"True karate is this; that in daily life one's mind and body be trained and developed in a spirit of humility, and that in critical times, one be devoted utterly to the cause of justice. The ultimate aim of the art of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the characters of its participants.....[to subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill, know your enemy and know yourself, in a hundred battles you will not be defeated]" - Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan and modern day karate.

 

 

In a similar vain: Miyagi Chojun Sensei, the founder of Goju-Ryu maintained that "The ultimate aim of karate-do was to build character, conquer human misery and find spiritual freedom". (Taken from "Ancient Okinawan Martial Arts Vol. 2 - Patrick McCarthy).

 

 

Higaonna Sensei echoes this sentiment when he points out that "Karate is Very difficult, Very hard, and through training on discovers the correct way to live." (Taken from "Conversations with Karate Masters" - Dr. Clive Layton).