The Karate Precepts of Anko Itosu (1831 - 1915)

[@AndoMierzwa]

Gold, Iain-Sensei... pure gold! 👍🏼

[@NYKgjl10]

As a long time Kyokushin Karate practitioner, this is absolutely astounding and well interpret from Anko Itosu and still is very much relevant today whether you are a traditional or modern Karate practitioner alike. Excellent video Iain san and I still remember your seminar from Texas from two years ago and your interpretation which I feel is vital. Respect!!

[@eeroterry1074]

Really good video. It's nice to learn about what the original intent and outlook was from original/ pioneer practitioners. There has been a great deal of false myths being spread, some intentional, others by generational, or translation error.

[@stephennordlinger365]

Katas are also great for building the physical-memory connection. This helps prevent brain tissue loss in our later years.

[@HaBeFaStro]

I appreciate the enlightenment you are spreading…. and the lengths you have gone to spread this enlightenment accurately!

[@toddspencer3256]

As a long time Shotokan and Shorin Ryu practitioner this is gold. If Funakoshi was the father of modern karate, Itosu is the grandfather. The Pinan/Heian kata have always been my favorites. Thanks for sharing Sensei. Osu!

[@seppojk]

I think you know Mr. Patrick McCarthy. He has been studying this a long time and your study supports his study. Keep up the good work, Sir. It is a pleasure to watch these videos.

[@sorasky9553]

Very articulate and lucid exposition of Itosu's precepts. Wish there were more intelligent and critical karateka like Iain in the world.

[@laperrablanca1]

Great video Iain sensei. It's important to keep those principles in mind. I hope I did understand you well, it's possible to combine the health/sport attitude with the self defense attitude. My daughter (she's 14 now) is a very talented karate practitioner. She loves competing in kata and kumite tournaments. But I always tell her to keep in mind that self defense is another issue. I try to practice with her bunkai as realistic as possible. Indeed, she and a group of other girls with their little brothers were agressed by a couple of young bullies in the beach. When she was actually attacked by one of them she elbowed him from a very short distance, in a classical self defense situation. That was enough for the young thug, and he continued coursing from a safe distance... Keeping in mind that tournament kumite is not the same as self defense, I think that we cannot underestimate the level of skill and confidence she got from kumite sparring practice. P.S. I must emphasize that she made use of force only after being physically agressed Thank you!

[@oliurobbie8967]

Thank you Lain Sensei. These precepts should be taught at one point in every dojo☺

[@davidj2549]

Excellent video. Thanks very much for taking the time to post this.

[@WaywardBrigand]

Thanks for this, Ian. This video has inspired me to look up Itosu's precepts more closely.

[@leifprimeanimation4674]

I always get something to think about from your work. Thank you!

[@blockmasterscott]

The line of forms(I study Chinese Martial Arts) about being for self defense and not an actual fight is so true. Even in Kung Fu forms, the material is for ruffians and bad guys, not a fight against another martial artist. The whole mind set is different.

[@pernologos84]

I am not sure about that. In Chinese martial arts there are also two man forms were you are supposed to practice with your fellow from the same school. It is true that, in reality, the average attacker is not a martial artist, however we have reports of fighting between experts both in China and Okinawa. Are you perhaps referring to a sporting context with rules?

[@waaagh3203]

Hahaha. You do realize that at one time, Chinese martial artists were infamous for honor duels and lei tai fights, and if you go back far enough, sometimes these fights were to the death.

[@FlyingSpaghetti171]

I’m heading to the website now for the details. Great video, again!

[@robwallace6787]

Thank you for another great video, and for the translation. It's great to see this no-nonsense message from over a century ago mirrored in at least some of today's karate schools.

[@kieranmakenji8922]

Thanks for the great video Iain. I love learning about karate history like this, I would love to see more.

[@fran2000sn]

Iain, greetings from Seville(Spain). Some months ago i wrote you in facebook telling about subtitles, and obviously its a hard work So i have been improving my english skill and now i can hear you in your videos! Thats fantastic! Congratulations for the video

[@practicalkatabunkai]

Awesome! Try to avoid copying my accent when you speak in English :-)

[@jamiethesubtledeceiver1585]

This is great and i think it applies to many martial arts, not just Karate. If only more schools and instructors adhered to the precepts, so many more students would benefit.

