• Every Kata starts with a block. You can never start with a strike.
• Never forget: Karate begins and ends with respect.
• There is no first attack in Karate.
• Karate supports righteousness.
• First understand yourself, then understand others.
• The art of developing the mind is more important than the art of applying
• The mind needs to be freed.
• Trouble is born of negligence/ignorance.
• Do not think Karate belongs only in the dojo.
• Karate training requires a lifetime.
• Transform everything into Karate; therein lies its exquisiteness.
• Karate is like hot water, if you do not give it heat constantly, it will again become cold water.
• Do not think that you have to win, rather think you do not have to lose.
• Transform yourself according to the opponent.
• The outcome of the fight depends on one's control.
• Imagine one's arms and legs as swords.
• Once you leave the shelter of home, there are a million enemies.
• Postures are for the beginner; later they are natural positions.
• Perform the kata correctly; the real fight is a different matter.
• Do not forget control of the dynamics of power, the elasticity of the body, and the speed of the technique.
• Apply the way of Karate to all things. Therein lies its beauty.

Gishin Funakoshi
Founder of Shotokan Karate, 1936