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Warning, Caveat and Note: The postings on this blog are my interpretation of readings, studies and experiences therefore errors and omissions are mine and mine alone. The content surrounding the extracts of books, see bibliography on this blog site, are also mine and mine alone therefore errors and omissions are also mine and mine alone and therefore why I highly recommended one read, study, research and fact find the material for clarity. My effort here is self-clarity toward a fuller understanding of the subject matter. See the bibliography for information on the books.


Note: I will endevor to provide a bibliography and italicize any direct quotes from the materials I use for this blog. If there are mistakes, errors, and/or omissions, I take full responsibility for them as they are mine and mine alone. If you find any mistakes, errors, and/or omissions please comment and let me know along with the correct information and/or sources.

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Ok, I accept your premise of karate not being a martial art but what about Budo?

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

Ok, I accept your premise of karate being a budo but want to expand and explain how that could be true and how that may be untrue. Lets start with explaining through a definition of budo, i.e., its characters/ideograms in Kanji form being dominant and acceptable. 

Budo [武道] Tangorin, the site that translates kanji for definitions, states that the characters/ideograms mean, “martial arts; military arts; Bushido.” The first character means, “Warrior; military; chivalry; arms,” the second character means, “road-way; street; district; journey; course; moral; teachings.” 

Hmmmm, the answer here is going to be simple, karate is not a budo as defined above. I make that distinction because budo relates to a martial art, military art and Bushido. My previous posting or article explains why I feel karate is NOT a martial art and because martial arts are a distinct definition within the whole definition of Budo, it isn’t a Budo. 

Other translations such as one wiki site states that Budo is a Japanese term that describes modern Japanese martial arts. I feel that is true. Their translations states its literal translation to English is, “Martial Way.” If Bu is truly translated as Martial vs. Martial Art as I presented in the above definition then I would be more apt to accept it as a term for karate. 

This led me to try looking at other site translations of the characters/ideograms:

Google Translation [武道] defines these as martial arts. 
Jisho Translation [武道] defines these as martial arts; military arts; Bushido.
Nihongodict Translation [武道] defines these as martial arts; military arts; Bushido.
Shinjinbukan Translation [武道] defines these as martial arts or military arts. 
EUdict Translation [武道] defines these as martial arts; military arts; Bushido.
WWWJDIC [武道] defines these as martial arts; military arts; Bushido.

Note that the majority agree with my initial translation. I also take into consideration that any Internet translation may be subject to the experience and understanding of those who provided both the characters/ideograms as well as their English translations where in Japan it might be considered something else although I doubt that. 

Since everything relates to martial arts as military arts based somewhat on the modern concept of Bushido I would again stand by my first article and state emphatically that karate is NOT a martial art, military art or any relation or way as suggested by the content of Bushido. 


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