Hi! 👋 Welcome to our Traditional Shotokan Community. I'm very glad you're here and I hope you'll enjoy your ride with us. Always feel free to post, comment, exchange and bring value to others, but you have to respect a few VERY IMPORTANT rules: - Whether you are a long-time practitioner or a complete beginner, you should keep in mind that we are here to honor the traditional Shotokan spirit described by Funakoshi Gichin Sensei in his Dōjō Kun (the five Dōjō principles) and Nijū Kun (The twenty Guiding Principles of Karate). So to sum up, always be polite, gentle and respect others in their being and their practice. - There is no truth in Karate like in any other art. We are all diligently practicing with our hearts and souls, but our practice is always our own interpretation of the teaching we have received, shaped by our history and experiences. We must therefore accept that we don't own the truth and we must always remain courteous (I know you're passionate, I know you think you're right, but it's YOUR vision, and most feel the same way). This way we will all learn and grow together. Additionally, this is part of the Shoshin spirit (beginner's mind) that is so important in practice. - We are not here to argue or fight, but to expand our practice and understanding, share our passion with the community, and embark on this wonderful karate journey together. - You can post anything related to our subject and that you think will help other members in their own Karate journey. And since we love so much traditional martial arts, you can also share content from other arts that may enlighten and inspire our Karate and our lives (Traditional Japanese Culture, Yoga, TaiChi, Aikido, Yi Chuan, Zen, Iai Dō, Kyu-dō, Sa-dō...). ✅ - Please, do not share modern "red and blue gloves" or "threesome Kata choregraphy"! ⚠️ - No personal, organizational or corporate promotion is permitted. 🚫 - Keep in mind that if you violate these rules, admins always have the right to ban you from the group. ⛔ - We love and respect the traditional Japanese Culture and we always try to respect the Rei (the principles of etiquette), but we may make mistakes in the language and writing of the Budō terms. Don't make a big deal out of it, and if you are a native Japanese speaker or an expert in Japanese language or culture, feel free to KINDLY make corrections and share your knowledge with others! - Finally, it's very important to say that I will share here my - sometimes controversial - opinion and interpretation about Shotokan Karate-do. I don't claim to own any kind of truth, this is just my vision based on my long time practice alongside Japanese masters. My opinion is only mine, and if it does not resonate with you or suit you, you are of course free to leave the group and find another one where you will feel more comfortable. (Sorry if this sound a little rough, but the clearer we are, the better the journey!)