Nijū kun explained

The (Japanese language:) are the "twenty instructions" of the Okinawan martial arts master Gichin Funakoshi, whose pen name was Shōtō. All students of Shōtōkan karate are encouraged to live, practice, and teach the principles to others.^[1]

History

Funakoshi trained in Shuri-te and Naha-te from an early age. He ultimately developed his style of karate, which he believed leveraged the benefits of these two. Gaining the attention of a larger audience, Funakoshi later ventured to disseminate his art throughout Japan,^[2] and created the to assist his karateka in their training.

Precepts

While it has been suggested that the were documented by around 1890,^[1] they were published in Genwa Nakasone's 1938 "Karate-do Taikan"^[3] as:

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

The precepts are not numbered or ordered; each begins with meaning "one" or "first" to show that each rule has the same level of importance as the others.

References

1. Book: Gichin Funakoshi . The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate . 1938 . 978-4-7700-2796-2.
2. Book: Gichin Funakoshi . Karate-do: My Way of Life . registration . 1975 . 0-87011-463-8.
3. Web site: Quast . Andreas . Karate-do Taikan – 2017 reissue by Gajumaru Shoten . 2023-11-28 . Ryukyu Bugei 琉球武芸 . en-US.