Jan 22 (edited) in Budō and Shotokan culture
Gichin Funakoshi Sensei's Nijū Kun
To follow up on the Guidelines post, here is an introduction to Gichin Funakoshi Sensei's Nijū Kun, the twenty Guiding Principles of Karate.
Of course a must-have book for all Shotokan Karate practitioners!
Naturally, the following translation is not perfect and is not done word for word.
But I have tried to stick as closely as possible to the original statements, sometimes adding a little context to make them more understandable.
You will also find in parentheses a very short note to clarify each precept a little more.
So here is a summary of these 20 magnificent precepts that we strive to live and respect through our Karate-do practice:
一、空手道は礼に始まり礼に終る事を忘るな
Hitotsu, karate-dō wa rei ni hajimari rei ni owaru koto o wasuruna
Do not forget that Karate-do begins and ends with Rei.
("Rei" is sometimes translated as "bow" or "a bow", but it rather refers to the respect for etiquette and courtesy specific to Japanese Budō)
一、空手に先手なし
Hitotsu, karate ni sente nashi
There is no first attack in karate.
(Karate-ka should not attack first, Karate must only be used to protect lives and as a reaction to adversity)
一、空手は義の補け
Hitotsu, karate wa, gi no tasuke
Karate stands on the side of justice.
(Justice can also refer to righteousness)
一、先づ自己を知れ而して他を知れ
Hitotsu, mazu jiko o shire, shikashite ta o shire
First know yourself and then know others.
(Do not care about what others do and think, instead try to master yourself and your own path)
一、技術より心術
Hitotsu, gijutsu yori shinjutsu
Mind takes precedence over technique.
(Always put spirit first, in Dojo as in life progress is always a process from the inside out)
一、心は放たん事を要す
Hitotsu, kokoro wa hanatan koto o yōsu
The heart must be free.
(The heart also refer to the spirit, and the notion of freedom can also mean letting go)
一、禍は懈怠に生ず
Hitotsu, wazawai wa ketai ni shōzu
Misfortune arises from carelessness.
(Calamity springs from laziness and lack of vigilance)
一、道場のみの空手と思ふな
Hitotsu, dōjō nomi no karate to omou na
Karate goes beyond the dojo.
(Don't think that Karate is confined to the Dōjō)
一、空手の修業は一生である
Hitotsu, karate no shūgyō wa isshō de aru
Practicing Karate is a lifelong pursuit.
(When you really start Karate, you will never quit because it's a journey that teaches, supports and rewards you throughout your life)
一、凡ゆるものを空手化せよ其処に妙味あり
Hitotsu, arayuru mono o karate kaseyo; soko ni myōmi ari
Apply Karate in everything, therein lies its beauty.
(The spirit and philosophy behind Karate can be used in all aspects of life)
一、空手は湯の如し絶えず熱度を与えざれば元の水に還る
Hitotsu, karate wa yu no gotoshi, taezu netsu o ataezareba moto no mizu ni kaeru
Karate is like boiling water; if you don't constantly heat it, it will return to its original state.
(Never stop practicing! If you stop, your level will inevitably decrease)
一、勝つ考は持つな負けぬ考は必要
Hitotsu, katsu kangae wa motsuna; makenu kangae wa hitsuyō
Don't have a mindset that seeks victory, but rather cultivate a mindset that seeks not to lose.
(Victory or defeat are very subjective, and you inevitably encounter both in life. The important thing is not to win according to external criteria, but to protect what you are inside yourself and not to be destroyed psychologically and spiritually)
一、敵に因って轉化せよ
Hitotsu, teki ni yotte tenka seyo
Make adjustments according to your enemy.
(Adapt your mind and technique to your enemy)
一、戦は虚実の操縦如何に在り
Hitotsu, tatakai wa kyojitsu no sōjū ikan ni ari
The outcome of a battle depends on how you handle emptiness and fullness.
(Here we can find the concepts of Yin and Yang, the balance between all opposing forces and states)
一、人の手足を剣と思へ
Hitotsu, hito no teashi o ken to omoe
Think of your limbs as swords.
(Almost the entire body can be use as a weapon)
一、男子門を出づれば百万の敵あり
Hitotsu, danshi mon o izureba hyakuman no teki ari
When you step out your gate, you will face a million enemies.
(We must always strive towards a state of full vigilance)
一、構は初心者に後は自然体
Hitotsu, kamae wa shoshinsha ni ato wa shizentai
Formal structures are for beginners; for others, everything become natural.
(Beginners practice formal postures and techniques, experienced practitioners use Shizentai - natural body/postures)
一、形は正しく実戦は別物
Hitotsu, kata wa tadashiku, jissen wa betsumono
Strive for perfection in Kata, actual combat is another matter.
(In Karate, we always try to build a strong spirit, body and techniques, but no matter how intense the training, it will always be just training. We must always remain humble and keep in mind that the real fight - without any rules - involves many factors and that's a completely different matter)
一、力の強弱体の伸縮技の緩急を忘るな
Hitotsu, chikara no kyōjaku, karada no shinshuku, waza no kankyū o wasuruna
Don't forget the use of release and power, expansion and contraction in techniques and to modulate your speed of execution.
(In Karate, we use several principles to generate speed and power - which is part of what we call Kime - and we must learn to adapt our way of performing techniques depending on the context in which we operate)
一、常に思念工夫せよ
Hitotsu, tsune ni shinen kufū seyo
Always be thoughtful in your pursuit of the Way.
(We must always think, act and practice mindfully)
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it!
OSS!
Nicolas
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Gichin Funakoshi Sensei's Nijū Kun
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