Itosu Sensei's 10 Precepts of Tode
- Tode is primarily for the benefit of health. In order to protect one's parents or one's master, it is proper to attack a foe regardless of one's own life. Never attack a lone adversary. If one meets a villain or a ruffian one should not use tode but simply parry and step aside.
- The purpose of tode is to make the body hard like stones and iron; hands and feet should be used like the points of arrows; hearts should be strong and brave. If children were to practice tode from their elementary-school days, they would be well prepared for military service. When Wellington and Napoleon met they discussed the point that 'tomorrow's victory will come from today's playground'.
- Tode cannot be learned quickly. Like a slow moving bull, that eventually walks a thousand miles, if one studies seriously every day, in three or four years one will understand what tode is about. The very shape of one's bones will change
- Those who study as follows will discover the essence of tode: In tode the hands and feet are important so they should be trained thoroughly on the makiwara. In so doing drop your shoulders, open your lungs, take hold of your strength, grip the floor with your feet and sink your intrinsic energy to your lower abdomen. Practice with each arm one or two hundred times.
- When practicing tode forms (kata) make sure your back is straight, drop your shoulders, take your strength and put it in your legs, stand firmly and put the intrinsic energy in your lower abdomen, the top and bottom of which must be held together tightly.
- The bunkai (application of kata techniques) should be carefully practiced, one by one, many times. Because these techniques are passed on by word of mouth, take the trouble to learn the explanations and decide when and in what context it would be possible to use them. Observe principles of torite(grappling) and applications will be more easily understand.
- You must decide whether tode is for cultivating a healthy body or for defense.
- During practice you should imagine you are on the battle field. When blocking and striking make the eyes glare, drop the shoulders and harden the body. Now block the enemy's punch and strike! Always practice with this spirit so that, when on the real battlefield, you will naturally be prepared.
- Do not overexert yourself during practice because the intrinsic energy will rise up your face and eyes will turn red and your body will be harmed. Be careful.
- In the past many of those who have mastered tode have lived to an old age. This is because tode aids the development of the bones and sinews, it helps the digestive organs and is good for the circulation of the blood. Therefore, from now on tode should become the foundation of all sports lessons from elementary schools onward. If this is put into practice there will, I think, be many men who can win against ten aggressors.
Itosu's Ten Precepts of Karate (Tode Jukun), written October 1908
Funakoshi Sensei's 20 Precepts of Karate
1. Karate begins with courtesy and ends with courtesy.
2. There is no first attack in karate.
3. Karate is an aid to Justice.
4. First control yourself before attempting to control others.
5. Spirit first, technique second.
6. Always be ready to release your mind.
7. Accidents arise from neglect.
8. Do not think that Karate training is only in the dojo.
9. It will take your entire life to learn Karate; there is no limit.
10. Put your everyday living into Karate and you will find Myo (The subtle secrets!).
11. Karate is like boiling water. If you do not heat it constantly, it will cool.
12. Do not think that you have to win, think rather that you do not have to lose.
13. Victory depends on your ability to distinguish vulnerable points from invulnerable ones.
14. The battle is according to how you move guarded and unguarded (move according to your opponent!).
15. Think of your hands and feet as swords.
16. When you leave home, think that you have numerous opponents waiting for you.
17. It is your behavior that invites trouble from them.
18. Beginners must master low stance and posture; natural body positions are for the advanced.
19. Practicing a Kata is one thing, engaging in a real fight is another.
20. Do not forget to correctly apply: strength and weakness of power, stretching
and contraction of the body and slowness and speed of techniques.
2. There is no first attack in karate.
3. Karate is an aid to Justice.
4. First control yourself before attempting to control others.
5. Spirit first, technique second.
6. Always be ready to release your mind.
7. Accidents arise from neglect.
8. Do not think that Karate training is only in the dojo.
9. It will take your entire life to learn Karate; there is no limit.
10. Put your everyday living into Karate and you will find Myo (The subtle secrets!).
11. Karate is like boiling water. If you do not heat it constantly, it will cool.
12. Do not think that you have to win, think rather that you do not have to lose.
13. Victory depends on your ability to distinguish vulnerable points from invulnerable ones.
14. The battle is according to how you move guarded and unguarded (move according to your opponent!).
15. Think of your hands and feet as swords.
16. When you leave home, think that you have numerous opponents waiting for you.
17. It is your behavior that invites trouble from them.
18. Beginners must master low stance and posture; natural body positions are for the advanced.
19. Practicing a Kata is one thing, engaging in a real fight is another.
20. Do not forget to correctly apply: strength and weakness of power, stretching
and contraction of the body and slowness and speed of techniques.