The concept of "No First Strike in Karate"

As students of the Way, we have all heard the same precept repeated time and time again by our Sensei the world over, “There is no first strike in Karate,” which is the second of Gichin Funakoshi Sensei’s twenty karate precepts.  This is all well and good.  However, there seems to be a common misconception about what this statement actually implies.  If asked the meaning behind this precept, the vast majority of answers regardless if the karateka level ranges from novice, intermediate, advanced or instructor, will be that it implies that one should never, “throw the first punch.”  This interpretation is because we have all been taught that the techniques and tactics learned through karate training are to be used for defense only.  Even when observing kata we notice that the first technique executed is usually a blocking technique.

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