Niju Kun (twenty precepts)

Funakoshi's Twenty Precepts of Karate-Do

1. Karate-do begins and ends with bowing.
   
2. There is no first strike in karate.
   
3. Karate stands on the side of justice.
4. First know yourself, then know others.
5. Mentality over technique.
6. The heart must be set free.
7. Calamity springs from carelessness.
8. Karate goes beyond the dojo.
9. Karate is a lifelong pursuit.
10. Apply the way of karate to all things. Therein lies it's beauty.
11. Karate is like boiling water; without heat it returns to it's tepid state.
12. Do not think of winning. Think rather, of not losing.
13. Make adjustments according to your opponent.
14. The outcome of a battle depends on how one handles weakness and strength.
15. Think of hands and feet as swords.
16. When you step beyond your own gate, you face a million enemies.
17. Formal stances are for beginners, later one stands naturally.
18. Perform prescribed sets of techniques exactly; actual combat is another matter.
19. Do not forget the employment of withdrawal of power, the extension or contraction of the body, the swift or leisurely application of technique.
20. Be constantly mindful, diligent, and resourceful in your pursuit of the Way.

Detailed explanation of the precepts: 

    The Martial Way - Twenty Precepts of Karate - Niju Kun

Heian Shodan

HEIAN (THE PEACEFUL SPIRIT) 

    There are five Heian Kata, which contain a large number of techniques and almost all of the fundamental postures. When one has achieved a degree of mastery in these Kata, one can be confident in his ability to defend himself effectively in most situations. The meaning of the name should be understood from this point of view.

Kata Diagram

Bunkai

Video

Uke Waza (blocking techniques)

 

This is what Gichin Funakoshi has to say about practicing blocks:

Gedan barai (low block): although it is a blocking technique, it is preferable to present the Gedan-barai (low block) from now on in the following exercises. First, adopt the Zenkutsu posture, left leg forward, left arm extended so that the fist is about fifteen centimeters above the knee, fingers pointing towards the ground. Likewise, when the right leg is advanced, it is the right arm which is forward. The body is three-quarters (in the Hanmi position) to the right, that is, the hips are turned at an angle of about 35° to the front, around a vertical axis. The upper-body must lean, neither forwards nor backwards, this is an important point valid for all postures. The training consists of repeating the exercise by moving forward or backward with each block. Whether stepping forward with the right leg or stepping back with the left, bring the right fist locked diagonally from the waist to the left shoulder, then whip down, locking in sync with the movement of the legs. Simultaneously the left fist is withdrawn at the waist in a locked position, just above the hip, with the fingers up. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, Gedan-barai is used to block a frontal attack by the opponent and you have to work with this idea in mind. Practice both sides in this way, alternating each side.

Jodan age-uke (upper-level rising block). The preparation position is the same as for Gedan-barai. The extended arm above the front leg is raised in a concave inward and upward motion, then throws upward, the forearm tilted to block a blow to the face. After blocking, it is possible to block with the other arm in the same way by moving forward or backward; the arm that goes up (the one doing the blocking) and the one that is withdrawn must cross at the level of the face. The movement of crossing the two arms should be interpreted as a dislocation technique carried to the arm with the aid of which the opponent has just executed his attack. We grab this arm with the hand that has just blocked and we pull it down while using the arm that goes up to exert a violent push on it at the crossing point.

Chudan shuto-uke (middle-level knife hand block). As shown in figure 11, one adopts the Kokutsu dachi stance, with the command to stand ready (Yoi). With the right leg advanced, bring the right hand up to a point above the left shoulder and in a circular motion slightly downward, bring it to the right so as to deflect a frontal attack from the opponent. The elbow is vertical to the right leg at the end of the blockage, the arm is bent at a right angle, forming a slight hook towards the inside of the body. At this moment, the upper-body is straight, the eyes, the blocking hand and the front foot directed towards the opponent, the hips are in profile. The training consists of performing sets by moving forward or backward, while blocking alternately from the right and the left, the body must be placed as if to dodge the frontal attacks.

Some Japanese Terms

Karate Terms

    Karate - "empty hand" or "china hand" (homophones, so could mean either)
    Dojo - Place of training
    Karateka - Karate practitioner
    Gi - Karate uniform
    Obi - Belt
    Sensei - Teacher (used to refer to the head instructor of the dojo)
    Sempai - Senior (used to refer to other Karateka of high rank in the dojo)
    Seiza - the formal Japanese way of kneeling with your feet under your buttocks
    Mokoso - Meditate
    Mokoso yame - Stop meditating
    Shomani - Ancestors
    Rei - Bow
    Otagi ni rei - bow to others
    Yoi - ready (assume the natural stance)
    Hajime - begin
    Yame - stop
    Matte - wait
    Mawatte - turn around
    Kiai - battle shout

Karate Training

    Kihon - Basics
    Kata - Forms
    Kumite - Sparring

    Waza - Technique
    Bunkai - Deconstructing, analyzing, or "breaking down" the kata.  Also, a demonstration of such with two or more people.
    Dojo kun - moral precepts of the Dojo
    Kyu - rank of color belt levels
    Dan - rank of black belt levels

Karate Skills

    Kokyu - "breathing in and out".  proper breathing technique for karate
    Kime - power put into a strike at the moment of contact
    Zanshin - focus, being "in the zone"
    Mushin - calm, inner stillness, keeping your head
    Toshi - fighting spirit

