In my last post I mentioned that a 'warrior', a 'fighter' a 'martial artist' and a 'Budoka' aren't the same thing. They might share some traits, but there is a distinction between each.
I thought I'd define my understanding of some names and terms that the layman (and some martial artists) get confused with and tend to mix up.
Bu - Is quite often translated to the English word 'Martial' or 'War'. The Japanese character 'Bu' 武 (originally the Chinese 'Wu') is made up of two characters. one meaning 'to stop' 止 and the other is 'halberds' 戈 (which is an old weapon similar to a spear). Meaning the original idea for 'Bu' 武 is basically 'to stop weapons'. It doesn't mean anything like 'war' it means the opposite, to 'end war'.
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| An example of a Chinese Halberd |
Martial - This is a general term regarding any type of physical conflict between individuals or groups of people. The word comes from the Latin word 'Martilis' meaning 'of Mars' (the Roman God of War).
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| Mars the God, not the Planet named after him. |
Bujutsu - Made up of two characters 'Bu' 武 and 'Jutsu' 術.
Jutsu means Technique, Artform or skill. This means the direct translation for 'Bujutsu' in English is 'Martial Arts'.
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| Bujutsu |
Martial Arts - 'Bujutsu' refers the physical activity of learning, practicing and training to perfect the fighting skills of 'Bu'. Martial Arts is often mistranslated as Budo, but there's more to Budo than just the physical techniques.
Budo - Made up of two characters 'Bu' 武 and 'Do' 道.
Do means the Road, Path or Way. It refers to the journey of the individual (In this case, within Martial Arts).
It's not just techniques or fighting skill, it's everything involved.
So Budo translates as The Martial Way.
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| Budo |
The Martial Way - 'Budo' refers to all aspect of 'Bu', this includes the physical 'Jutsu' training as well as training to develop the mind, spirit, character and understanding.
A Fighter - A person with a certain amount of fighting skill, as do all Martial Artists, but other types of Martial Artist have a different mindset. A fighter will employ those fighting skills almost indiscriminately, seeking to go out and start fights. These people enjoy and glorify violence.
A Professional Fighter - Simply put, a fighter who is paid to fight. Quite often these people aren't as reckless (or stupid) as the average street fighter. Professional fighters have a higher level of training in fighting skill, but in general they also enjoy and glorify violence.
A Martial Artist - A person who trains in 'Bujutsu' to perfect fighting skill. Fighters and Warriors are both examples of Martial Artists, but Fighters and Warriors are far from the same thing.
The Warrior - Basically meaning 'war person'. According to Miyamoto Musashi "The way of the Warrior of the twofold path; the way of the pen and the sword" meaning a Warrior is skilled in the ways of conflict and the ways of the scholar, they can fight and they are wise. Unlike the Fighter, the Warrior will employ his fighting skills in only specific situations, mostly to fight injustice or to do good.
The Professional Warrior (Soldier) - Is a Warrior who is employed to fight in conflicts, most often on behalf of a Nation. These people are the highest trained Martial Artists, they quite often live by a certain code of Honour. A Mercenary is a Professional Warrior who will work of money, rather than Honour or their Country.
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| Professional Warrior Arguably the most Honourable Vocation |
In this context Ka means 'a practitioner of'. So Budoka is 'a practitioner of the Martial Way'. A Budoka isn't just a Martial Artist, as a Martial Artist only trains with the fighting skill, a Budoka trains all aspects of Bu. A Budoka is constantly striving to be the best he/she can be in Shin-Gi-Tai.
Shin-Gi-Tai - The Three pillars of the Budoka.
Shin 心 = Mind, Heart or Spirit (Character)
Gi 技 = Skill & Technique, Art Form or Knowledge & Experience
Tai 体 = Body or Physical Development or Effort.
Karate - The Japanese term for Ryukyuan empty handed fighting arts. The Direct translation of Karate is 'Empty' 空 and 'Hands' 手.
Toudi - The Uchinaguchi (Okinawan Language) term for Ryukyuan empty handed fighting arts. The Direct translation of Toudi is 'Tang' (or Chinese) 唐 and 'Hands' 手. The old Ryukyuans also called it simply Di (or Te), 'hand' 手.
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| 'Toudi' By Hokama Tetsuhiro |
Kobudo - The Japanese term used for Ryukyuan weapon fighting arts. The Direct translation of Ko is 'Ancient' 古 and 'Budo' 武道.
(Kobudo doesn't mean 'Weapons Style')
These are general definitions, they aren't meant to define the terms in detail. My aim with this post is to explain the distinction between the terms, as people tend to get mixed up and tend to confuse them.
So to this end, I hope this has helped clear up some distinctions for you.
Comment below to share any thoughts or opinions you might have.
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