Gichin Funakoshi Quotes

The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants.

What you have been taught by listening to others' words you will forget very quickly; what you have learned with your whole body you will remember for the rest of your life.

True karate is this: that in daily life one's mind and body be trained and developed in a spirit of humility, and that in critical times, one be devoted utterly to the cause of justice.

Seek perfection of character. Be faithful. Endeavor. Respect others. Refrain from violent behaviour.

Once a kata has been learned, it must be practised repeatedly until it can be applied in an emergency, for knowledge of just the sequence of a kata in karate is useless.

In battle, do not think that you have to win. Think rather that you do not have to lose.

No matter how you may excel in the art of Karate, and in your scholastic endeavors, nothing is more important than your behavior and your humanity as observed in daily life.

Spirit first, technique second.

Only through training will a person learn his own weaknesses... He who is aware of his weaknesses will remain master of himself in any situation.

Beginners must master low stance and posture, natural body positions are for the advanced.

When you look at life think in terms of karate. But remember that karate is not only karate -- it is life.

To practice kata is not to memorize an order. Find the katas that work for you, understand them, digest them & stick with them for life.

Success, cannot be attained alone. Any person's time and power is limited. A wise leader enlists others in working toward organizational goals.

You must ignore the bad and adopt the good.

When two tigers fight, one is certain to be maimed, and one to die.

To search for the old is to understand the new.

Karate-do begins with courtesy and ends with rei.

Karate is like boiling water, if you do not heat it constantly, it will cool.

Inner mental technique is more important than the physical one.

Try to do exactly as you are taught without complaining or quibbling.

Karate is like boiling water: without heat, it returns to it's tepid state

The spirit of karate practice and the elements of training are applicable to each and every aspect of our daily lives.

In the past, it was expected that about three years were required to learn a single kata, and usually even an expert of considerable skill would only know three, or at most five, kata.

When you are learning a new technique, practice it wholeheartedly until you truly understand it.

Remember that you must always have a deep regard for courtesy, and you must be respectful and obedient toward your seniors.

The correct understanding of Karate and its proper use is Karate-do. One who truly trains in this do [way] and actually understands Karate-do is never easily drawn into a fight.

Students of any art, including Karate-do must never forget the cultivation of the mind and the body.

First know yourself, then know others.

Only a true weakling is capable of true courage.

Apply the way of karate to all things. Therein lies its beauty.

There is no first strike in Karate.

Always be ready to release your mind.

Don't pretend to be a great master and don't try to show off your strength.

In karate, hitting, thrusting, and kicking are not the only methods, throwing techniques and pressure against joints are included … all these techniques should be studied referring to basic kata

Karate is a defensive art from beginning to end.

One of the most striking features of karate is that it may be engaged in by anybody, young or old, strong or weak, male or female.

When you leave your home, think that you have numerous opponents waiting for you (it is your behavior that invites trouble from them).

Put Karate into your everyday living, that is how you will see true beauty.

Karate is a technique that permits one to defend himself with his bare hands and fists without weapons.

In time of grave public crisis, one must have the courage to face a million and one opponents.

Karate begins and ends with courtesy.

Since karate is a martial art, you must practice with the utmost seriousness from the very beginning.

It is important that karate can be practiced by the young and old, men and women alike.

The «way», who will pass it on straight and well?