What does Budokai mean?
BUDOKAI is a composite Japanese word. To start at the end, the suffix “kai” simply denotes a club or organization and is combined with a primary word that signifies what kind of activity is involved or practiced. The root word “Budo,” however, is esoteric and rich in meaning.
The
Japanese character for "Bu" is a composition of two
kanji (Japanese versions of Chinese ideographs – graphical representations
of ideas). The upper right, larger character is a prototype of a halberd
(a 15th-16th century weapon with an axe-like blade and a steel spike
on the end of a long pole) implying "to cut, menace, pierce or kill."
The lower left character historically meant "foot," suggesting “advancing
on foot.” When combined, they can be interpreted as advancing on foot
with a weapon, thus referring to a warrior, or by extension, things
military.
“Do”
is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese term "Tao" (for Taoism).
Like “Bu,” the character “Do” is a composite of two kanji integrated
into one. The kanji on the left signifies "movement." The kanji on the
right suggests the idea of chief, or main, and is used phonetically
to express “direct.” Combined, they have the meaning of “chief means
of direct movement,” “the main road,” “the natural way” or “the way
of the universe.” It infers a higher path in life, including self-development,
intuitive perception and enlightenment. In the martial arts “do” is
used as a suffix denoting an art where what is learned is transcended
into wisdom and practiced as a way of life.
“Budo” therefore literally means “The Path of the Warrior.” A path is a means, not an end in itself, and may be hard to discern while traveling upon it. Merely acquiring physical techniques is not the goal of The Warrior, but the process by which he abides, encompassing the entire manner of living in which he conducts himself in order to hone and maintain his skills. This requires discipline and hard training in order to develop unity of body and mind. The pursuit of nothing less than self-perfection is what gives The Warrior unwavering confidence that he will prevail in battle. Perfection, being an absolute condition that cannot exist in varying degrees, therefore entails a never ending journey to acquire.
The part of the character “Bu” which means "foot," over time, has come to also mean “stop,” based on the idea of planting the foot. Taken in conjunction with the second character for "halberd," "bu" encompasses the idea of stopping a weapon (conflict), implying a defensive rather than aggressive nature. Sun Tsu, who wrote the oldest military treatise in the world, THE ART OF WAR, said “…to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.” Any veteran of combat can attest that force leads only to waste and destruction. While western entertainment romanticizes violence, real Warriors understand that it should be only the last resort of conflict. One truly versed in warrior arts is confident in his skills and does not feel the need to flaunt them or prove himself. So Budo also suggests that higher ideal of human virtue: Peace – whether peace of mind or a contribution to World Peace.
In today’s society the Warrior Spirit manifests itself as a “can do” attitude. A well conditioned body fosters a positive outlook even in the face of hardship or adversity. The modern Warrior takes responsibility for himself, not looking for someone or something on which to blame his problems or to use as an excuse. In training, each Warrior must seek their own answers. In time they no longer look to their instructor to explain everything to them or to give them validation for their efforts. The significance of their striving is a personal matter and is rewarded with insight of their own motives and feelings. Ueshiba Kisshomaru, a famous Aikido martial artist, was quoted as saying, "If you train every day, by the time you reach the end of your life, you'll be able to look back and say, 'I trained.' That's really all there is to it." The heartbeat of martial arts, simply put, is Training - week after week, year after year. Insights quietly blossom, are nurtured, and sprout further understandings. Training is The Way.