Kihon Terminology

    Gedan - lower level (e.g. gedan barai)
    Chudan - mid-level (e.g. chudan oi-zuki)
    Jodan  - upper level (e.g. jodan age uke)

 Japanese Numbers

1. Ichi
2. Ni
3. San
4. Shi 
   
5. Go
6. Roku
7. Shichi
8. Hachi
9. Ku
10. Ju

To continue to 99 you put the numbers together in this pattern:

    2nd decimal + ju + 1st decimal

For example:

    niju-shi - twenty-four

    sanju-hachi - thirty-eight

Conversational Phrases

    Hai - yes
    I'e - no; Oh, it’s nothing
    Dozo - please
    Arigato - Thanks (informal)
    Domo arigato gozaimasu - Thank you very much.
    Do itashimashite - You’re welcome
    I'e, ii desu - No, thank you
    Gomennasai - Sorry! (really sorry)
    Sumimasen - I’m sorry (regular sorry)
    Chotto sumimasen - Excuse me (little bit sorry)

Body Parts

    Ashi - Foot and/or Leg
    Empi - Elbow
    Hiza - Knee
    Kakato - Heel
    Ken - Fist
    Koshi - Hips
    Soku - Foot
    Sune - Shin
    Te - Hand
    Ude - Forearm

Directions

    hidari - Left
    migi - Right
    chikai - Near
    massugu - Straight
    koko - Here
    soko - There
    mae ni - In front of
    ushiro ni - Behind
    no uchigawa de - Inside
    no sotogawa de - Outside

Tachi Kata (stances)

 

Description

These are the typical stances you will find in shotokan karate.

From Gichin Funakoshi:

Heisoku-dachi: This stance is that of “attention”, the feet are joined.

Hachiji-dachi: This is the natural stance, feet apart, toes turned outward.

Zenkutsu-dachi (forward stance): one should stand with one foot forward, the corresponding knee flexed. You should have the feeling of pulling the front foot back and the back foot forward. The distance between the legs is approximately three feet long, with some adjustments to get the height correct.

Kokutsu-dachi (back stance): This stance is the opposite of Zenkutsu-dachi: the knee of the back leg is bent and the weight of the body rests on that leg. We should have the feeling of withdrawing the front foot towards the rear foot. The distance between the feet is approximately the length of two and a half feet, with some adjustments to get the height of the body correct. The directions of the two feet form an L.

Nekoashi-dachi (cat stance): This pose gets its name from its similarity to that of a cat about to pounce on its prey. The rear leg is bent and supports the full weight of the body, the toes of the front foot rest very lightly on the ground. This posture allows very rapid movements forward or backward and is also suitable for leg techniques.

Kiba-dachi (horse stance): This stance superficially resembles Hachiji-dachi. When you assume the stance, you begin by placing the toes inward, knees flexed, lower abdomen forward. Then, we lower the hips, the upper-body is vertical and we apply tension first to the thighs, as Pon does on the back of a horse, then on the outer edge of the feet, we force on the legs as if to concentrate. - tracing their strength from the outside towards the space between them; then we bring the heels inside until the feet are parallel. You have to concentrate on the lower abdomen. This is a very solid posture, and when it is mastered, one should not fear, for example in a typhoon, to be carried away, while one is standing on the roof of a house standing in front of itself a door.

Fudo-dachi: this stance is formed from Zenkutsu-dachi, by slightly bending the back leg and turning the hips in a Hanmi position, that is to say: the upper-body having made a rotation towards the back bringing it to a three-quarter position from the one it occupied.

Taikyoku Shodan (aka Kihon Kata)

    Many Shotokan karate schools don't do this kata anymore but Gichin Funakoshi considered it the first kata one should learn.  If you are a beginner training at home, you may find it useful to start with this kata just to familiarize yourself with the idea.

Kata Diagram

Video

Commentary on the Taikyoku Kata

TAIKYOKU (THE FIRST CAUSE)

These are actually three numbered Kata, Shodan (first), Nidan (second), Sandan (third). As these Kata are the easiest to learn and consist of the combinations of the most useful blocks and attacks for Kihon (foundational exercises), these are the ones beginners should start with. These Kata and the Ten no Kata, which are described later, are the product of my many years of research in the art of Karate. If exercised regularly, they give a harmonious development of the body and a natural ability to use it correctly. In addition, the student who has acquired dexterity in Kihon (fundamental exercises) and who understands the essence of the Kata of Ta'ikyoku, will understand the deep meaning of the maxim “KARATE NI SENTE NASHI” (in Karate, the first attack does not bring any advantage). It is for all of these reasons that I gave them the name Ta'ikyoku.

[...] 

    Execute the Kata movements lightly and correctly until their succession is mastered, then apply force to the movements. Even more, it is very important that the Kata is worked on repeatedly, until unconsciously, each movement is executed correctly. 

    Taikyoku Nidan's move sequences are identical to those of Shodan except that in Nidan all punches are scored at upper level instead of medium level.
    In Taikyoku Sandan, the low blocks along lines 1 and 3 of Taikyoku Shodan are replaced by medium level blocks (Ude-uke aka uchi-uke) performed in the Kokutsu stance and the sequences of three medium attacks along line 2 become sequences of upper level attacks, the rest of the movements being identical to those of Taikyoku Shodan.   -Gichin Funakoshi