate do, means that you should hold yourself to a high physical and moral standard at all times.


9. Karate is a life-long pursuitHitotsu, karate-do no shugyo wa isssho de aru
一、空手の修業は一生である
Once you have embarked upon the way, it becomes a never ending quest for refinementnt in the pursuit of unattainable perfection - just like the Borg. As with healthy eating, or being courteous, there is no point at which karate do ceases to be valuable and beneficial.


10. Apply the way of karate to all things. Therein lies its beauty
Hitotsu, ara yuru mono o karateka seyo; sokoni myomi ari
一、凡ゆるものを空手化せよ其処に妙味あり
Because karate encompasses so many aspects, both physical and spiritual, everything you do in your life has aspects that pertain to your training. Self discipline at school or work, posture on the dance floor, courtesy to friends or elders


11. Karate is like boiling water, without heat it returns to its tepid state
Hitotsu, karate Wa Yu No Gotoku Taezu Netsu O Atae Zareba Motono Mizuni Kaeru
一、空手は湯の如し絶えず熱度を与えざれば元の水に還る
Karate is only truly effective when it is at its sharpest, but it will only stay sharp with constant practice. If you take even a week or two off training, it will start to dull noticeably.


12. Do not think about winning; think rather of not losing
Hitotsu, katsu kangae wa motsuna; makenu kangae wa hitsuyo
一、勝つ考は持つな負けぬ考は必要
If you are obsessed with victory, you may adopt aggressive tactics that expose vulnerabilities that can be exploited, and you will become predictable. If your goal is simply not to be defeated, you may attack or defend, counter or evade. Your only goal is not to be defeated. Just like Commander Data demonstrated in "Peak Performance".


13. Make adjustments according to your opponent
Hitotsu, tekki ni yotte tenka seyo
一、敵に因って轉化せよ
You cannot use a one-size fits all fighting tactic. Against a fast opponent, your tactics must be very different than against a slow powerful one for instance. This principle applies in any confrontational situation, such as interactions with your boss or partner.


14. The outcome of a battle depends on how one handles emptiness and fullness (weakness and strength)
Hitotsu, tattakai wa kyo-jitsu no soju ikan ni ari
一、戦は虚実の操縦如何に在り
Don't try to hammer a square peg into a round hole when fighting. Don't use irrational tactics, such as going toe to toe with a very physically strong fighter. Contract or evade when your opponent attacks. Expand or attack when he contracts. Find the rhythm of combat and fight in harmony with it.


15. Think of hands and feet as swords
Hitotsu, hi to no te-ashi wa ken to omoe
一、人の手足を剣と思へ
Just as you can hack and stab with a sword, your hands and feet can be used in the same way and should be conditioned accordingly. Targets that are vulnerable to a sword can usually be attacked in a similar way using hands or feet.


16. When you step beyond your own gate, you face a million enemies
Hitotsu, danshi mon o izureba hyakuman no teki ari
一、男子門を出づれば百万の敵あり
Danger lies all around us as soon as we leave the relative safety of our familiar domains (home, the area we live; even our traditional ways of thinking), so remain ever vigilant. By "foes" Funakoshi is probably not referring simply to physical enemies, but any of the dangers that exist in daily life.


17. Formal stances are for beginners; later one stands naturally
Hitotsu, kamae wa shoshinsha ni atowa shizentai
一、構は初心者に後は自然体
In his Book of Five Rings Miyamoto Musashi cautioned that you should only use natural footwork, cautioning against having your mind in your feet. Stances are ways for beginners to learn how to use their weight and position their bodies for or against action. Once those lessons are learned and internalised, the discrete stances are no longer necessary, and you should lift your mind out of your feet, moving smoothly and fluidly into whatever position is most beneficial.


18. Perform kata exactly; actual combat is another matter
Hitotsu, kata wa tadashiku, jisen wa betsumono
一、形は正しく実戦は別物
Kata is not merely the practice of combat moves, but a zen discipline of physical and spiritual mastery. If you practice kata solely as combat you will miss the other benefits. However, always remember that real combat is far less predictable; far messier and nastier than kata. Kata is like an idealised drawing of combat.


19. Do not forget the employment of withdrawal of power, the extension or contraction of the body, the swift or leisurely application of technique
Hitotsu, chikara no kyojaku tai no shinshuku waza no kankyu
一、力の強弱体の伸縮技の緩急を忘るな
Use a full range of application in your techniques. It is not enough to always be powerful, or always fast, nor to always attack or always defend.


20. Be constantly mindful, diligent, and resourceful, in your pursuit of the Way
Hitotsu, tsune ni shinen ku fu seyo
一、常に思念工夫せよ
Always be thinking, always committed, and be creative and versatile about your practice of karate do and the knowledge of fighting and peace.

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