Budo is a Japanese word built from bu, meaning martial or military, and do, meaning way or path. It names the broad family of Japanese martial arts, including judo, karate, kendo, aikido, iaido and others, that developed from older combat traditions but shifted their purpose toward personal growth, discipline and character rather than battlefield use alone.
In practice, budo is often contrasted with bujutsu, an older term that describes the practical fighting techniques themselves. A budo school still teaches effective technique, but training is framed around etiquette, patience and long term development as much as winning a contest. This shows up in how classes are run, how students are asked to bow and listen, and how progress is measured over years rather than weeks.
Anyone starting a Japanese martial art is, technically, taking up a form of budo, whether the immediate goal is fitness, competition or self defence. Our overview of the martial arts introduces the main styles, and martial arts history traces how budo grew out of earlier combat traditions.
