Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate-do Precepts

In Morio Higaonna Sensei's book "Traditional Karate-Do: Okinawa Goju Ryu, Vol. 1:The Fundamental Techniques," he lists the precepts of Goju Ryu as he understood them from founder Miyagi Chojun Sensei. Through his training in the martial arts, Miyagi Chojun Sensei was contstantly searching for how human beings should be. Higaonna Sensei notes that "We should regard our training as a diamond, at first rough and dull. But with hard, austere and relentless training (or polishing), our techniques will begin to shine."

In summary, these three precepts are given as follows:

1.    It should be known that secret principles of Goju Ryu exist in the "Kata" - Kata are a crystallization of the essence of karate and it is only through the training of kata that you will reach "gokui," the essential teaching.

2.    Goju Ryu Karate-do is a manifestation within oneself of the harmonious accord of the universe - "As supple as a willow, as solid as Mount Tai."

3.   The way of Goju Ryu Karate-do is to seek the way of virtue - There is the concept of "to win", but to win through virtue. Heighten one's own virtue, master the strategy of winning without fighting and seek the ultimate secret.