| "True karate-do is this; that in daily life one's mind | | | | potential in teaching others, we must honestly and |
| and body be trained and developed in a spirit of | | | | modestly learn our own strengths and weaknesses. |
| humility; and that in critical times, one be devoted | | | | Let us look at ourselves in the mirrors of truth, good |
| utterly to the cause of justice." - Gichin Funakoshi, | | | | standards, and absoluteness, while chasing the |
| Karate-do Kyohan | | | | rainbow of perfection. |
| This article will concern itself with the business of | | | | "The technique of the martial arts is like the universe |
| teaching martial arts. The teaching of martial arts | | | | - there is no limit to knowledge. One must realize no |
| concerns itself with helping others. It is not | | | | limit to one's performance." - Hironori Ohtsuka, |
| necessarily wrong to make a living on the arts, but | | | | founder of Wado ryu Karate |
| we must keep in mind that prestige is nothing if one | | | | Most of all, we must be respectful. This might sound |
| does not set a good example. | | | | cliché; however, we must remember to have |
| We can not have desirable progress in the "martial | | | | and give respect as least as much as we get it. |
| ways" or peace and happiness without mutual | | | | Modesty is key. |
| respect. To ensure continued progress in the | | | | It is easy to lose modesty under a pile of |
| effectiveness of philosophy and technique of our | | | | well-practiced technique. Keep in mind, however, that |
| own arts, we must study our arts diligently while | | | | without modesty of character, you have gained |
| opening our minds to other perspectives. In this way, | | | | nothing from training. We learn to fight so as not to |
| teachers must set an example for their students by | | | | fight. There are no winners in war - only losers. We |
| being an excellent one themselves. This level of | | | | must fight against fighting - to have the least possible |
| modesty takes years to cultivate through proper | | | | bloodshed. With this in mind, we must punch and kick |
| etiquette - and is one of the ultimate goals of our | | | | not to win or lose, but to learn from each other in |
| training. It is said that to have taught once is to have | | | | martial brotherhood. |
| twice learned. | | | | "Have no regard for the martial aspects when |
| We must be of good conscience when considering | | | | training, but rather adhere to the way of peace. |
| our talents and faults. Before we can realize our full | | | | |