[@donelmore2540]

Mr. Abernathy, there are a few techniques that appear repeatedly in the Kata that I never see used in Kumite. Among them are Crescent Kick and Morote-Uke. Since they appear repeatedly, I would think that they are important techniques, but their purposes must have been lost. Since I like doing things in Kumite that my opponent has rarely or never seen in Kumite, I introduced, decades ago, Crescent Kick into my repertoire and successfully. I have always been troubled by Morote-Uke as it was taught to me. In the ‘90s, I began experimenting with it and found an application of it that could send my opponent sliding across the floor on their back. I’d be very interested in hearing your take on these techniques. I enjoy your stuff as always!

[@JamesMMcCann]

Absolutely love these vids. Thank you, Iain.

[@guenterwograndl3234]

Je mehr ich vom GM Iani Abernethy sehe, desto begeisterter bin ich! 👊 ~ 🙏 ~ 👌

[@BAJ80]

Spot on Iain! Thanks a lot! Keep up the good work!

[@tonyslaughter8954]

Oh wow this master is in my chart! I study under one of the original students of Seiyu Taika Oyata.

[@qaannat]

I think kata can inform sparring. In TKD forms, we do a low block step and punch at a 90* angle. At a rudimentary level that is sidestepping and deflecting a round kick and scoring 1pt with a punch to the solar plexus in sparring. In real life, it could be parrying a punch while striking the torso followed by a takedown and finish. I am only beginning to understand this stuff, largely thanks to your publishing. But that's how I see it at this moment.

[@qaannat]

And this is such good information. Your writings and videos are helping me make some sense of what our school is doing. Thank you.

[@dermotrooney9584]

Excellent. 👍

[@HardHardMaster]

Thank God for Iain. All these misunderstandings I've always had suspicions about, debunked

[@Aridzonan13]

Karate is not about winning or losing. It's about surviving,

[@practicalkatabunkai]

When it comes to self-defense, I prefer “avoiding harm” as the goal. If I end up in jail or on life-support then I “survived”, but that’s not a good outcome. I like to be really strict with my wording these days. Karate can have many valid goals (self-defence, fighting, sport, health, art, enjoyment, etc) and I think the key is to be clear on which one you are training for at any given moment. They all have value, but when we mix up the methods of one for the methods of another we get big problems.

[@sinemi3]

Great video! I would love to hear your thoughts on the footwork in traditional karate.

[@1888swordsman]

thank you for this priceless knowledge

[@ashinchanda7528]

Very important topic. Thanks sensei

[@miketurley8272]

From Detroit hello Excellent. This is important info. Thx

[@ΚωνσταντίνοςΡεμούνδος]

Excuse me, Mr.Abernethy, could you make a video about Gichin Funakoshi's 20 precepts of Shotokan Karate and real meanings?

[@practicalkatabunkai]

This podcast covers them if that helps: iainabernethy.co.uk/content/20-precepts-gichin-funakoshi-podcast

[@ΚωνσταντίνοςΡεμούνδος]

Thank you, very much.

[@greenshifu]

Hello Iain, can you clear the first point of Itosu for me. He said that karate did not develop from Buddhism of confucianism. Now it's accepted that kungfu, shaolin Kung Fu and lots of other Chinese martial arts influenced karate. But lots of these Chinese martial arts are influenced by Buddhism and Confucianism. So there is a link surely? Could it be that Itosu was trying also to separate karate from China like how funikoshi did by changing its characters and Kata names?

