| "The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat, | | | | may be used to defend oneself and others without |
| but in the perfection of the character of its | | | | striking a single blow. |
| participants." | | | | Way of the Empty Hand |
| - Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan Karate | | | | Karate is not simply a method of empty handed |
| The underlying principles of karate-do (Way of the | | | | combat, but also a way of peace. Keep your mind |
| Empty Hand) include not only self-defense, but a | | | | open to the situation, and to the Truth. Do not miss the |
| system of learning that provides one with a tool for | | | | forest for the trees. Cut through all the hype and find |
| self-improvement. Its accessibility is shown by its ability | | | | understanding. Your hand, the human hand, is the most |
| to be practiced hard or soft, by nearly anyone, and | | | | versatile physical tool on the planet. Your mind is an |
| nearly anywhere, even in one's own mind. Its precepts | | | | even more versatile tool. It is the tool of your human |
| and discipline can lead us on in the difficult times of our | | | | soul, human instincts. In that way, your mind is a hand, |
| lives. This is the connection of body, mind, and soul. | | | | reaching out for truth, greater things. Therefore, Karate |
| "There is no first strike in karate." | | | | is the way of uniting body, mind, and soul, that one may |
| - Gichin Funakoshi | | | | be a sharpened tool. Once one has learned Karate, its |
| Karate-do is a way of life that teaches one to be the | | | | textbook of technique, philosophy, kata, one should |
| best he or she can be, in spite of and because of the | | | | digest it and make it part of one's nature. Continue to |
| worst situations that one faces. Karate is a code of | | | | sharpen yourself, refining what you have learned, using |
| conduct that avoids conflict; its level of force is only | | | | it to your advantage and the good of others. |
| stepped up if absolutely necessary. In this way, karate | | | | |