Introduction


A True Karate Person
A true Karate person is one with a god-like capacity to
think and feel for others; irrespective of their rank or position.
One who possesses ideas so lofty, a mind so delicate, that it
lifts him above all things immoral and base, yet strentghens his
hands to raise those who have fallen, no matter how low.
The ultimate aim of Karate, therefore, lies not in victory
or defeat, but in the true perfection of one's character.

Gina Funukoshi



We have heard that Karate is the most deadly means of self defense in the world and we strongly suspect that this is so. But, what are all of these silly dance routines they make you learn? Why not get down to some serious eye-ball gouging and rib-cracking? When did it originate and where? Why did we develop this "art of empty-handed fighting?" What principles are involved and what controls exist?

The following notes will not answer all of these questions. They will, however, provide a beginning that will enable you to pursue your studies of Karate at our Chito-Ryo-Yoshu-Kai Dojo with a much better idea of what constitutes the art of Karate.

Since the birth of the second man, individuals throughout history have found themselves facing an agressor in barehanded combat. The Karate instructors in the International Karate Federation are dedicated to the teaching of Karate as a method of self-defense, as well as, a method to cultivate the mind and the spirit.

At the Chito-Ryu-Yoshu-Kai Dojo (training hall), students will be confronted by a discipline which will tax their patience and endurance to the limit; a code which will demand self-control and courtesy; and an instructor who will accept nothing less than perfection. The student will become a person of character; a person who bears respect for their peers and higher ranks; a person who exists in harmony with their surroundings; a person who is both gentle and firm; a person who faces danger with calmness; and above all, a person who uses Karate for just and righteous principles.

Next: Karate As Fighting Art


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