-- From "History of the Shoto Cup," 5th World Shoto Cup Karate Championships presented by the Japan Karate Association, Philadelphia, PA, USA, July 29-31, 1994.

Motokuni Sugiura

"One of the philosophical aspects of Karate-do is that perseverance in daily training, according to one's physical strength, builds confidence. Practicing Karate-do under superior instructors improves physical and mental health, and cultivates moral character no matter what age, gender or culture. Ultimately, karate fulfills the prime directive of the JKA: to refine and improve society."

-- On the occasion of the 5th World Shoto Cup Karate Championships, Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Teruyuki Okazaki
 

"Keep training!"

Teruyuki Okazaki, chief instructor of the International Shotokan Karate Federation, travels extensively and teaches karate throughout the world. After receiving his B.A. from Takushoku University in Tokyo in 1953, Mr. Okazaki taught karate at his alma mater, Tokyo Toritsu University and at Japan's self-defense academy. In 1957 he began training instructors of the Japan Karate Association. In 1961 he established the Philadelphia Karate Club and began teaching at Temple University. He has trained many national champions, including his nephew Hiroyoshi Okazaki, 6th-degree JKA instructor.

Mr. Takayuki Mikami

"Karate is a way of life which teaches self-confidence, health, and physical stength. Every effort in karate teaches you ... commitment ... for any task in life. You build karate and life at the same time. You grow spiritually and physically at once. Individual change comes through self-study. Then you find your own special techniques -- and you find yourself. The final goal of training is to act against any opponent with maximum efficiency."

-- ISKF Spotlight Magazine

Mr. Yutaka Yaguchi

"Karate is a lifelong challenge that is explained by the dojo kun -- seek perfection of character, be faithful, endeavor, respect others and refrain from violent behavior. Studying techniques gives you self-confidence and that gives you self-defense. But, self-defense is a state-of-mind, not a combination of techniques. The best defense is avoiding trouble. Karate is not the study of fighting, but of people.
Kata and kumite are like the two wheels of a bicycle. Kata hones the edge of your sword ... kumite is using the sword."

-- ISKF Spotlight Magazine

Mr. Shojiro Koyama

"Modern life is too quick and competitive, changes are rapid, and karate helps us see past the world around us and into ourselves. Our pace of living keeps us looking ahead, karate helps us rediscover ourselves. Studying kata is like basic education and kumite is the final examination. The only diploma is using karate in everyday life."

-- ISKF Spotlight Magazine

Mr. Shigeru Takashina

"The fighting aspect of karate demands continual victory in any battle. And this calls for the perfection of mind, body, and technique through training. Training with a clear personal goal is very important. This promotes development of techniques, body and mind. The karate state-of-mind is not shaken by any situation or change."

-- ISKF Spotlight Magazine

"Karate-do... has no such narrow ideal as the winning of championships. Human progress in the art is like climbing a series of stairs or steep steps. As the mind and body grow together, the student moves continuously onward and upward, one step at a time. Even when the body declines, there is still another step ahead in the seeking of chracter perfection. Until the day you die, the process is endless, because no one is perfect, but we can all become a little better if we keep trying"

- Masatoshi Nakayama

"Karate is a lifelong challenge that is explained by the dojo kun -- seek perfection of character, be faithful, endeavor, respect others and refrain from violent behavior. Studying techniques gives you self-confidence and that gives you self-defense. But, self-defense is a state-of-mind, not a combination of techniques. The best defense is avoiding trouble. Karate is not the study of fighting, but of people.
Kata and kumite are like the two wheels of a bicycle. Kata hones the edge of your sword ... kumite is using the sword."

- Yutaka Yaguchi

"You may train for a long, long time, but if you merely move your hands and feet and jump up and down like a puppet, learning karate is not very different from learning to dance. You will never have reached the heart of the matter; you will have failed to grasp the quintessence of karate-do."

-Gichin Funakoshi

"Karate is a defensive art from beginning to end"

- Gichin Funakoshi