NIJU KUN PRINCIPALS

Niju Kun is an Okinawan martial arts term which literally translates to twenty (20) rules. Created by Gichin Funakoshi in the late 1800's, the kun refer to twenty principles (or precepts) by which all students of Shotokan Karate are encouraged to live, practice, and teach to others.

​

1. Karate-do begins with courtesy and ends with courtesy

Karate-do wa rei ni hajimari, rei ni owaru koto wo wasurna

​

2. There is no first attack in karate

Karate ni sente nashi

3. Karate is a great assistance to [auxilliary of] justice

Karate wa gi no tasuke
 

4. Know yourself first, and then others

Mazu jiko wo shire, shikoshite tao wo shire
 

5. Spirit first; techniques second

Gijutsu yori shinjutsu

​

6. Always be ready to release your mind

Kokoro wa hanatan koto wo yosu 

7.  Misfortune [accidents] always come out of idleness [negligence]

Wazawai wa getai ni shozu

​

8. Do not think that karate training is only in the dojo

Dojo nomino karate to omou na
 

9. It will take your entire life to learn karate; there is no limit

Karate no shugyo wa issho de aru
 

10. Put your everyday living into karate and you will find the ideal state of existence [myo]

Arai-yuru mono wo karate-ka seyo, soko ni myo-mi ari
 

11. Karate is like hot water. If you do not give it heat constantly, it will again become cold water

Karate wa yu no goto shi taezu natsudo wo ataezareba moto no mizu ni kaeru

 

12. Do not think that you have to win. Rather, think that you do not have to lose

Katsu kangae wa motsu na makenu kangae wa hitsuyo

​

13. Victory depends on your ability to distinguish vulnerable points from invulnerable ones

Tekki ni yotte tenka seyo

​

 

14. The battle is according to how you manoeuvre guarded and unguarded. Move according to your opponent

Tattakai wa kyo-jutsu no soju ikan ni ari

​

 

15. Think of the hands and feet as swords

Hito no te ashi wo ken to omoe 
 

16. When you leave home, think that you have numerous opponents waiting for you. It is your behavior that invites trouble from them

Danshi mon wo izureba hyakuman no tekki ari 

​
 

17.  Beginners must master low stance and posture; natural body position for advanced

Kamae wa shoshinsha ni ato wa shizentai

​

18. Practicing a kata is one thing, and engaging in a real fight is another

Kata wa tadashiku jissen wa betsu mono

 

19. Do not forget [1] strength and weakness of power, [2] stretching and contraction of the body, and [3] slowness and speed of techniques. Apply these correctly

Chikara no kyojaku, karada no shinshuku, waza no kankyu wo wasaruna 

​
 

20. Always think and devise ways to live the precepts every day

Tsune ni shinen kufu seyo 

​