[@practicalkatabunkai]

YOU WROTE: “Hello Iain, can you clear the first point of Itosu for me.” I’ll do my best and thanks for the comment. YOU WROTE: “Now it's accepted that kungfu, shaolin Kung Fu and lots of other Chinese martial arts influenced karate.” It would be accurate to say karate is heavily influenced by Chinese systems. YOU WROTE: “But lots of these Chinese martial arts are influenced by Buddhism and Confucianism.” If we are talking about those systems having religious origins (as Itosu was), I would say that is inaccurate. Claiming religious origins for combative systems is more of a mix of marketing / propaganda as opposed to historical truth. “Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals” by Brian P. Kennedy and Elizabeth Nai-Jia Guo is a good book that explains where these claims originate from and why they are historically baseless. While Itosu was historically accurate, many others in karate still propagate the same religious origin myths we find espoused in the Chinese systems because of the link between karate and those systems. There’s no truth in those claims though. For example, the much touted religious links to “Shaolin” has been thoroughly debunked: iainabernethy.co.uk/comment/8819#comment-8819 YOU WROTE: “Could it be that Itosu was trying also to separate karate from China like how funikoshi did by changing its characters and Kata names?” No. Itosu always wrote karate as “Chinese hand” so we can’t say he is trying to make karate less Chinese. Even then, disconnecting karate from its alleged religious origins would not achieve that goal. Both of the religions he distances karate from were popular in Okinawa and Japan. He’s simply staying an historical fact. Funakoshi (a student of Itosu) is one of the karateka who pushes the “Shaolin / Bodhidharma” myth because he knew it would go down well in Japan. It is nevertheless entirely untrue. I hope that helps. All the best, Iain

[@mark11145]

Simply fantastic! Do you offer a copy if your translation for sale? I would buy a copy. Update - Just found it online at your site shared for free. Thank you!!!

[@practicalkatabunkai]

Glad you found it! I will put the link here for others who may want to see it: iainabernethy.co.uk/article/10-precepts-anko-itosu

[@Ronin-101]

Gold mate!

[@coconutjoe666]

Dont Forget he has style base on his teaching Itous Kai

[@MrK-wu7ci]

"5. One must maintain an upright position withing Karate’s training postures. The back should be straight, loins pointing upward with the shoulders pulling downward, and a springiness should be maintained in the legs. Relax, and bring together the upper and lower parts of your body with the ki force focused in your tanden." www.karatebyjesse.com/itosu-ten-lessons-of-karate/ To Ankoh Itosu, Karate was almost a form of Tai Chi.

[@bricklayerwv1]

Where can one obtain your translated copy?

[@bricklayerwv1]

Disregard i will Google it like you discuss in the concussion.

[@practicalkatabunkai]

Here you are: iainabernethy.co.uk/article/10-precepts-anko-itosu

[@okironin8180]

What is the title of the book you have?

[@practicalkatabunkai]

Hi Greg, It’s not a book, but a translation of Itosu’s letter that I commissioned. You can read it here: iainabernethy.co.uk/article/10-precepts-anko-itosu

[@WianJooste]

Just looking at the language of single assailant(attacker) vs villain(criminal) or ruffian(violent criminal). it should be used to stop a crime and also a violent crime. It is really difficult to look at it without looking through the glasses of a martial artist in a country with one of the highest crime rates in the world...

[@paleolifer99]

The monk was not "Bodimara" as you pronounce but rather "Bodhidharma".

[@MrLouladakis]

you say that bodidharma did not visit the shaolin temple! and that there are no evidence that he did will you present the forgury!. i would very much like to see it!.

[@practicalkatabunkai]

“As for the "Yi Jin Jing" (Muscle Change Classic), a spurious text attributed to Bodhidharma and included in the legend of his transmitting martial arts at the temple, it was written in the Ming dynasty, in 1624, by the Daoist priest Zining of Mt. Tiantai, and falsely attributed to Bodhidharma. Forged prefaces, attributed to the Tang general Li Jing and the Southern Song general Niu Gao were written. They say that, after Bodhidharma faced the wall for nine years at Shaolin temple, he left behind an iron chest; when the monks opened this chest they found the two books "Xi Sui Jing" (Marrow Washing Classic) and "Yi Jin Jing" within. The first book was taken by his disciple Huike, and disappeared; as for the second, "the monks selfishly coveted it, practicing the skills therein, falling into heterodox ways, and losing the correct purpose of cultivating the Real. The Shaolin monks have made some fame for themselves through their fighting skill; this is all due to having obtained this manuscript." Based on this, Bodhidharma was claimed to be the ancestor of Shaolin martial arts. This manuscript is full of errors, absurdities and fantastic claims; it cannot be taken as a legitimate source.” - Historian Lin Boyuan

[@sramdeojohn4428]

🙌👏🙌✌️ When I started shotokan, we were heavily influenced by itaso teachings...lots of pushup, squarts and running...that is why we never use karate for sports...

