"Rank in karate should be only a method of organization and must not be used as a source of personal identity." The original quote said Rank in budo ..." so I changed it as I felt that using budo in this context was inaccurate. You can actually place any system or style name in place of karate or you can simply say the martial arts if that generic terminology is acceptable and accurate for your views.
I am reading a new book. I won't provide the title as I am finding, initially, that it is filled full of statements and terms that are unclear and ambiguous which will cause inaccuracies in a novices efforts to learn karate. I am not saying my writing is any better so use this as a meaning that I am trying to learn from my analysis and review of various books, blog posts, web page entries, and other discussions, etc.
The fact that this book coupled karate-do with budo and provides a some what incomplete/inaccurate definition of budo or the usage of budo from Japan's view sends a slightly skewed message to the reader.
Budo is represented by the character(s): 武 for martial or martial arts and 道 for way or "do." So, bu-do means approximately "martial way." In reality karate or what was termed historically, "Ti or Te," with also the term "toudi" the indigenous system of civil fighting was not truly a martial art. The term and usage of martial came when the Japanese influences caused change in its terms to include the newest character for China being changed to Empty.
What seems to happen is anything goes simply because it cannot be proved one way or the other. Since China had the greatest influence on Okinawa and its practice of Ti we could also surmise that the Okinawan system of Ti can be called Chinese Boxing of Kung Fu, etc. I would guess most would argue that point right on out the window.
The suffix of "-do" was also added either late 1800's or early 1900 by the changes pushed to have karate readily acceptable to the Japanese as a Japanese system or martial system. When it became the watered down version pushed to the schools systems it then started to add the -do suffix to empty hand.
The Japanese influences are a result of their belief systems that come from Buddhism, Zen, etc. along with the various customs and courtesies that were a part of the Japanese society and therefor incorrectly became an intricate part of martial dojo etiquette - bogus belief.
But, then again, who the fu@& am I anyway ... lets not forget what a blog is now ya hear ... hehehe
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