技術より心術 gijutsu yori shinjutsu Spirit Over Technique

技術より心術 says that how you hold your mind counts for more than what your hands can do. The two words share 術, craft, and differ in one character: 技, the hands, against 心, the heart. It is a rule, not a remark: the mind comes first.

The precept is one of Funakoshi Gichin 船越義珍's twenty precepts of karate, a list in print by December 1934, four years before Nakasone Genwa 仲宗根源和 printed it with his commentary in 空手道大観 (1938).

We want you to be as happy with the meaning as you are with Master Takase's art. To learn more, visit Philology of 技術より心術.

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