SEVEN TRAINING PRECEPTS
Karate is a martial art. You must practice with the utmost seriousness from the very beginning.
This means going beyond being simply diligent or sincere in your training. In every step, in every movement of your hand,
you must imagine yourself facing an opponent with a drawn sword. Each and every punch must be made with your entire body behind
it, with the feeling of destroying your opponent with a single blow. You must believe that if your punch fails, you will forfeit
your own life.
Try to do exactly as you are taught without complaining or quibbling. Only those lacking zeal and
unwilling to face up to themselves resort to quibbling. You cannot train through words. You must learn through your body.
Enduring pain and anguish as you strive to discipline and polish yourself; you must believe that if others can do it, you
can do it too.
When you are learning a new technique, practice it wholeheartedly until you truly understand it.
Do not crave to know everything all at once. Practice painstakingly. Karate has many techniques and kata. Do not fall into
the trap of thinking that because there is so much to learn, you should learn everything in a general way.
Don’t pretend to be a great master and don’t try to show off your strength. It is absurd
that many of those practicing the martial arts feel they must make a show of being a martial artist. The tendency to act big
or superior is usually most conspicuous among novices. By acting that way, they degrade and ruin the reputation of those seriously
practicing martial arts.
Remember that you must always have a deep regard for courtesy, and must be respectful and obedient
towards your seniors. There is no martial art that does not stress the importance of courtesy and respectful manners.
You must ignore the bad and adopt the good. When you observe the practice of others and discover
something that you should learn, try to master it without hesitation. If you see a man sliding into idleness, examine yourself
with strict eyes. When you see a man who is particularly good at kicking, ask yourself why his kick is so good. How can you
learn to kick like that; how does your kick differ? In this manner, you should be able to devise a method to improve your
kick. When you see a man that does not seem to improve, again ask yourself why.
Maybe he does not train enough or maybe he lacks determination. Ask yourself, does not the same hold true for you?
Think of everyday life as karate training. Do not think of karate as only belonging to the dojo,
nor only as a fighting method. The spirit of karate practice and the elements of training are applicable to each and every
aspect of our daily lives.
Master Gichin Funakoshi
KARATE-DO NYUMON
