Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2012

Martial characters

道場 = dojo = way + place = a place for learning the way

武道 = budo = martial art, martial ways

空手道 = karatedo = empty + hand + way = the way of the empty hand

柔道 = judo = tender + way = the way of tenderness

合気道 = aikido = come together/harmony + spirit + way = the path to spiritual harmony

剣道 = kendo = way of the sword

power transfer

Karate was invented in Okinawa, and the kanji characters were composed of 唐 (kara = China) + 手 (te = hand), referring to the technique’s origins in China. But in 1926, famous karate maestro Gichen Funakoshi and his pals changed the kara part to 空, meaning “empty.” They wanted karate in its developed form to be recognized as a purely Japanese art that is also weaponless (empty-handed), and to acknowledge the spiritual vibe that comes from clearing your mind of ego and daily worries.

Source: www.budodojo.com