Library's review
Gichin Funakoshi, 'the father of karate.' once said that 'the ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory nor defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants.'
To support this life-long stance and offer guidance to future practitioners, he penned his now legenday twenty principles.
Master Funakoshi's approach stresses spiritual considerations and mental agility over brute strength and technique. Practitioners should not rely on technqiue alone-striking, kicking, blocking-but must nurture the spiritual aspects of their practice as well. Attend to yourself and the rest will follow, was the message he set for posterity over sixty years ago.
As axioms, Funakoshi's principles are open to various interpretations, 'There is no first attack in karate' has occasioned endless discussion about its true meaning. Many of these ambiguities are clarified in the commentary, which is also filled with philosophical musings, fascinating historical episodes, and advice for anyone seeking a better Way.
Translated for the first time into English by John Teramoto, a karate practitioner himself, and accompanied by original calligraphy, this loing-awaited treatise is a provocative read and, for martial arts enthusiasts, a long overdue godsend.
Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957) is one of karate's great masters. Born in Okinawa, the birthplace of karate, he began training in the secret martial art as a child. In 1922, at the request of the Japanese government, he demonstrated the still-secret Okinawan art of self-defence on the Japanese mainland, which led to karate's introduction to the rest of Japan and subsequently the rest of the world. Funakoshi devoted the remainder of his life to this traditional sport and wrote several classics on the subject, incuding Karate-do Kyohan and Karate Jutsu, as well as an autobiorgraphy entitled Karate-do: My Way of Life.
Genwa Nakasone (1895-1978), between stints as a schoolteacher and a politician, was an editor and publisher of books on karate and martial arts, among them Karate-do Taikan, a ground-breaking compendium of karate texts and documents. Born in Okinawa, he was an early supporter of Funakoshi and in an ideal position to compile accurate annotations of the master's twenty principles.
John Teramoto was born in Los Angeles, california, and began karate trainng at the age of 13 under Tsutomu Oshima, reaching the rank of godan in 1990. Since 1998, he has served as the president of Shotokan Karate of America's Black Belt Council.
'A thoughtful and steady perusal of Master Funakoshi's axioms will lead us on a much deeper journey than we might initially expect. It is this aspect of the principles that makes them meaningful even to those who do not practice. Unexpectedly, technical points are forsaken for a more profound examination for the broader Way. The spotlight is shone on the mental acumen and spiritual reqirements, and the larger possibilities of the training. Attitude is emphasized over stance, spirit over form.'-from the Introduction.
Contents
Introduction by John Teramoto
Preface
1 Do not forget that karate-do 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, then know others
5 Mentality over technique
6 The mind must be set free
7 Calamity springs from carelessness
8 Karate goes beyond the dojo
9 Karate is a lifelong 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 tepid state
12 Do not think of 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 the opponent's hands and feet as swords
16 When o step beond your own gate, you face a million enemies
17 Kamae (ready stance) is for beginners; later, one stands in shizentai (natural stance)
18 Perform kata exactly; actual combat is another matter
19 Do not forget the employment or withdrawal of power, the extension or contraction of the body, the swift or leisurely apllication of technique
20 Be constantly mindful, diligent, and resourceful in your pursuit of the Way
To support this life-long stance and offer guidance to future practitioners, he penned his now legenday twenty principles.
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While the principles have circulated for years, a translation of the accompanying conmmentary has never found its way into publication-until now.Master Funakoshi's approach stresses spiritual considerations and mental agility over brute strength and technique. Practitioners should not rely on technqiue alone-striking, kicking, blocking-but must nurture the spiritual aspects of their practice as well. Attend to yourself and the rest will follow, was the message he set for posterity over sixty years ago.
As axioms, Funakoshi's principles are open to various interpretations, 'There is no first attack in karate' has occasioned endless discussion about its true meaning. Many of these ambiguities are clarified in the commentary, which is also filled with philosophical musings, fascinating historical episodes, and advice for anyone seeking a better Way.
Translated for the first time into English by John Teramoto, a karate practitioner himself, and accompanied by original calligraphy, this loing-awaited treatise is a provocative read and, for martial arts enthusiasts, a long overdue godsend.
Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957) is one of karate's great masters. Born in Okinawa, the birthplace of karate, he began training in the secret martial art as a child. In 1922, at the request of the Japanese government, he demonstrated the still-secret Okinawan art of self-defence on the Japanese mainland, which led to karate's introduction to the rest of Japan and subsequently the rest of the world. Funakoshi devoted the remainder of his life to this traditional sport and wrote several classics on the subject, incuding Karate-do Kyohan and Karate Jutsu, as well as an autobiorgraphy entitled Karate-do: My Way of Life.
Genwa Nakasone (1895-1978), between stints as a schoolteacher and a politician, was an editor and publisher of books on karate and martial arts, among them Karate-do Taikan, a ground-breaking compendium of karate texts and documents. Born in Okinawa, he was an early supporter of Funakoshi and in an ideal position to compile accurate annotations of the master's twenty principles.
John Teramoto was born in Los Angeles, california, and began karate trainng at the age of 13 under Tsutomu Oshima, reaching the rank of godan in 1990. Since 1998, he has served as the president of Shotokan Karate of America's Black Belt Council.
'A thoughtful and steady perusal of Master Funakoshi's axioms will lead us on a much deeper journey than we might initially expect. It is this aspect of the principles that makes them meaningful even to those who do not practice. Unexpectedly, technical points are forsaken for a more profound examination for the broader Way. The spotlight is shone on the mental acumen and spiritual reqirements, and the larger possibilities of the training. Attitude is emphasized over stance, spirit over form.'-from the Introduction.
Contents
Introduction by John Teramoto
Preface
1 Do not forget that karate-do 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, then know others
5 Mentality over technique
6 The mind must be set free
7 Calamity springs from carelessness
8 Karate goes beyond the dojo
9 Karate is a lifelong 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 tepid state
12 Do not think of 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 the opponent's hands and feet as swords
16 When o step beond your own gate, you face a million enemies
17 Kamae (ready stance) is for beginners; later, one stands in shizentai (natural stance)
18 Perform kata exactly; actual combat is another matter
19 Do not forget the employment or withdrawal of power, the extension or contraction of the body, the swift or leisurely apllication of technique
20 Be constantly mindful, diligent, and resourceful in your pursuit of the Way
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ISBN
4770027966 / 9784770027962
Publication
Kodansha International Tokyo New York London