Since karate is a martial art, you must practice with the utmost seriousness from the very beginning.
Gichin FunakoshiOnce a kata has been learned, it must be practised repeatedly until it can be applied in an emergency, for knowledge of just the sequence of a kata in karate is useless.
Gichin FunakoshiSeek perfection of character. Be faithful. Endeavor. Respect others. Refrain from violent behaviour.
Gichin FunakoshiA student well versed in even one technique will naturally see corresponding points in other techniques. A upper level punch, a lower punch, a front punch and a reverse punch are all essentially the same. Looking over thirty-odd kata, he should be able to see that they are essentially variations on just a handful.
Gichin Funakoshi