No First Strike- - Chief Instructor's Blog October 2010

In The Art of War [1], Sun Tzu notes that one of five essentials to victory is “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight”.

This is a general principle found throughout history of Warriors. It was part of the Samurai’s code of conduct “The Bushido”. Inazo Nitobe writes in Bushido, The Soul of Japan [2], “The question that concerns us most however, - Did Bushido justify the promiscuous use of the weapon? The answer is unequivocally, no! As it laid great stress on its proper use, so did it denounce and abhor it misuse.” He goes on to write “The popular apothegm-“To be beaten is to conquer.” Meaning true conquest consists in not opposing a riotous foe; and “The best won victory is that obtained without shedding of blood,” and others of similar import-will show that after all the ultimate ideal knighthood was peace”.

Martial Arts practiced in its true philosophy continue this concept as part of its underlying principles. In Gichin Funakoshi’s, The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate [3], his second principle is “There is no first strike in karate”.

Funakoshi writes that it is only as a last resort that one would use their skills. He writes “..when circumstances beyond control cause practitioners to have recourse to action, they must respond wholeheartedly and without concern for life or limb, allowing their martial prowess to shine to the best of their ability. This is indeed the true spirit of budo (the Way of the Martial Arts), and it is the correct spirit behind the second principle.”

Han Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do also has this principle at its core. In sparring, Mr. Kim never attacked first; he always waited for the other person to attack. This is one way Mr. Kim practiced the essence of use of martial arts for self-defense only.

Students of Han Moo Kwan should be aware of surroundings and avoid confrontation and try to de-escalate confrontation or conflict if possible. If options to avoid confrontation or conflict are exhausted, and no other option exists, then and only then, should the techniques learned in Han Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do be used to physically defend oneself. By doing so, we practice the true principle of our art form and follow in the tradition of the code of conduct of Warriors for centuries.

Regards,
Kelly

The correct understanding of Karate and its proper use is Karate-do. One who truly trains in this do [way] and actually understands Karate-do is never easily drawn into a fight. ~ Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957), founder of Shotokan Karate

References:
1. The Art of War by Sun Tzu
2. Bushido, The Soul of Japan by Inazo Nitobe
3. The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate: The Spiritual Legacy of the Master by Gichin Funakoshi