The 20 Guiding Principles of Karate by Gichin Funakoshi

In 1938, Gichin Funakoshi published *Karate-Do Kyohan*, his most comprehensive work on the art. Within it he set out the Niju Kun — twenty guiding principles that form the ethical and philosophical backbone of Shotokan karate. The principles cover the full spectrum of martial life, from the famous first principle — *Karate wa rei ni hajimari rei ni owaru koto wo wasuruna* ("Karate begins and ends with rei/respect") — to the equally profound twentieth: *Tsune ni shinen kufu seyo* ("Always think and devise ways to live the precepts every day"). Here are five of the most widely studied: 1. **Karate ni sente nashi** — There is no first attack in karate. This principle reminds us that karate is defensive in nature and that the karateka never seeks confrontation. 2. **Dojo no karate wa honmono no karate da** — Karate in the dojo is one thing; real karate is another. Technical proficiency must be matched by genuine character. 3. **Karate no shugyo wa issho de aru** — Karate training is a lifelong pursuit. There is no graduation, no endpoint — only continuous refinement. 4. **Subete wa kokoro no mochiyou ni yotte kimaru** — Everything comes down to how you use your mind. Mental discipline is as important as physical training. 5. **Wasureruna karate wa nanji no te ni aru** — Never forget: karate is in your hands. Ultimately, the responsibility for character and progress lies with each practitioner. The Niju Kun is regularly posted on the walls of traditional dojos worldwide. Studying them as carefully as we study our kata is the mark of a serious Shotokan karateka.