Always think and devise ways to live the precepts of karate-do every day.

I’ve informed my students that I was getting my ideas for some of my articles from somewhere and asked the students to try to figure out where that might be. Several investigated and came forward with the answer. In many of my articles I’ve actually used the 20 precepts of Gichen Funakoshi as the premise of the article. I’ve tried to express the best of my ability what Master Funakoshi may have meant by his statements. Gichen Funakoshi was a simple man and usually made very simple but profound statements.
This is the 20th final precept and it sums up all the rest. The precepts are a guide, if you will, to becoming a better martial artist and at the same time a better person.
Gichen Funakoshi was a writer and a teacher. He was a deep but simple thinker. Most comments he made were short and not too complicated. Master Funakoshi felt that karate was responsible for saving his life. When he was a young boy he was very weak and sickly. He credits Karate with making him strong and healthy. Master Funakoshi also knew the value of practice. If something like karate is to be a good thing in your life then you must look around and find ways to practice in daily life. Practice stances while doing the dishes or shaving in the morning. Stretch while you are watching tv. Think about kata at any time. In the self defense aspect, look for avenues of escape, potential attackers and possible developing problems. Be aware of your surroundings. Know what is around you even if it only saves you from stepping in a hole. Use the confidence that you gain from karate in daily life. When a new situation arises, whether it a job interview or meeting a new person or giving a speech in front of a group, think to yourself about the sparring matches that you’ve managed to come through without a mark and realize that this situation is not as dangerous as ones you’ve encountered in you competition and/or training.
When you look at yourself and realize the improvements that you’ve made in you attitude, temperament, self confidence, self esteem, fitness level, agility, flexibility and I could go on. If you go to a family reunion and you see people that are half your age not able to participate in the family softball game or pull a muscle half way through, you have found a way that karate has helped you in daily life. Now find a way to make daily life also include your training. One helps the other if you look for the ways.
Karate-do. Do means the way. Hmmmm? I once asked a master what type of workout was best for me? He said, “what you do, is the answer.”
Written by:
Sensei Perry Culver 6th degree Black Belt (Shotokan Karate), Syu Sin Do Black Belt, Trained in Kickboxing, CDT and Personal Training.