“Many Karate teachers teach a watered down style – no hip action and no depth of punching – so it is easy to say that these teachers have no depth to their knowledge. You are what your teacher is, and if he knows a lot, you should be able to demonstrate this knowledge.” ~ Yuchoku Higa (founder of Kyudokan Dojo, Okinawa)

“The karate that has been introduced to Tokyo is actually just a part of the whole. The fact that those who have learnt karate there feel it only consists of kicks & punches, and that throws & locks are only to be found in judo or jujutsu, can only be put down to a lack of understanding … Those who are thinking of the future of karate should have an open mind and strive to study the complete art” ~ Kenwa Mabuni

All kata use the so called postures (kamae). In fact, there are many kinds of postures and many kinds of kata. While learning these postures should not be totally ignored, we must be carefull not to overlook that they are just forms or templates of sort; it is the function of their application which needs to be mastered. ~ Choki Motobu

“Nothing is more harmful to the world than a martial art that is not effective in actual self-defense.” ~ Choki Motobu

Understand that the essence of martial arts is not the art itself, but what's hidden deep within yourself." ~ Gogen Yamaguchi

The Way (do) requires patience and constant practice, because there is no end and no goal, there is just the practice. We need to constantly remind ourselves of this fact. ~ Tadashi Nakamura

"Don’t hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit softly." ~ Theodore Roosevelt

七転び八起き (nana korobi yaoki) “Fall down 7 times, get up 8 times.” ~ Japanese maxim

Seek not to follow in the footsteps of men of old; seek what they sought. ~ Matsu Basho

"The purpose of the study of judo is to perfect yourself and to contribute to society." ~ Jigoro Kano

"Do not think of attack and defence as two separate things. An attack will be a defence, and a defence must be an attack." ~ Kazuzo Kudo

"You may train for a long time, but if you merely move your hands and feet and jump up and down like a puppet, learning karate is not very different from learning a dance. You will never have reached the heart of the matter; you will have failed to grasp the quintessence of karate-do." ~ Gichin Funakoshi

“Sometimes we’re tested not to show our weaknesses, but to discover our strengths.” ~ Adam Carter - Shuriway

"Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless, like water. Now put water into a cup, it becomes a cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put water into a teapot, it becomes a teapot. Now water can flow, or it can crash. Be water my friend." ~ Bruce Lee

Karate-Do is a lifetime study." ~ Kenwa Mabuni

"A punch should stay like a treasure in the sleeve. It should not be used indiscrimately." ~ Chotoku Kyan

"The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants." ~ Gichin Funakoshi

"To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the highest skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill." ~ Sun-Tsu ~The Art of War

When you look at life think in terms of karate. But remember that karate is not only karate -- it is life. ~ Gichin Funakoshi

"Karate practice is for the whole life; while one breaths, one practices." ~ Unknown

"Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom" ~ Lao-tzu, Tao Te Ching

"Those who know don't talk. Those who talk don't know." ~ Lao-tzu, Tao Te Ching

"Using no way as way. Having no limitation as limitation." ~ Bruce Lee

"Karate begins and ends with courtesy." ~ Gichin Funakoshi

"Even after many years, kata practice is never finished, for there is always something new to be learned about executing a movement." ~ Shoshin Nagamine

"No matter how you may excel in the art of te, and in your scholastic endeavors, nothing is more important than your behavior and your humanity as observed in daily life." ~ Teijunsoku (Nago Oyakata)

"Karate-do is definitely a martial way, and its identity lies in do or principles. Any martial art without proper training of the mind turns into beastly behavior." ~ Shoshin Nagamine

"Karate-do may be referred to as the conflict within yourself, or a life-long marathon which can be won only through self-discipline, hard training, and your own creative efforts." ~ Shoshin Nagamine

"If instead of fighting with him you say to your enemy, "You have won" and bow before him, that is the biggest deed in the world." ~ Unknown

"From white belt to black belt you shape the tool, at black belt you start to learn how to use it." ~ Unknown

"Think of the frog with its legs hanging out of the stork's mouth and with its hand around the stork's throat. NEVER GIVE UP!" ~ Unknown

"You'll know you're really good when you don't have to show it!" ~ Unknown

"Do not fear pain, for as long as you feel it you know you are still alive" ~ Unknown

"Karate is about discipline and the first discipline is showing up for class." ~ Carter-sensei

Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment. ~ Lao-Tzu

There's an old tale of a boy who watches a samurai practicing sword kata. The boy compliments the samurai, and he in turn offers to teach the boy. The boy, however, instead says "teach me where I can find your teacher"! ~ Unknown

"Teachers open the door, but you must enter yourself." ~ Unknown

The weekest things in the world can overmatch the stongest things in the world.

Nothing in the world can be compared to water for its weak and yielding nature; yet in attacking the hard and the strong nothing proves better than it. For there is no alternative to it.

The weak can overcome the strong and the yielding can overcome the hard.

This all the world knows but does not practice.

~ Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

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