Precepts Nijū kun

calligraphy of niju kun

while has been suggested shōtōkan niju kun documented around 1890, first published in book in 1938 twenty guiding principles of karate as:

karate-do begins , ends bowing.

一、空手道は礼に始まり礼に終る事を忘るな

hitotsu, karate-do wa rei ni hajimari rei ni owaru koto o wasuruna

there no first strike in karate.

一、空手に先手なし

hitotsu, karate ni sente nashi

karate stands on side of justice.

一、空手は義の補け

hitotsu, karate wa, gi no tasuke

first know yourself, know others.

一、先づ自己を知れ而して他を知れ

hitotsu, mazu onore o shire, shikashite ta o shire

mentality on technique.

一、技術より心術

hitotsu, gijutsu yori shinjitsu

the heart must set free.

一、心は放たん事を要す

hitotsu, kokoro wa hanatan koto o yosu

calamity springs carelessness.

一、禍は懈怠に生ず

hitotsu, wazawai wa ketai ni seizu

karate goes beyond dojo.

一、道場のみの空手と思ふな

hitotsu, dojo nomino karate omou na

karate lifelong pursuit.

一、空手の修業は一生である

hitotsu, karate-do no shugyo wa issho de aru

apply way of karate things. therein lies beauty.

一、凡ゆるものを空手化せよ其処に妙味あり

hitotsu, ara yuru mono o karateka seyo; soko ni myomi ari

karate boiling water; without heat, returns tepid state.

一、空手は湯の如し絶えず熱度を与えざれば元の水に還る

hitotsu, karate wa yu no gotoshi taezu netsu o ataezareba moto no mizu ni kaeru

do not think of winning. think, rather, of not losing.

一、勝つ考は持つな負けぬ考は必要

hitotsu, katsu kangae wa motsuna; makenu kangae wa hitsuyo

make adjustments according opponent.

一、敵に因って轉化せよ

hitotsu, tekki ni yotte tenka seyo

the outcome of battle depends on how 1 handles emptiness , fullness (weakness , strength).

一、戦は虚実の操縦如何に在り

hitotsu, tatakai wa kyojitsu no soju ikan ni ari

think of hands , feet swords.

一、人の手足を剣と思へ

hitotsu, hito no teashi wa ken omoe

when step beyond own gate, face million enemies.

一、男子門を出づれば百万の敵あり

hitotsu, danshi mon o izureba hyakuman no teki ari

formal stances beginners; later, 1 stands naturally.

一、構は初心者に後は自然体

hitotsu, kamae wa shoshinsha ni ato wa shizentai

perform prescribed sets of techniques exactly; actual combat matter.

一、形は正しく実戦は別物

hitotsu, kata wa tadashiku, jisen wa betsumono

do not forget employment of withdrawal of power, extension or contraction of body, swift or leisurely application of technique.

一、力の強弱体の伸縮技の緩急を忘るな

hitotsu, chikara no kyojakutai no shinshuku waza no kankyu o wasuruna

be mindful, diligent, , resourceful, in pursuit of way.

一、常に思念工夫せよ

hitotsu, tsune ni shinen ku fu seyo

the precepts not numbered or ordered; each begins hitotsu meaning 1 or first show each rule has same level of importance others.