[@nicholasflamel1134]

A "forgery" is a copy of something original that actually exists. What was the tendon Change Classic copied FROM?

[@practicalkatabunkai]

It was copied from nothing. It was totally made up. The work was created in 1624, over 1000 years after Bodhidharma died, but it was claimed Bodhidharma wrote it. The word “forgery” does not only apply to direct copies of an original work. It can also apply to things that claim to be legitimate but are not. For example, the term a “forged cheque” does mean it is a copy of a real cheque that the person legitimately wrote out. The term a “forged passport” does not imply the person traveling on it has a legitimate passport of which the forgery is merely a copy. These are illegitimate things purporting to be legitimate. Same with the “muscle change classic”. It's a forged work. It’s a book claiming to be writen by Bodhidharma when it was not. I don’t think anyone will get confused by what I said. It’s clear the document is entirely fabricated. I’m therefore not sure what your point is.

[@nicholasflamel1134]

@@practicalkatabunkai If it was copied from nothing, then by definition it is not a forgery. You can't call a painting that does not relate to any other painting that has ever existed a forgery. Its just a new painting. There are dozens of extra ancient books that have been written about Jesus not included in the Bible. They aren't called forgeries. They are simply not considered "cannon". That is the situation you have here. You are claiming that the Tendon Change Classic was not written by a true master. It is not "cannon" regarding the teachings of Bodhidharma. .

[@practicalkatabunkai]

@@nicholasflamel1134 The book is dishonestly claiming to be something it’s not. It knowingly presents false facts as if they were truth. It claims it was written by Bodhidharma, but in truth it is was written by a Daoist priest called “Zining of Mt. Tiantai”. It also has false prefaces that are wrongly attributed to two military generals. We can’t say it’s in any way valid or simply “not cannon”. It is a 100% dishonest work that presents falsehoods as truth. It is therefore a forgery because it claims to be a book written by Bodhidharma when it is nothing of the sort. It strikes me as very odd we should claim it is any way not a forgery. Something that is "not authentic" and is "knowing made with the intention to deceive others" is a forgery. UK law would certainly define it as a forgery because, “it purports to have been made in the form in which it is made on the authority of a person who did not in fact authorise its making in that form” and “it purports to have been made or altered on a date on which, or at a place at which, or otherwise in circumstances in which, it was not in fact made or altered.” It is therefore legally a forgery. I’m unsure what your point is? The book is in no way legitimate.

[@nicholasflamel1134]

@@practicalkatabunkai The point I am making is not a big point. Perhaps the use of the word forgery is different where you are. (Forgery: the action of producing a copy of a document, signature, banknote, or work of art.) The "copy" part of the standard dictionary definition is what I am addressing. You are saying it is a copy of nothing, therefore it does not fit the standard dictionary definition of forgery. It doesn't really matter in the big scheme of things.

[@practicalkatabunkai]

I am very clear in the video that the text is entirely false. It’s got no legitimacy. The legal definition of forgery would include “The Muscle Change Classic.” I am still baffled as you what you are driving at. Are you saying that a knowingly false and deceitful book is not to derided as a “forgery” because you believe an original and valid work must exit for it to be copied from for it be a forgery? That makes no sence at all to me. If it was copied from something legitimate it is a legitimate copy of a book! My copy of the bible is not a "forgery" because it’s not the original one! However, if I write a book called, “The Gospel of Dave: The Forgotten Disciple”, and try to pass it off as an ancient and original work, then everyone would, quite rightly, point to the book a forgery. Or should people accept “Dave’s Gospel” as legitimate in some way because it was not copied from something? As I say, I’ve no idea what point your trying to make. “The Muscle Change Classic” is a false and deceitful book that has zero legitimacy and has been thoroughly debunked. By legal definitions, and everyday use of the English language, it is a forgery.

