Martial Art tends to be understood as a purely technical endeavor that encompasses sport, defense and fighting. To gain the full benefit of a martial art I believe it requires it be taken to a higher level, "art." Not the art we Westerners may perceive but rather the "art that is that which our Sensei" tend to believe.
In a nutshell one must develop their abilities in a martial art but to take it to that "art" level means one must "polish" the discipline practiced. To learn the way of the martial arts to that level requires a lifelong commitment. Kara-te-gei, if I may venture into the unknown, means to take the art of the empty hand and continue to polish it - meaning self-reflection of training and practice both physical and spiritual to do constant self-improvements that will take it to a sublime level affecting both the system and the practitioners life.
The art is the road, i.e. michi which is also expressed when used as a suffix "do," which is that path toward perfection. Perfection is "selflessness." At least to begin ..... 空手芸 - empty hand art.
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