Here are the 20 Principles of Gichin Funakoshi. They are thought provoking and speak to the karateka as well as practitioners of other martial arts as well. I’m posting these for your consideration. These are two excellent translations that I read and meditate on. They are of great value to those who are open to learn and are irrespective of rank or time in the martial arts. I’ve found these principles to be timeless and relevant to my study of martial arts throughout the years.

1. Karate begins with courtesy and ends with courtesy.

2. There is no first attack in karate.

3. Karate is an aid to justice.

4. First control yourself before attempting to control others.

5. Spirit first, technique second.

6. Always be ready to release your mind.

7. Accidents arise from negligence.

8. Do not think that karate training is only in the dojo.

9. It will take your entire life to learn karate; there is no limit.

10. Put your everyday living into karate and you will find “Myo” (subtle secrets).

11. Karate is like boiling water. If you do not heat it constantly, it will cool.

12. Do not think that you have to win, think rather that you do not have to lose.

13. Victory depends on your ability to distinguish vulnerable points from invulnerable ones.

14. The battle is according to how you move guarded and unguarded (move according to your opponent).

15. Think of your hands and feet as swords.

16. When you leave home, think that you have numerous opponents waiting for you. It is your behavior that invites trouble from them.

17. Beginners must master low stance and posture, natural body positions are for the advanced.

18. Practicing a kata is one thing, engaging in a real fight is another.

19. Do not forget to correctly apply: strength and weakness of power, stretching and contraction of the body and slowness and speed of techniques.

20. Always think and devise ways to live the 20 Principles every day.

From Wikipedia we have an old and beautiful translation, perhaps my favorite. It may be slightly different than other translations that you read but the spirit of Master Funakoshi’s 20 Principles is the same.

1. Karate-do begins and ends with rei
空手道は礼に始まり礼に終る事を忘るな
Karate-do wa rei ni hajimari rei ni owaru koto a wasaru na

2. There is no first strike in karate
空手に先手なし
Karate ni sente nashi

3. Karate stands on the side of justice
空手は義の補け
Karate wa, gi no taske

4. First know yourself, then know others
先づ自己を知れ而して他を知れ
Mazu onore o shire, shikashite ta o shire

5. Mentality over technique
技術より心術
Gijitsu yori shinjitsu

6. The mind must be set free
心は放たん事を要す
Kokoro wa hanatan koto o yosu

7. Calamity springs from carelessness
禍は懈怠に生ず
Wazawai wa ketai ni seizu

8. Karate goes beyond the dojo
道場のみの空手と思ふな
Dojo nomino karate to omou na

9. Karate is a lifelong pursuit
空手の修業は一生である
Karate-do no shugyo wa isssho de aru

10. Apply the way of karate to all things. Therein lies its beauty
凡ゆるものを空手化せよ其処に妙味あり
Ara yuru mono o karateka seyo; sokoni myomi ari

11. Karate is like boiling water; without heat, it returns to its tepid state
空手は湯の如し絶えず熱度を与えざれば元の水に還る
Karate Wa Yu No Gotoku Taezu Netsu O Atae Zareba Motono Mizuni Kaeru

12. Do not think of winning. Think, rather, of not losing
勝つ考は持つな負けぬ考は必要
Katsu kangae wa motsuna; makenu kangae wa hitsuyo

13. Make adjustments according to your opponent
敵に因って轉化せよ
Tekki ni yotte tenka seyo

14. The outcome of a battle depends on how one handles emptiness and fullness (weakness and strength)
戦は虚実の操縦如何に在り
Tattakai wa kyo-jitsu no soju ikan ni ari

15. Think of hands and feet as swords
人の手足を剣と思へ
Hi to no te-ashi wa ken to omoe

16. When you step beyond your own gate, you face a million enemies
男子門を出づれば百万の敵あり
Danshi mon o izureba hyakuman no teki ari

17. Kamae is for beginners; later, one stands in shizentai
構は初心者に後は自然体
Kamae wa shoshinsha ni atowa shizentai

18. Perform kata exactly; actual combat is another matter
形は正しく実戦は別物
Kata wa tadashiku, jisen wa betsumono

19. Do not forget the employment of withdrawal of power, the extension or contraction of the body, the swift or leisurely application of technique
力の強弱体の伸縮技の緩急を忘るな
Chikara no kyojaku tai no shinshuku waza no kankyu

20. Be constantly mindful, diligent, and resourceful, in your pursuit of the Way
常に思念工夫せよ
Tsune ni shinen ku fu seyo

I hope that readers who are martial arts practitioners will take some time and meditate on these words of wisdom. They are as relevant today as the day they were first published.