[@nimrodnir]

Hi Iain, the name of the Shaolin monk is Bodhidharma and not Bodhimara. The message is clear, of course. My comment is only meant to prevent confusion.

[@practicalkatabunkai]

That will be the Cumbrian accent at work :-) To also avoid confusion, he was never a Shaolin monk and never visited the temple :-)

[@seanhiatt6736]

@@practicalkatabunkai : my understanding is that Karate has it's origins in Shaolin Kung Fu? Even looking at modern forms of Kung Fu Choy Li Fut or Hung Gar there is similarities to Karate not sense in other systems.

[@greenshifu]

I think we're getting abit bogged down here with boddhidharma, to say he did or didn't go to temples is hard to say for sure as it would be difficult to prove either. But as you put it, karate has a root back to shaolin, so to go with itosu and his first precept does not quite make sense. I understand here that it was meant as a means of karate attracting a wider Japanese audience and to ensure that religion and China was separated to keep the art going.

[@danielzusatz8504]

si ca pouvait etre traduit en Français dommage

[@typedeaf]

Karate is the empty handed version of Iaido. Iaido and Kendo both use swords, but are two completely different practices for compeltely different situations; just like Karate vs Boxing or Savate.

[@practicalkatabunkai]

I find that a confusing comment. Having studied both Iai-do (a very long time ago) and karate (and a little boxing too) I don’t see any similarities there at all. Iai-do uses live blades but lacks live practise. Kendo uses shinai (not swords), and therefore has live practise, but the actions don’t resemble those of actual cutting with a live blade. The term “karate” covers a lot of disparate pursuits these days, but - traditionally and pragmatically speaking - it definitely has live practise in a way that is relevant to live situations. All I can think of is that you don’t have much experience of karate, or that the experience you do have is very different from mine? This video may be relevant: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGOuXoBtjt2qj8Usi=IRpAoM3Qc9CeCahn Apologies if I have picked you up wrong? Maybe you could explain your statement? Can you also explain what relevance this has to the Itosu document this video is discussing? All the best, Iain

[@newheightsmartialarts2857]

If the story of shaolin is false but so widely spread, do you have or know of any good sources on the actual history of the creation and development of shaolin? The history of martial arts is very fascinating to me.

[@practicalkatabunkai]

The book “Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals: A Historical Survey” by Kennedy and Guo is a great resource. The key point is that Shaolin martial arts did not originate from the same source as Zen Buddhism i.e. Bodhidharma. They had their martial arts, but they don’t have religious origins. Temples hire guards and mercenaries. The monks learn a few tricks from their “hired goons” :-) This thread book may also be of interest: iainabernethy.co.uk/content/zen-and-martial-arts-why-it-bs

[@newheightsmartialarts2857]

@@practicalkatabunkai Thanks a bunch! I will definitely look for that book.

[@juliecicero7824]

If you want more historical information please contact Hanshi Bruce Juchnik, you will not be disappointed, he is literally a walking martial arts history book!!

[@dij8nz]

The irony in all of this is the statement about deciding what part of karate is for you. Which, and here's the irony, would include whether any of this suits you. Personally I think all of this is great. It is, however, one persons view preached by one persons view. I'm sure, though, Iain Abernathy would be the last to state that his view, however he got there, is the only truth. :)

[@practicalkatabunkai]

I don’t see any irony there. If you watch the video again, you can hear that I do say people are free to train all the aspects they enjoy and that all of them have value (9:22). I train karate for many reasons and find value in all it’s aspects. However, there are objective truths that mean the optimum methods in one context are not optimal in another i.e. a controlled head height hook kick can score a lot of points in competition, but it would not have any relevance to self-defense. We therefore need to be clear what we are training for in any given instance. We don’t have to limit ourselves (as I say in the video), but we do need to be clear about our objective for any given drill or method. I’m not saying people need to choose one aspect of karate and stick to it (I think that’s clear if you re-watch), just that they need to be clear what aspect they are training on in any given instant.

