By Anko Itosu
Karate did not originate from the way of Buddhism or from the way of
Confucianism. In the not-too-distant past, both Shorin-ryu and Shorei-ryu were
introduced from China. Both styles have many similarities and they both have their strong
points. They should not be changed. I would like to make a record of the following things:
1. The main
purpose of Karate is for health benefits. It is appropriate to fight an
antagonist if your purpose is to safeguard your country or those who
preside over you. When you fight, you should have no hesitation to lose
your own life if necessary (the resolute acceptance of death). Never
fight an enemy without good reason. If
you encounter a criminal or a ruffian, don’t fight him if you can help
it, but just block as you evade, stepping out of the way.
2. The purpose of Karate is to make the body like iron, or as hard as rock.
Your hands and feet should be used like the points of arrows. Your heart should
be mighty and bold. If children would practice Karate from the time they are in
elementary school, they would be well prepared for the time they are to serve in
the Armed Forces. After the Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon, he mentioned the fact
that that tomorrow's triumph will come from today's school yard.
3. Karate cannot
be learned in a short amount of time. A bull that walks very
slowly will, in due time, travel a thousand miles. In like manner, if
you study
and practice earnestly each day, in three or four years you will
understand what the core of Karate is about. Indeed, the very shape of
your bones will change.
You will discover the essence of Karate if you follow these points:
4. In Karate, the "fist-foot" or fist and foot is a very important point. You should train them
thoroughly on the makiwara. When you do it, drop your shoulders, open your
lungs, take hold of your strength, grip the floor with your feet and sink your
ch'i to your lower abdomen. Excercise with each arm one to two hundred times.
5. When you are practicing Karate stances, make sure your back is straight,
drop your shoulders, take your strength and put it in your legs, stand firmly
and direct the ch'i into your lower abdomen. You must hold the top and bottom of
your abdomen together tightly.
6. You should practice the external techniques of Karate one by one, repeated over and over again, many
times. These things are passed down verbally. Therefore, it
is very important to spend the time and effort to learn the explanations and
decide when and how they should be used. Go in, counter, release; is the rule of
torite.
7. You must decide for yourself why you practice Karate, whether it is for
making your body more healthy or for improving yourself in doing your duties.
8. During practice you should imagine that you are in a real battle. When
blocking and striking make your eyes glare, drop your shoulders and harden your
body. Then block the incoming punch and then strike him. Always practice with
this spirit so that when you are in a real battle, you will be well prepared to
be able to react naturally.
9. Do not overexert yourself during practice, because your ch'i will rise up,
your face and eyes will turn red and you will bring injury to your body. Be
careful of this.
10. In the past,
many of those who have become experts in Karate have lived
to an old age. This is because Karate helps to develop the bones and
sinews. It
also helps the digestive tract and is good for blood circulation.
Therefore,
from this time foreward, Karate should be the foundation of all lessons
in
sports from the elementary schools on up. If this is the way it is done
from now on, I think that there will be many people who, when they are
alone and outnumbered, will literally be able to win against ten
attackers.
The reason for writing all this is that, in my opinion, all students at the
Okinawa Prefectural Teachers' Training College should practice Karate, so that
when they graduate, they will be able to teach the school children the same way
I have taught them. I predict that within ten years Karate will spread all over
Okinawa and then to the Japanese mainland. This will be a great asset to the
military and to our society. I expect that you will carefully study the words I
have written here.
Anko Itosu, October 1908
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