Gichin Funakoshi Sensei

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="05d785a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Isshinryu Karate Do, Stamford Dojo</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Stamford Dojo"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photos"><U><B><IMG SRC="03b0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="up" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>   </B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14"><B>     </B><A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Megami"><U><B><IMG SRC="02f0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="previous" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  </B><A HREF="id100.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Karate Do Shotokai Kanji"><U><B><IMG SRC="0300e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="next" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="1d278643.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0099FF" FACE="Arial" >Funakoshi Gichen</FONT> Soke was a student of Okinawan Masters.  He came to Japan to start the Karate Do Shotokai (later to be known as Shotokan / Shodokan Karate) and The Japan Karate Association.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="1d278643.jpg"> <div> <B> <A NAME="gichin_funakoshi_sensei"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Gichin Funakoshi Sensei</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="#the" TITLE="Gichin Funakoshi Sensei"><U><IMG SRC="22d27310.gif" border=0 width="39" height="49" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="b66b8420.jpg" border=0 width="440" height="578" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="the"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <B>The indiscriminate use of the art of karate would cause great public concern and one cannot deny its potential dangers. However, it would be regrettable that pursuit of this mysterious art, of which one can be properly so proud, should be shunned simply because it is too dangerous. The source of concern is largely based on the misconceptions arising from instructors of poor character, who thoughtlessly place the emphasis of training on the techniques rather than on the spiritual aspects of the Do [Tao or Way], and form this misbehavior and poor attitudes of karate students who are learning this art solely as a technique of fighting. There are even extreme cases in which students are actually encouraged to employ their karate in brawls.  Such admonitions are "You can never improve or polish your techniques without some actual applications in fights" or " If you cannot beat so and so, then perhaps you had better quit karate training altogether" are truly grievous for the reputation of Karate-Do. However, such talk only shows the lack of sense of those who know nothing at all about Karate-Do.  Properly conceived and taught and practiced in the true spirit of Karate-Do, this art is not only the antithesis of a present danger but it in fact admits few equals as a thoroughly noble martial art (budo).</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The writer has always told his students, "Art does not make the man, the man makes the art." Students of any art, clearly including Karate-Do, must never forget the cultivation of the mind and the body. In karate-Do, one's individual goal might be improvement of his health or training of his body to function efficiently. He might wish to develop the strength of his arms or legs or body, or to attain poise and spiritual fortitude. Clearly, one could wish to learn Karate-Do to become humble. All such goals have to do with self-development. In contrast, in the moment that one misuses the techniques, for example in fighting in such a way that he injures another or himself, or brings dishonor upon himself, he nullifies any of these benefits and merits of Karate-Do, Such misuse, arising from superficial understanding, is in fact self-defeating.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Through the man, techniques become art, I must earnestly repeat: do not misuse the techniques of karate. True karate, that is Karate-Do, strives internally to train the mind to develop a clear conscience enabling one to face the world truthfully, while externally developing strength until one may overcome even ferocious wild animals.  Mind and technique are to become one in true karate.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Those who follow Karate-do must consider courtesy of prime importance</B><B>.</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> Without courtesy, the essence of Karate-Do is lost, </B></FONT><B>Courtesy must be practiced, not only during the karate training period but at all times in one's daily life.</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> The karate student must humble himself to receive training. It may be said that a presumptuous or conceited person is not qualified to follow Karate- Do. </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#004080" FACE="Arial" ><B>The student must always be aware of and receptive to criticism from other; he must be constantly introspective and must readily admit any lack of knowledge, rather than pretending to know what he does not know.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Those who follow Karate-Do must never forsake a humble mind and gentle manner. It is the small-minded individual who likes to brag upon acquiring some small skill, and those with little knowledge who carry on as if they where experts are childish. It is because of the large number of false martial artists in the world that the public tends either to ignore the martial artist or to consider him wild. Therefore, many serious martial artists are embarrassed. Students of Karate-Do should always keep these points in mind.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Those who follow Karate-Do will develop courage and fortitude. Their qualities do not have to do with strong actions or with the development of strong techniques as such. Emphasis is placed on development of the mind rather than the techniques. In a time of grave public crisis, one must have the courage, if required for the sake of justice, to face a million and one opponents.  For the Karate-Do student, the most shameful trait is indecisiveness.</B></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Gichin Funakoshi,</B></I><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Freestyle Script" ><I><B> </B></I></FONT></div> <div> <B>Soke, Shotokai & The Japan </B></div> <div> <B>Karate Association</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#gichin_funakoshi_sensei" TITLE="Gichin Funakoshi Sensei"><U><B><IMG SRC="28f27310.gif" border=0 width="39" height="49" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>