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The Complete Guide to GKR Karate |
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The Principles of the Masters
Go-Kan-Ryu (GKR Karate) is based on and contains many aspects, principles and kata of both Shotokan karate and Goju-Ryu karate. Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan, and Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Goju-Ryu, were both masters of the art. They were both highly disciplined and highly respected men, who lived most honourable lives in the traditions of their culture. They have made an invaluable contribution to the development and evolution of karate-do. Both were men of vision who saw the benefits of karate for everyone. Both men worked with community and government leaders to establish karate programs in schools for young people and to reach large numbers of people throughout the world, so that communities as well as individuals could share the benefits of karate training.
FUNAKOSHI'S 20 PRECEPTS 1. Karate-do begins and ends with courtesy. 2. There is no first strike in karate. 3. Karate is an aid to justice. 4. First know and control yourself before attempting to know or control others. 5. Spirit first, technique second. 6. Always be ready to release your mind. 7. Accidents arise from negligence. 8. Do not think that karate training is only in the dojo. 9. It will take your entire life to learn karate, there is no limit to your learning. 10. Put your everyday living into karate and you will find "Myo" (life's secrets and beauty). 11. Karate is like boiling water, if you do not heat it constantly, it will cool. 12. Do not think that you have to win, think rather that you do not have to lose. 13. Victory depends on your ability to distinguish vulnerable points from invulnerable ones. 14. The out come of the battle depends on how you handle weakness and strength. 15. Think of your opponents hands and feet as swords. 16. When you leave home, think that you have numerous opponents waiting for you. 17. Beginners must master low stance and posture, natural body positions are for the advanced. 18. Practicing karate correctly is one thing, engaging in a real fight is another. 19. Do not forget to correctly apply: strength and weakness of power, stretching and contraction of the body, and slowness and speed of techniques. 20. Always think and devise ways to live the precepts of karate-do every day.
THE WAY OF CHOJUN MIYAGI Miyagi named his style after the third point in a poem about the Eight Principles of Martial Arts:
1. The mind is one with heaven and Earth.2. The circulatory system of the body is similar to that of the sun and moon. 3. The way of inhaling and exhaling is hardness and softness.4. Act in accordance with time and change. 5. Techniques will occur in the absence of conscious thought. 6. The feet must advance and retreat, separate and meet. 7. The eyes do not miss the slightest change. 8. The ears listen well in all directions.
Miygai's Philosophy: "Do not be struck by others. Do not strike others. The principle is the peace without incident."
THE TEN ANNOTATIONS OF ITOSU 1. Karate is not intended solely for physical education. It is intended to develop courageous citizens who value righteousness. In times of grave public crisis they will be prepared to risk their very lives for the nation. It is unacceptable to use Karate to duel with an enemy. Even when wrongdoers are encountered, please avoid physical confrontation and refrain from harming others with your fists or feet.
2. Karate primarily strengthens muscles and bones and forges a body like iron or stone. With karate, your arms and legs serve as your weapons and you will automatically develop a courageous spirit. If schoolchildren learn karate then if they are required for military service, the karate training will be the foundation for many other military arts. When the Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon he said. "This victory was won in the playgrounds of our schools." These are wise words.
3. Karate cannot be quickly learned. Like a slow moving bull, it eventually travels a thousand miles. If one trains diligently everyday, then in three or four years one will come to understand karate. The essence of karate is revealed to those that put in the greater effort.
4. In karate, training of the hands and feet are important, so one must be thoroughly trained on the makiwara (striking post). In order to do this, drop your shoulders, open your lungs, take hold of your strength, grip the floor with your feet and sink your energy into your lower abdomen. Practice using each arm one to two hundred times each day.
5. When one practices the stances of Tang Te, be sure to keep your back straight, lower your shoulders, put strength in your legs, stand firmly and drop your energy into your lower abdomen.
6. Please practise the many kata of karate. When you practise, learn the steps thoroughly, one at a time. You need to clearly understand the purpose of each step and then practise the corresponding techniques. Furthermore, consider the ways- to attack, to receive, to release and to grapple.7. You need to clearly discern which techniques are for physical training and which are effective techniques used for duty.
8. When you train, do so as if on the battlefield. Your eyes should glare, shoulders drop, and body harden. You should always train with intensity and spirit and in this way you will naturally be ready.
9. One must not overtrain; this will cause you to lose the energy in your lower abdomen and will be harmful to your body. Your face and eyes will turn red. Train wisely.
10. In the past masters of karate have enjoyed long lives. Karate aids in developing the bones and muscles. It helps the digestion as well as the circulation. If karate should be introduced beginning in the elementary schools, then we will produce many men each capable of defeating ten assailants. I further believe this can be done by having all students at the Okinawa Teachers College practice Karate. In this way after graduation they can teach at the elementary schools that which they have been taught. I believe this will be a great benefit to our nation and our military.
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