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HOW TO PRACTICE KARATE

7 Ways to Practice

We Lose One of Our Own

HOW TO PRACTICE KARATE

7 Ways to Practice

The following is an abridgment of Chapter 7: “Training Precepts” from Karate-Do Nyumon: The Master Introductory Text, by Gichin Funakoshi.
First, since karate is a martial art, you must practice with the utmost seriousness from the very beginning. This means going beyond being simply diligent or sincere in your training. In every step, in every movement of your hand, you must imagine yourself facing an opponent with a drawn sword. Each and every punch must be made with the power of your entire body behind it, with the feeling of destroying your opponent with a single blow. You must believe that if your punch fails, you will forfeit your own life. Thinking this, your mind and energy will be concentrated, and your spirit will express itself to the fullest. No matter how much time you devote to practice, no matter how many months and years pass, if your practice consists of no more than moving your arms and legs, you might as well be studying dance. You will never come to know the true meaning of karate.
Secondly, try to do exactly as you are taught without complaining or quibbling. Only those lacking in zeal and unwilling to face up to themselves resort to quibbling. Often their foolish complaints border on the pathetic. For example, in teaching the back stance, I come across people who say they simply are not able to learn the stance, no matter how hard they try. They ask me what they should do–after practicing for less than an hour! Even if one fervently practices the backstance every day, standing