This book has meant so much to my life. Karate is a great way to keep fit and stay healthy. Master Funakoshi lived to a very old age and still was in great health. It has helped me see how lucky I am. Master Funakoshi had to train for years before he mastered one kata. When he finally mastered the kata the only response from his master was “good”. For us it only takes three months to advance to the next level and we get a lot more input from our instructor. The complements we get are “great”, “awesome” and “excellent”. Master Funakoshi had to train at night in secret in his instructor’s backyard because it was illegal to do karate. We don’t have to train in secret and we get to train at a nice dojo with great instructors at VBKA. But all of these facts made Master Funakoshi a better karate adept.

Karate is not just about cool techniques and defending yourself. It is about discipline, respect and honor. Discipline is having control when training, sparring or working with a partner. Respect is choosing not to boast about your karate ability but to appreciate that you can defend yourself if you need to. Honor is mastering the art of being a good and honest member of society. Master Funakoshi tells us a lot of stories to teach us about the true meaning of karate. My favorite story is when he entered a hand wrestling match and beat everyone. On his walk home, a group of men attacked him from behind and he dodged all the blows that were aimed at him. They finally realized he knew karate and stopped. But by the time he returned home he was very ashamed that he entered the hand wrestling match. He asked himself why? It was overconfidence in his strength and his pride. This was a violation of the true meaning of karate. Karate should always be defensive not offensive and that is why karate is about training your mind and your body. The true meaning of karate is learned only through love of karate, yourself, your family and friends.

Master Funakoshi was asked to train students at the Tokyo universities in addition to his dojo. This was too much for one man to do. So he appointed his advanced karate students to teach at their universities in his place. This is just like VBKA and the way it requires the advanced students to assist classes and many blackbelts become instructors at the different VBKA locations across the county. This book has taught me to appreciate my instructors and realize that they have trained at VBKA through all the classes just as I am now doing. They know what it is like. They have been there. They deserve my respect.