The Concept of REI within Funakoshi's Niju Kun
by Mike Russell 4th Dan S.K.I.F.
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Funakoshi Gichin, in order to exhort his students and to affirm the true spirit of Karate,
developed his 20 precepts as a written legacy to help his students adhere to the true spirit
of Karate Do. It is a deeply spiritual set of maxims but it would take too long to delve deeply
into the Spiritual Aspects here. Suffice to say that the reader should bear in mind that there
is something spiritual which pervades the Niju Kun.
Every Karateka will have a favourite saying from one of these 20 precepts and I am no exception.
The twelfth is mine as it took on a personal meaning for me when I was diagnosed with Cancer in
2003.
"Do not think about winning, think rather that you do not have to lose"
It is this precept that will form the basis for this thesis however, I have found that it is
impossible to discuss just one aspect of the Niju Kun without referring to the other 19 so:
The First Precept;
Karate begins with rei and ends with rei
Or, in Western terminology, Begins with courtesy and ends with courtesy. Rei however, is not just
about courtesy it signifies respect and understanding as well as courtesy and there is also
interaction. Rei cannot just be given. It must be received as well if it is to mean anything. It
is a two-way communication of courtesy, understanding, respect and, as a result, it is a shared
experience. It signifies an acceptance of one's position within the Karate Hierarchy. Most
Western Karateka will see the "Rei" as merely a bow and many translations of the Niju Kun
misinterpret this precept as such however; a true practitioner of traditional Karate will see it
as much more. A Giving and Receiving of spirit. A mutual understanding of the fact that inside a
Dojo, we share a life and death struggle every day. The "Rei" shows us that we understand that we
may not win every fight but that doesn't mean we will lose every fight.
The Second Precept;
There is no first attack in Karate
Probably the most famous of the 20 precepts as it is carved into the Memorial Shrine of Master
Funakoshi at the Engaku-Ji temple in Kamakura. Having seen this shrine for myself, these words
are carved indelibly behind my eyes and this is, in my opinion, what Funakoshi wanted. That
Karate is a defensive Art; there is no doubt. It is this that elevates Karate from merely a fight
ing method to a "Do" or way of life. Students, from their first lesson, are taught that the
techniques of Karate can be dangerous unless we practise sincerely and use them for defending
ourselves only. If used to attack first, Karate is barbaric. In Attacking first, the person who
uses Karate may do damage but, they have already lost because they have no idea of the beauty of
Karate but, an awareness of the Spirit of Courtesy ("Rei") and using the skills for defence only,
shows that the Karateka has not, nor never will, lose. In attacking first, that person has
already lost the meaning of the Art.
The Third Precept;
Karate is an aid to Justice
I do not think that Funakoshi meant to forge a team of "boy scouts" seeking to do good deeds and
go about looking to right any wrongs that they see. He did however, seek to use Karate Do to
instil in its practitioners a sense of what is right. This sense is manifest in how we interact
with each other within and without the Dojo. The "justice" in this sense is allowing others to
maintain at all times, their dignity. Rei allows us to give each person the dignity to go about
their lives. It also allows us to maintain our dignity inside and outside of the Dojo. Whenever
Karateka meet, there may be arguments about the execution of technique or some other aspect of
karate but, using Rei, these arguments are often constructive and enrich the training experience
for both. This brings us naturally to the next Precept.
The Fourth Precept;
First know yourself, then you can know others
This precept is one of the most famous Oriental strategies as it is a quote from Sun Tzu's
The Art of War. Funakoshi intended that Karateka should seek to discover their own heart, their
own strengths and weaknesses before they sought to know the weaknesses or strengths of others.
Again, this precept is about dignity. If you can maintain your Dignity and allow others to
maintain theirs, this is the true spirit of Rei. As we interact with our fellow students, we come
to know each other's Karate, probably before we come to know our own. It is easy for us to spot
the mistake in someone else's technique before we realise our own mistakes. This precept exhorts
us to look for our own mistakes before we attempt to correct the mistakes of others, thus
maintaining the spirit of Rei.
The Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Precepts;
Spirit First, Technique Second
Be Prepared to release your Mind
Accidents arise out of Laziness
These three precepts naturally go together as they are maxims designed to urge the Karateka to
strive to become better. These precepts urge us as individuals, to use Rei personally. We should
forge good spirit, be open to new ideas and not become lazy in our training. This is about
fostering the internal spirit of Rei. In other words, we should respect ourselves and strive to
become better in our training then, after achieving some success in this way; we can then earn
the respect and courtesy of our fellow students.
The Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Precepts;
Karate is not just for the Dojo
Karate is a Lifelong pursuit
Apply the way of Karate to all things, therein lies its beauty
Again, these three Precepts naturally encourage us to look at Karate as more than just an
exercise. By training as often as we can, striving to better ourselves and maintain a spirit of
Dignity and Rei, we find that Karate can be applied to our everyday living. We begin to see that
Karate can be used to assist us in our lives outwith the Dojo. It can, as students advance
through the Grades, take on greater meaning for us outside the Dojo however, it is the Spirit of
Rei that allows us to "see the karate" in all things. By this, I mean that we see certain
situations, certain actions that would not be out of place inside a Dojo. With a Spirit of
Courtesy and Dignity, we recognise these situations and conduct ourselves in a respectful manner
accordingly.
The Eleventh Precept;
Karate is like a Kettle. You must heat it constantly or it will cool
Kanazawa Kancho once said that if you know 80% of Karate but forget 1%, then all Karate is Lost.
This Precept, Like Kancho's words encourage us to keep training. Many Western Karateka do not,
because of cultural differences and cultural experiences have any knowledge of the concept of Rei
except within the Dojo. As we found out in the previous Precepts, the Spirit of Rei is fostered
by the desire to keep training. If we, as Karateka stop training, not only could our Karate be
lost but the Spirit of Rei could be diminished as well. Thus leaving the entire world a darker
place.
The Twelfth Precept;
Do not think about winning; think rather that you do not have to lose
Upon receiving a diagnosis of Cancer, Doctors usually refer to the process of treatment and
recovery as a battle. A personal battle against cancer, which is essentially a battle against
yourself. Doctors tend to like you to see Cancer as a tangible entity that can be fought and,
in today's climate of Medical advances, often beaten. My own Consultant told me that I had a good
chance of Victory over Cancer however, as a Karateka, I preferred to look at it in terms of this
Precept. I might not win the Battle against Cancer but I certainly don't have to lose it.
It was this precept and the Concept of Rei that allowed me to keep my dignity all through the
treatment and recovery process. Indeed, it was the spirit of Rei that allowed me my dignity from
my fellow Students as I began to slowly take my first steps back into the Dojo and along the Way
of karate again after treatment. I was allowed to start again at my pace, with little comment or
suggestion just respect and dignity maintained in a spirit of Rei.
The Thirteenth Precept;
Move according to your Opponent
This Precept brings us to probably the most important aspect of Rei. This aspect is Harmony.
It is the spirit of Rei that brings about a sense of harmony. Firstly with ourselves. In
conducting ourselves as dignified humans, we begin to harmonise our actions to create an area of
peace in which we live and act. In this Precept, we are encouraged to Harmonise with our
opponent. Once we have advanced sufficiently to harmonise with ourselves, we can then harmonise
our movements and even our breathing with our opponents. In this way, we interact in a spirit of
respect and dignity which allows us to take control of any situation without removing the others
dignity. This is the Spirit and indeed the heart, of Rei. It is this Harmony that allows us to
interact with others in a Spirit of Courtesy, respect and Dignity.
The Fourteenth Precept;
Victory depends on your ability to tell Invulnerable Points from Vulnerable points
As any Karateka knows, during Kumite, the vulnerable points that a Karateka presents to their
opponent can change to invulnerable ones in a split second. Funakoshi Sensei knew this and wanted
his Students to be able to tell the difference. In the Spirit of Rei, your opportunity to gain
Victory does not just lie in the ability to tell which points to attack. It relies on the
ability to harmonise your movements until you are able to turn invulnerable points into
vulnerable ones. Thus Rei is the key to victory. In Kumite, the spirit of Rei allows you to
respect your opponent; it allows you to give and receive dignity and allows you to harmonise
with your opponent to turn the fight to your advantage. If you are not concerned with victory,
as in the spirit of Rei, you shouldn't be concerned, then victory will present its opportunity.
In a Spirit of respect and understanding. It is then up to you to decide whether to seize
victory or not.
The Fifteenth Precept;
Think of your hands and feet as Swords
If you hold in you the spirit of Rei, this Maxim takes on a better meaning, for the warrior
never unsheathes his weapons unless there is a good reason for doing so. If you have forged your
hands and feet along the way of Karate, you will be reluctant to use those weapons. Thus, the
spirit of Rei shows you to respect the Art that you practise and respect the weapons that you
have.
