Funakoshi Niju-Kun

1. 空手道は礼に始まり礼に終る事を忘
るな
(Karate-do wa rei ni hajimari rei ni owaru
koto a wasaru na)
Karate-do begins and ends with rei

2. 空手に先手なし
(Karate ni sente nashi)
There is no first strike in karate

3. 空手は義の補け
(Karate wa, gi no taske)
Karate stands on the side of justice

4. 先づ自己を知れ而して他を知れ
(Mazu onore o shire, shikashite ta o shire)
First know yourself, then know others

5. 技術より心術
(Gijitsu yori shinjitsu)
Mentality over technique

6. 心は放たん事を要す
(Kokoro wa hanatan koto o yosu)
The heart must be set free

7. 禍は懈怠に生ず
(Wazawai wa ketai ni seizu)
Calamity springs from carelessness

8. 道場のみの空手と思ふな
(Dojo nomino karate to omou na)
Karate goes beyond the dojo

9. 空手の修業は一生である
(Karate-do no shugyo wa isssho de aru)
Karate is a lifelong pursuit

10. 凡ゆるものを空手化せよ其処に妙味
あり
(Ara yuru mono o karateka seyo; sokoni
myomi ari)
Apply the way of karate to all things.
Therein lies its beauty

11. 空手は湯の如し絶えず熱度を与えざ
れば元の水に還る
(Karate Wa Yu No Gotoku Taezu Netsu O
Atae Zareba Motono Mizuni Kaeru)
Karate is like boiling water; without heat, it returns to its tepid state

12. 勝つ考は持つな負けぬ考は必要
(Katsu kangae wa motsuna; makenu
kangae wa hitsuyo)
Do not think of winning. Think, rather, of
not losing

13. 敵に因って轉化せよ
(Tekki ni yotte tenka seyo)
Make adjustments according to your
opponent

14. 戦は虚実の操縦如何に在り
(Tattakai wa kyo-jitsu no soju ikan ni ari)
The outcome of a battle depends on how
one handles emptiness and fullness
(weakness and strength)

15. 人の手足を剣と思へ
(Hi to no te-ashi wa ken to omoe)
Think of hands and feet as swords

16. 男子門を出づれば百万の敵あり
(Danshi mon o izureba hyakuman no teki
ari)
When you step beyond your own gate, you
face a million enemies

17. 構は初心者に後は自然体
(Kamae wa shoshinsha ni atowa shizentai)
Kamae is for beginners; later, one stands in
shizentai

18. 形は正しく実戦は別物
(Kata wa tadashiku, jisen wa betsumono)
Perform kata exactly; actual combat is
another matter

19. 力の強弱体の伸縮技の緩急を忘るな
Chikara no kyojaku tai no shinshuku waza
no kankyu
Do not forget the employment of
withdrawal of power, the extension or
contraction of the body, the swift or
leisurely application of technique

20. 常に思念工夫せよ
(Tsune ni shinen ku fu seyo)
Be constantly mindful, diligent, and
resourceful, in your pursuit of the Way