What is Karate-do? The Philosophical Foundations of Traditional Budo

Karate-do is a martial art originated in Okinawa, modified and transformed in a way of life by Master Gichin Funakoshi. Until before these modifications, it was just a group of techniques that permitted self-defense without weapons other than your hands and feet.

Though there was some Chinese influence, the development was mostly Okinawan, and thus Japanese. Master Funakoshi, influenced by traditional martial arts from the main Japanese islands - kyudo, kendo, judo for example - modified Karate, which until that moment had been called Karate-jutsu (a fighting art), and emphasized its philosophical aspects so that all that was learned could be applied to the daily life of the student. This is why Karate is a way of life: Karate-do (do means way or road). Gichin Funakoshi thus combined Karate techniques with traditional Budo (the martial way), inserting the essence of Budo into the heart of Karate - the real way of martial arts.

The word Budo is formed by two Chinese characters: bu is formed by two symbols, one meaning to stop, inside another representing two crossed halberds. Thus, bu means to stop conflict. In Master Funakoshi's own words: "Since Karate is a budo, this meaning should be deeply considered, and the fists should not be used heedlessly."

The word Karate is also formed by two characters: the first one kara (empty) and the second te (hand), with the first character possessing many layers of meaning:

1. Practical Self-Defense: Through the practice of karate, self-defense techniques are learned where no weapons are needed other than hands, feet, and the body itself.
2. Mental Purity and Humility: In the words of Master Funakoshi: "Just as it is the clear mirror that reflects without distortion, or the quiet valley that echoes a sound, so must one who would study Karate-do purge himself of selfish and evil thoughts, for only with a clear mind and conscience can he understand that which he receives." Another meaning given by the Master is that of always striving to be inwardly humble and outwardly gentle: an internal emptiness of egoism paired with gentle, moderate action.
3. Cosmic Emptiness: Finally, the Master speaks of the elemental form of the Universe, which is emptiness (kara, ku): "and thus, emptiness is form itself. The kara of Karate-do has this meaning."

After what has been said, it is clear that Karate-do and Karate Budo are much, much more than mere self-defense techniques. Such a narrow definition is far from the real essence of Karate as a philosophy, which strives to develop the inner qualities of a human being and the search for character perfection through strenuous training in the do and budo martial arts.