The Shotokan Tiger is a world renowned icon that symbolises Master Funakoshi's style of unarmed combat. The painting was originally created by Hoan Kosugi, a friend and student of Gichin Funakoshi Sensei. Kosugi provided the painting for the cover of the first karate book written by Funakoshi.

In Japanese tradition the official written document of an art or system which is used as the definitive reference source for that particular art is called "Tora No Maki". Hoan Kosugi told Funakoshi that his book was the Tora No Maki of karate, and since "Tora" also means "Tiger", he designed the tiger as a representation of Funakoshi's art.

The Shotokan tiger not only represents the name of the art but also the philosophies that govern the personal development of the karate-ka. There are Twenty precepts of karate-do developed by Funakoshi for this purpose.

Funakoshi's 20 precepts

1. Never forget: Karate begins with rei and ends with rei. (rei has the meaning of courtesy and respect)

2. There is no first hand in Karate. (There is no first attack in Karate)

3. Karate supports righteousness.

4. First understand yourself, then understand others.

5. The art of mind is more important than the art of technique.

6. The mind needs to be freed.

7. Trouble is born of negligence.

8. Do not think Karate is only in the dojo.

9. The training of Karate requires a lifetime.

10. Transform everything into Karate; there lies the exquisiteness.

11. Genuine Karate is like hot water; it cools down if you do not keep on heating it.

12. Do not have an idea of winning, while the idea of not losing is necessary.

13. Transform yourself according to the opponent.

14. The outcome of the fight all depends on the manoeuvre.

15. Imagine one's arms and legs as swords.

16. Once you leave the shelter of home, there are a million enemies.

17. Postures are for the beginner, later they are natural positions.

18. Do the kata correctly, the real fight is a different matter.

19. Do not forget the control of the dynamics [of power], the elasticity [of body] and the speed [of technique].

20. Always be good at the application of everything that you have learned.