MUMON  KARATE

The Shōtōkan niju kun were published in a book in 1938 The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate as:[1]

 

Karate-do begins and ends with 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 wasuru na

 

There is no first strike in karate.
一、空手に先手なし 
Hitotsu, karate ni sente nashi

 

Karate stands on the side of justice.
一、空手は義の補け 
Hitotsu, karate wa, gi no tasuke

 

First know yourself, then 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 over technique.
一、技術より心術 
Hitotsu, gijitsu yori shinjitsu

 

The heart must be set free.
一、心は放たん事を要す 
Hitotsu, kokoro wa hanatan koto o yosu

 

References

1. ^ a b c Gichin Funakoshi (1938). The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate. ISBN 978-4-7700-2796-2.

2. ^ Gichin Funakoshi (1975). Karate-do: My Way of Life. ISBN 0-87011-463-8.