Funakoshi satte upp en kalligrafibild med 20 visdomar om karate i sin dojo, vilket kallas NiJu-kun (=20 regler). Dessa ”regler” är grunden för den fostran och respekt som sprids genom karate till skillnad från många andra kampkonster.
Här är nijukun översatt till engelska:
Mr. Funakoshi’s 20 Principles of Karate
- In Karate, start with a bow and finish with a bow.
- There is no first attack in Karate
- Karate is a great assistance to justice.
- Know yourself first and then others.
- Spirit first: techniques second.
- Be ready to release your mind.
- Accidents come out of idleness.
- Do not think that you can learn Karate only in the Dojo.
- It will take your entire life to learn Karate.
- Karate-ize everything.
- Karate is just like hot water. If you do not give heat constantly, it will again become cold water.
- Do not think you have to win. Think, rather, that you do not have to lose.
- Victory depends on your ability to tell vulnerable points from invulnerable ones.
- Move according to your opponent.
- Consider your opponent’s hands and legs as you would sharp swords.
- As soon as you leave home for work, think that millions of opponents are waiting for you.
- Low stance for beginners; natural stance for advanced students.
- Practicing a Kata is one thing and engaging in a real fight is another.
- Do not forget:
(1) light and heavy application of power
(2) expansion and contraction of the body
(3) slowness and speed of techniques. - Devise at all times.
