1) Practice the Three Sciences: 

(a) The Science of Violence 

(b) The Science of Technique 

(c) The Science of Learning 

2) Defend against real violent attacks (grabs, punches, headbutts etc) not just "karate attacks" 

3) There are five principles that underlie everything we do. 

They are: 

(a) Everything should move in two directions 

(b) Always use the waist/centre/hips 

(c) Proper breathing 

(d) Always relax 

(e) Train slowly to gain precision. When you defend, you can be slower than the attacker 

4) Shotokan uses "Kime" in blocks and strikes, Toshu Jutsu uses consistant power throughout the technique 

5) Hard on soft, soft on hard 

6) In self defence scenarios, don't use anachronisms for example defences against a samurai on horseback. Use minimal realistic scenarios. 

 7) Use kiai to startle 

8) Always distract before an attack. Spit or flick then strike 

 9) There is a first attack in Toshu Jutsu. 

10) Deep stances are for close quarters not "kickboxing" 

11) Jutsu moves into an attack, Budo moves away 

12) Aiki style techniques are linear not circular 

13) Fight dirty 

14) When practicing make techniques finite. If the opponent doesn't end up on the floor or tapping, you don't know for a fact that it works 

15) When punching, palm down for jodan, fist vertical for chudan, palm up for gedan 

16) If it's hard, it's meant as a strike not a block 

17) There's only two times a fight ends on the ground. If you want it to, or if you don't know how to stop it from. If it goes down, get up as quickly as possible.