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Spirit first, technique second.

Gichin Funakoshi

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Gichin Funakoshi
Age: 88 †
Born: 1868
Born: November 10
Died: 1957
Died: April 26
Karateka
Technique
Second
Spirit
Art
Firsts
First

More quotes by Gichin Funakoshi

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What you have been taught by listening to others' words you will forget very quickly what you have learned with your whole body you will remember for the rest of your life.
Gichin Funakoshi
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The secret principle of martial arts is not vanquishing the attacker, but resolving to avoid an encounter before its occurrence. To become an object of an attack is an indication that there was an opening in one's guard, and the important thing is to be on guard at all times.
Gichin Funakoshi
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When you look at life think in terms of karate. But remember that karate is not only karate -- it is life.
Gichin Funakoshi
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In karate, hitting, thrusting, and kicking are not the only methods, throwing techniques and pressure against joints are included … all these techniques should be studied referring to basic kata
Gichin Funakoshi
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Karate is like boiling water: without heat, it returns to it's tepid state
Gichin Funakoshi
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Once a kata has been learned, it must be practised repeatedly until it can be applied in an emergency, for knowledge of just the sequence of a kata in karate is useless.
Gichin Funakoshi
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In the past, it was expected that about three years were required to learn a single kata, and usually even an expert of considerable skill would only know three, or at most five, kata.
Gichin Funakoshi
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Karate-do begins with courtesy and ends with rei.
Gichin Funakoshi
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Students of any art, including Karate-do must never forget the cultivation of the mind and the body.
Gichin Funakoshi
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There is no first strike in Karate.
Gichin Funakoshi
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The correct understanding of Karate and its proper use is Karate-do. One who truly trains in this do [way] and actually understands Karate-do is never easily drawn into a fight.
Gichin Funakoshi
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When you leave your home, think that you have numerous opponents waiting for you (it is your behavior that invites trouble from them).
Gichin Funakoshi
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Karate is a technique that permits one to defend himself with his bare hands and fists without weapons.
Gichin Funakoshi
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You must ignore the bad and adopt the good.
Gichin Funakoshi
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Apply the way of karate to all things. Therein lies its beauty.
Gichin Funakoshi
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In time of grave public crisis, one must have the courage to face a million and one opponents.
Gichin Funakoshi
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Always be ready to release your mind.
Gichin Funakoshi
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Remember that you must always have a deep regard for courtesy, and you must be respectful and obedient toward your seniors.
Gichin Funakoshi
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Karate is like boiling water, if you do not heat it constantly, it will cool.
Gichin Funakoshi
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You may train for a long time, but if you merely move your hands and feet and jump up and down like a puppet, learning karate is not very different from learning a dance. You will never have reached the heart of the matter you will have failed to grasp the quintessence of karate-do.
Gichin Funakoshi