written by sensei Brian George (3rd Dan)
VOLUME 2: Issue 1 Issue 2 Issue 3 Issue 4 Issue 5 Issue 6 Issue 7 Issue 8 Issue 9
ISSUE 2
Newsletter date August 2000
FIRST KNOW YOURSELF, THEN OTHERS
Funakoshi had a sensei called Master Azato. Part of the teachings he handed down to the young Funakoshi was that he must understand himself before he could ever begin to understand others.
This is an absolute fact, if you can understand who and what you are as a person and have an understanding of your own capabilities then and only then can you dare venture into the understanding of others.
This is the start of a new term and with it comes some chages in the way we will be training. First of all the emphases will be on etiquette with the view to respect for the dojo, sensei and your fellow students. You should all know the rules we have on 'Dojo Etiquette', if you have not got them please ask and I will let you have a copy. With these rules in mind and putting them into practice I hope an element of self respect and disipline will become common place to your daily life.
As we go along in our training we will bring into practice some of the old ways of training and hopefully in time the respect of the old budo ways will give you as students the self respect needed in these Martial Arts.
Learn the old to understand the new. (Funakoshi)
