It might sound ridiculous to have two words sound so similar and yet mean two radically different concepts, especially in English. But the terms Karate and Karate-Do are actually two separate concepts, as outline by Gichin Funakoshi, and as it is important to recognize the difference.
Karate is the technique of the empty hand. In previous posts I've outlined how the direct translation of the word Karate is in fact, "empty hand". But really, it depends on the characters you write it with. Traditionally, the word Karate was written with the characters for "Chinese" and "hand", but it was Gichin Funakoshi who rewrote the word in order to increase its popularity in Japan. But Karate is not Karate-Do. Karate-Do has an additional character in its writing. The '-Do' portion of the word meaning "way".
So, Karate-Do is "The Way of the Empty Hand". This is significant. Whereas Karate encompasses the techniques of the martial art, it is Karate-Do that makes all the skills an actual way of life. If we break down what makes Karate, particularly Japanese Shotokan Karate, special then we can see some examples of how those skills can be applied outside of the dojo setting.
Karate is about seeking perfection of technique, and thus Karate-Do is about Seeking Perfection of Character. Is there any greater goal? I love this tenant because it doesn't specify what character is. Rather, I like to think of it as attempting to perfect whatever it is that you feel is your optimal potential. In the field of Psychology, there is a concept known as the True Self, the Perceived Self, and the Ideal Self.
We'll start with the Perceived Self because this one is the easiest to explain is that is how both you perceive yourself and how others perceive you. It is the lens upon which you can view your own features and characteristics, and likewise the aspects of others. It is limited, and shaped by experience. Your perception you can change, however, through challenging your notions about the world and the nature of people as a whole. For example, someone whom you once thought of as beautiful you may think of as ugly. Nothing has changed for that person but your perception has changed, likely because you have changed how you perceive things.
The True Self is the objective you. It is how you actually are. Now, it may be impossible to ever truly see the True Self because it is always viewed through the lens of the Perceived Self, but it is important to know that you are not who you think you are. Chances are, for example, you're not really at good at Karate as you or others think you are. But in fact, you are measured according to others around you. If everyone else is really bad at Karate then your mediocre Karate seems more significant. Perception warps our ability to see the True Self. However, the True Self can usually be seen by others, especially people you do not normally associate with. That is why it is always good to get constructive feedback from a variety of sources regardless of what you are doing.
Last is the Ideal Self. This is who you have the potential to be. This is both your ideal, but also an objective ideal, because we can always do or be more than we think we can. History is filled with examples of people who survived extraordinary ordeals or who rose to overcome impossible challenges. It is one of the reasons our species is so amazing. You and I both have that same potential within it us, and all of those characteristics lie in the Ideal Self. We should always be moving to align our Perceived Self and True Self with the Ideal.
Karate-Do helps you do that. It helps you to become a better person because all of the same tenants of the need for practice and discipline apply in our pursuit of character, as well. So don't just do Karate, rather Karate-Do.