The Sixteenth Precept;
When you leave home, think that there is a multitude of opponents waiting for you
As with the fifteenth Precept, your Spirit of Rei will teach you to respect others with the same
sense of respect as you would treat the weapons of Karate Do. You should guard your weapons and
the use of such weapons against others closely. Your sense of respect and the dignity with which
you conduct yourself will show others that it is foolish to try to attack. With a Spirit of Rei,
the way in which you conduct yourself will also change. Others will respond to you in a positive
way as you give a sense of dignity and respect. Your ability to harmonise with yourself will
enhance your self-respect and your ability to harmonise with others will enhance your respect
for others. This, above all will show others that there is no point in attacking.
The Seventeenth and Eighteenth Precepts;
Ready Position for beginners, Natural Positions for the Advanced
Kata is one thing, Engaging in combat is entirely another
These Maxims tell us that we must begin with correct posture and technique and that when
practising Kata, we must bear in mind that actual combat is often very different. The same goes
for the concept of Rei. Respect must be earned if it is to mean anything. If you are
disrespectful as a beginner, then you may be allowed your dignity but, you will not receive any
respect in return. This shows too that Rei is an interactive concept. Also that in Kata, where
you practise the fighting sequences alone, it cannot prepare you entirely for Kumite. As I have
said, this interaction of Karateka, in a Spirit of Rei must be experienced in order for the
Student to progress.
The Nineteenth Precept;
Do not forget:
Strength and weakness of power
Expansion and contraction of the body
The speed and slowness of techniques
This Precept epitomises the Karate ideology both in technical and spiritual matters. Karate, like
most aspects of life in general can be thought of in terms of threes. This precept naturally
splits into three levels. The concept of "three" is a natural one and one which crops up in
Karate often. The Kyu Grades seem to progress in threes. The first three grades are the most
basic, the second three begin to advance towards the last three brown belts and the last three
prepare the Karateka for the "First Step" of Shodan. Life itself mirrors this concept. We refer
to the human condition in terms of mind, body and Spirit. The Harmonisation of "Self" with
"Nature" and the "Universe".
Karate itself can be broken down into 3 principles. This is what Funakoshi alluded to in this
precept. Speed, Power and Technique. Rei also can be thought of in this way. Dignity, Respect
and Courtesy.
The Twentieth Precept;
Always think and devise ways to live the precepts every day
This final exhortation places the spirit of Karate Do first and foremost in the mind of its
practitioners. By living the Precepts every day, the Spirit of Rei becomes part of our human
nature. As we have discovered, when we live the Precepts every day, Karate begins and Ends with
Courtesy, Respect and Dignity…. Rei.
In Conclusion:
The Concept of Rei is a complex and varied subject. Like Karate itself, It cannot be known in it's
entirety. It takes a lifetime to come to understand. The Spiritual aspects of Rei are varied and
it should permeate the Soul of every Karateka. It should, infuse our training with an air of
Dignity and respect and should enhance the Training experience with a sense of trust in our own
abilities and in the abilities of our fellow students.
Karate, like most aspects of life in general can be thought of in terms of threes. Rei also, can
be seen to be in 3 parts: (although this is, by no means, an exclusive list.) Courtesy, Dignity
and Respect which, like respect in itself, should be earned before it means anything. It is an
Interaction between an individual and the rest of humanity but most notably between Karateka. It
is a means to develop the mind as well as the body and is the means to developing Harmony with
ones-self, others and ultimately, the Universe.
Rei, within the Dojo signifies an acceptance of your position within the Hierarchy of Karate. A
giving and receiving of respect from both your Juniors (Kohei) and your Seniors (Sempai).
Rei must be practised daily just as we must respect ourselves. Without this constant use, Rei
diminishes and as such, so will our Karate. If we have little self-respect, we cannot expect
others to respect us. We must therefore practise Rei for ourselves before we interact with
others.
Rei permeates the very fabric of Karate Do. Without it, Karate Degenerates into a form of violent
barbarism but, with Rei, Karate develops the character of the participants into balanced
individuals who can take their place in a useful, polite and Just society.
The Niju Kun is not just a series of Maxims that the Karateka should strive to live by. They
give insight into how we, as Karateka should conduct ourselves as well as how we should look at
our Art and the world around us. In effect, Just as Funakoshi hoped when he wrote the precepts
for his followers, Rei, is the cornerstone that Karate Do is built upon. Karate Begins with Rei
and Ends with Rei just as Life should begin with Rei and end with Rei.
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