1 Dont forget that Karate-do begins and ends with rei or respect.

2 There is no first strike in Karate-do.

3 Karate-do stands on the side of justice.

4 First know yorself, then you can begin to know others.

5 Mentality over technique.

6 The mind must be set free.

7 Calamity comes from carelessness.

8 Karate is and goes beyond the dojo.

9 Karate-do is a lifelong commitment.

10 Apply Karate-do to all tasks. There lies its beauty.

11 Practising Karate-do is like pushing a cart up a hill: if you slack it will role backwards.

12 Never thing of winning its better not to lose.

Senpai and kohai are a major part of Japanese society.

Senpai normally means the person who has been training the longest and therefore has the most experience. Kohai is the person who has been training the shortest amount of time. In the west, senpai/kohai does exist in some dojo, but as a general rule, if a western kohai karate-ka sees a weak senpai, in most cases, they will do all in their power to beat and show the dojo that they are better than the senpai, sometimes even embarrassing and humiliating them.

In Japan the senpai is always treated with respect, irrespective of physical skills, such as speed, strength, agility, etc. Once the senpai/kohai relationship is established, its for good!

There are many reasons why people start karate, they may want to keep fit, they may be looking for a hobby, self defense, socialising, or they have simply been fascinated by the whole history and mysticism surrounding karate and the martial arts.

Most people, in my experience, are not very fit when they start karate, fitness seems to be one of the main attractions, for a lot of people.

When a karate-ka (a karate practitioner) has been training for a certain amount of time, they will sometimes, naturally, supplement their karate practice, it may be running, swimming, cycling, weight training, etc, etc. Of course, there will be senior karate-ka who only practice karate and nothing else. But these karate-ka are normally very serious and are practicing five and more classes each week. But what of the person who only trains once or twice each week?

Many years ago, one of my friends came weight training with me, I felt good, I had been weight training to supplement my karate, 3 times per week, for years.

My good friend was an academic, pen pusher (which I mean in the nicest way possible), he was a karate black belt, but had never pushed weights before. I said to him, ‘take it easy, if you haven’t pushed weights before, you could seriously injure yourself’. Boy, was I wrong, he pushed out as many reps as I did, with heavier weights!

I was devastated, I couldn’t work it out, how could this happen, I was weak, useless and had been destroyed by someone who’s never lifted anything heavier than a pen!

Many years ago, my sensei told me a story,

A student once asked his sensei, "What is the difference between a man of Do (the way) and a little man?" The sensei replies, "It is simple. When the little man receives his first dan black belt, he can hardly wait to run home and shout at the top of his voice to tell everyone that he has obtained his first dan. Upon receiving his second dan, he will climb to the rooftops and shout to the people. Upon receiving his third dan black belt, he will jump in his car and parade through town blowing the horn, telling one and all about his third dan".