Customer Reviews

Perfection of Character: Guiding Principles for the Martial Arts & Everyday Life

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There have been many excellent books written on the techniques of Karate by many instructors. However, there have been few books written on the philosophy of Karate, especially pertaining to the Dojo Kun (the 5 guiding principles of Shotokan Karate) and Niju Kun (the 20 subordinate principles of Shotokan Karate) that Master Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957, the founder of Shotokan Karate) wrote.

Master Teruyuki Okazaki, who was a direct student of Master Funakoshi and who is the Chief Instructor of the International Shotokan Karate Federation, presents this excellent book that he has written with great care and detail on the Dojo Kun and the Niju Kun. In it, he gives us his interpretation of them and ideas about incorporating them not only in Karate training, but also in daily life. One of the many great things about this book is that it is very "reader friendly". It is written in a way that both young students and older students can understand it and benefit from it. No matter whether one is contemplating starting Karate training, is a beginner in Karate training, has stopped Karate training (and is contemplating coming back to Karate training) or has been training in Karate for many years, Master Okazaki's book is certain to provide deeper thought and contemplation about the true meaning of Karate-Do, along with its values and benefits to one's life.

The book's artwork features a very distinct and unique cover jacket (designed by Hiroyoshi Okazaki) with the Japanese calligraphy for "Jinkaku kansei ni tsumoru koto" ("Seek perfection of character") as its center, with the Shotokan Tiger subtly embodied underneath it and blending in with the black cover. The inner cover sleeves have a recent color photo of Master Okazaki and also a color photo of Master Okazaki with his teachers Master Funakoshi and Master Masatoshi Nakayama taken sometime during the 1950`s. Each of the title pages of the chapters on each tenet of the Dojo Kun and Niju Kun is written in English with its Japanese translation using the alphabet, along with being written in the center of the pages in Japanese kanji and hiragana calligraphy by Master Nakayama, as is the Japanese calligraphy on the cover of the book. The Karate terms and Japanese terms in the book are italicized and are included in a glossary of terms in the back of the book. GMW Publishing has organized this work of art into a fine example of easy to read and easy to follow martial arts literature.

While this is a book to be read for the pure sake of reading, it is also a reference book and a book to be contemplated and studied. For these reasons, Master Okazaki also gives his own methodology or "recipe" for understanding and incorporating the Dojo Kun and Niju Kun into our training and into our daily lives by using this book.

Master Okazaki emphasizes that he wants to bring the Dojo Kun and Niju Kun back into the mindset of Karate students and martial artists throughout the world. By writing this outstanding and excellent book, he is certainly doing exactly that. In this book he also speaks highly of his teacher Master Funakoshi and the example set by him, along with the ideals that he learned from him. In keeping the Dojo Kun and Niju Kun emphasized to Karate students through this book and through his teachings, Master Okazaki has clearly carried on Master Funakoshi's example. No doubt, Master Funakoshi would be very proud of his student!

Congratulations to Master Okazaki on this excellent book!

A must read for all Karate-ka and martial artists!

In this book, Okazaki sensei explains the 5 points of the dojo kun and Funakoshi's 20 precepts in a clear, easy to read, and easy to understand manner - providing concrete examples of how to apply the principles in your training and every day life situations. Okazaki sensei always tells us that karate training is about self improvement and becoming a better person. In this book, he condenses his life experience and tells us how. Many of the ideas are about taking personal responsibility and being aware of how your actions affect others.

The jacket design is simple, yet elegant. Inside, the layout is simple and the font is easy to read. The dimension of the book is small and it is light so it is easy to carry around - it as if the author intends this book to be used as a handbook. Reading the intro section of the nijukun part of the book on page 33 confirms this - he wants us to reflect on the nijukun daily until we know and understand the principles. I think you could almost classify this book as a self help or self improvement manual.

This paragraph from the book's intro is one of my favorites: "As you read Perfection of Character, keep in mind that I am sharing my interpretation of Master Funakoshi's principles. In the course of studying them and practicing them, I am certain that you will also develop your own unique understanding of their meaning and value." Okazaki sensei doesn't expect us to take his interpretation as the only one. He wants each of us to reflect upon and integrate the priciples in our own unique way.

I rate this as one of the best martial arts books in my library.

The Master Teruyuki Okazaki give us lessons about the true values of mankind. Reading this book we can see how deep is karate.
I'd resume in the expression on page 11: "Don't train to advance a belt;train to become the best level belt that you,ve already attained. Always seek to perfect your character."

A wonderful book from a great man.

Oss!

The book is a nice examination of the fundamental precepts of Shotokan Karate. The Dojo Kun and the Niju Kun. Okazaki sensei is illuminating in its introduction. A must read for Shotokan practitioners.

Master Teruyuki Okazaki, Chairman and Chief Instructor of the International Shotokan Karate Federation, is revered as one of the greatest karate masters of our time. At 75 years of age, he moves with the speed and grace of an athletic man in his twenties. He smiles broadly and laughs easily, defying the sombre stereotype of a martial arts master. His warmth, humility, and understanding of the human condition are obvious to all who encounter him.

"Karate practitioners and other martial artists must know that the martial arts are about more than physical development, self-defence, and competition; most importantly, they are about continually striving to perfect one's character," Master Okazaki explains.

This is the message that Master Okazaki's own teacher, Master Gichin Funakoshi, the father of modern karate, most wanted to emphasize as well. To this end, Master Funakoshi articulated two sets of principles, the Dojo Kun, and the Niju Kun. The Dojo Kun are the five guiding, general principles of karate; and the Niju Kun are the twenty specific and subordinate principles of karate, which encompass morality, technique, and proper mindset.

In this book, Master Okazaki draws out the deep and hidden wisdom from these seemingly simple principles in a light and lucid fashion, and emphasizes that the principles of karate are principles for living a peaceful, fulfilling, and happy life. This profound book is not just for karate practitioners and martial artists; it is a book for all who genuinely seek to become the best person they can be.

If you haven't already got a copy of Master Funakoshi Sensei's book Karate-do: My Way of Life then I would highly recommend that to.

Please do seriously consider obtaining a copy of Teruyuki Okazaki Sensei's rare book called The Textbook of Modern Karate & his new soon to be released book called Traditional Shotokan Kata

The author of this book is a well-known Shotokan Karate master. In this book, he explains his own philosophy as it relates to the twenty principles Master Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of modern karate, taught to all budo (warrior way) students. The author explores in great detail each of the precepts all karate students must follow in order to become, not just excellent karate participants, but also good citizens as well. Master Okazaki stresses the fact, that karate seeks to develop the perfection of character. Some of these twenty principles explored in this book include: Courtesy: Do not forget karate begins and ends with a bow. Justice: One who practices karate must follow the way of justice. Know yourself first before trying to understand others. Spirit and mind are more important than technique. To truly know karate, takes a lifetime of study. In conclusion, this lessons taught in this book are important for not just karate students, but for anyone desiring to understand the philosophical basis for all martial arts. I give this book my highest rating, five stars.

Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Karate Combatives: Reality-Based Karate for self-defense)

The author is a high-ranking karate instructor but not accomplished in scholarship, religious devotion, philosophy, etc. Though not without some insight, the commentary in this book is not outstandingly perceptive, subtle, or interesting. If you have trained in a shotokan dojo, you will not find anything here of interest beyond what your sensei may have said at the end of any class.

The book has huge printing, which means its 100-plus pages are not exactly packed with information, and we get no real information on the origin, background, or context of the precepts on which the author is commenting. Not recommended to buy, especially at the current price.