[@dij8nz]

No surprise you say what I want to way better than I do. :) I absolutely agree with what you are saying. Really I'm trying to say the irony is in peoples (mis)conceptions of what is said. I see all over the place how this style is best, sport is what it's all about, practical self defense is the only true value, kata is king. The list goes on and on. "Practice each of the techniques of karate repeatedly. Learn the explanations of every technique well, and decide when and in what manner to apply them when needed." I believe that statement sums it up best. My take is on this is karate is good, for whatever reason you want to do it. I'd just like to see more people be as accepting of others styles and reasons as you often state. Know what you do, why you do it, and its true value in any given context. If you can answer these three questions honestly and are happy with the answers then surely what you do is best for you. :)

[@practicalkatabunkai]

Great post! Totally agree! This article pushes the value of “sport” when judged on its own terms: www.iainabernethy.co.uk/article/defence-combat-sports This podcast is about how it’s all good, providing you know where you are on the “martial map”: www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/martial-map-free-audio-book All the best, Iain

[@Burvedys]

What took Itosu to explain in 10 brief sentences, Iain had to take more than 10 minutes for the same. :)

[@practicalkatabunkai]

It does not take long to read out his precepts. It does take longer to expand on how karate has evolved in the 103 years since Itosu’s death and the degree of relevance his precepts have to karate today. I have a feeling that Itosu himself, if he were alive today, would have more than a few words to say on karate’s direction too :-)

[@Burvedys]

He would say about MMA hype like: here, have this slipper, put it against the wall and knock the wall down, but not go ruining your and other people's health in a cage. :)

[@kanagharta9783]

👍🏿Micheal Jay white said somthing similare to what you're saying about the forged History of Shaolin kung du and it's political purposes! And guess what people came hard on him for that!

[@Aridzonia1]

Sir, every word you are saying here is important but you are talking so fast, I can hardley keep up.

[@risingsunintl]

Bodhidharma please 😜

[@FoieGras]

Funny thing is DESPITE Master Itosu's unassuming tone in this letter, he was a REAL WARRIOR! Nowadays, you have all this nonsense floating around because the ignorance caught up to young people and they being disillusioned by modern Karate (and the scammers in the business) that they've trained so hard in, even going as far as to question the LEGITIMACY of Mr. Funakoshi's Karate! Correction though - about Master Itosu mentions that Karate is not a religion. That has nothing to do with Yijin Jing being a so-called "forgery." Yijin Jing may or may not have been written by a monk named Bodhidharma, but the Shaolin Monks did and DO still practice the classic. It's a REAL manual, not a forgery. This is specifically referring to the fact that the Ryukyu Kingdom's original war-art did NOT have anything to do with Shaolin arts UNTIL the late 14th century. Okinawans are proud of their heritage that way ...

[@XyZ-de8be]

you seem to be very sure that there is no connection between shaolin and karate. :S

[@practicalkatabunkai]

I’m 100% certain that karate does not have its origins in Zen Buddhism, and that the martial arts practised in the various Shaolin temples don’t originate from the religion / philosophical practises also carried out there. The historical evidence for this is very clear. The myth of a shared origin originates from forged texts and novels. A superimposed connection at a later date is also quite different from an intrinsic connection and shared origin. My home dojo is in the hall attached to Church; so, there is a “connection”, but that does not mean the martial art we do in that hall originate from the Church of England.

[@jadekayak01]

bullshit. without G Funagoshi there is no modern karate karate has solid proven links to shaolin based martial. shaolin martial arts are solidly linked to bhudist religion so your number 1 is false i have no one mire important in my life than me. i am blessed by having people in my life that are just as important as myself-some of them not related to me karate is for SINGLE and MULTIPLE attackers. what youre saying is that you cant use karate if only one person attacks yoh-utter bullshit finally something we agree on 100%-karate is alot of things and you DO need to concentrate on the specific purpose for what you are doing kata is not 100%relavant to sparring which is not relavant to a back alkey sutvival fight