Examining Yasutsune Itosu
Part 2: Itosu's Ten Precepts
by Tom Ross
Editor's Note:
This is the second of two articles on Itosu. The first
article examined the man and his lineage,
while the second focuses on Itosu's famous "Ten
Precepts," which he wrote to the draw the attention
of the government to the budding art of karate as
it was developing on Okinawa.
Karate developed on Okinawa not in public light but
in secret, practiced at night and behind closed doors
and taught only to the most trusted few. So secret
was the practice that a student of the art would not
tell his best friend or associates. This was the way
of karate as it existed for centuries when arms had
been banned, first by the government and later by
the Japanese who occupied the country. When Okinawa
was annexed along with the other Ryukyu islands late
in the 19th century, the stage was set for the art
to emerge from secrecy.
It was Itosu who brought karate from the shadows
into the light of public study. In 1901 he began instructing
karate at the Shuri Jinjo Primary school (Iwai 1992,
Okinawa Pref. 1994) and taught at the Dai Ichi middle
school and the Okinawa prefectural Men's Normal School
in 1905 (Bishop 1999, Okinawa Pref. 1994, 1995).
In October of 1908 Itosu realized it was time for
karate (meaning Chinese Hand) to reach beyond the
shores of Okinawa to the heart of Japan itself. It
was to this end that he wrote his famous letter of
Ten Precepts (Tode Jukun) to draw the attention of
both the Ministry of Education as well as the Ministry
of War. After demonstrations were held for several
naval vessels, the most important of which was the
1912 visit of Admiral Dewa, karate emerged as an attractive
vehicle for developing young fighting men for the
imperialistic Japanese government of the period.
Ten Precepts Of China Hand (1)
China Hand did not develop from Buddhism or Confucianism.
In the past the Shorin School and the Shorei school
were brought here from China. Both of these schools
have strong points, which I will now mention before
there are too many changes.
1. China Hand is not merely practiced for
your own benefit: it can be used to protect one's
family or master. It is not intended to be used
against a single assailant but instead as a way
of avoiding a fight should one be confronted by
a villain or ruffian.
2. The purpose of China Hand is to make
the muscles and bones hard as rock and to use the
hands and legs as spears. If children were to begin
training in China Hand while in elementary school,
then they will be well suited for military service.
Remember the words of the Duke of Wellington after
he defeated Napoleon: "Our victory here today
was achieved in our school yards."
3. China Hand cannot be quickly learned.
Like a slow moving bull, it eventually travels a
thousand miles. If one trains diligently everyday,
then in three or four years one will come to understand
China Hand.
Those who train in this fashion will discover China
Hand.
4. In China Hand training of the hands and
feet are important, so one must be thoroughly trained
on the makiwara (striking post). In order to do
this, drop your shoulders, open your lungs, take
hold of your strength, grip the floor with your
feet and sink your energy into your lower abdomen.
Practice using each arm one to two hundred times
each day.
5. When one practices the stances of China
Hand, be sure to keep your back straight, lower
your shoulders, put strength in your legs, stand
firmly and drop your energy into your lower abdomen.
6. Practice each of the techniques of China
Hand repeatedly, the use of which is passed by word
of mouth. Learn the explanations well and decide
when and in what manner to apply them when needed.
Enter, counter, release is the rule of releasing
hand (torite).
7. You must decide if China Hand is for
your health or to aid your duty.
8. When you train, do so as if on the battlefield.
Your eyes should glare, shoulders drop, and body
harden.. You should always train with intensity
and spirit and in this way you will naturally be
ready.
9. One must not overtrain; this will cause
you to lose the energy in your lower abdomen and
will be harmful to your body. Your face and eyes
will turn red. Train wisely.
10. In the past masters of China Hand have
enjoyed long lives. China Hand aids in developing
the bones and muscles. It helps the digestion as
well as the circulation. If China Hand should be
introduced beginning in the elementary schools,
then we will produce many men each capable of defeating
ten assailants. I further believe this can be done
by having all students at the Okinawa Teachers Collage
practice China Hand. In this way after graduation
they can teach at the elementary schools that which
they have been taught. I believe this will be a
great benefit to our nation and our military. It
is my hope you will seriously consider my suggestion.
Anko Itosu October 1908
Footnote:
(1) There are many translations
of these Ten Precepts. I based this interpretation
on the translations in works by the historians Sells,
Nagamine (McCarthy) and Bishop. I believe it preserves
the integrity of what Itosu said and is a compromise
of the points made by the above translations which
vary significantly in some areas.
About The Author:
Tom Ross is a retired NYC Correction Officer who
specialized in the Handling of Security Risk group
prisoners. A Yudansha under Ashihara karate (current
affiliation) and in Shorinjiryu Kenzenkai Karatedo
(an Offshoot of the Shorinjiryu Kenkokan founded
by Masayoshi Hisataka), he also spent six years
studying Jujutsu (classical, modern and Brazilian).
Possessing an avid interest in the history of martial
arts and traditions he currently serves as the Research
Coordinator for FightingArts.com as well as moderating
its Martial Arts Talk forum. He additionally serves
as the moderator of the Sabaki List (which is dedicated
to various martial artists and full contact stylists)
and is a member of the International Hoplology Society.
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