What does the term KARATE DO mean?
The most common translation of the term KARATE DO is empty hand way. Traditional Okinawan Martial Arts were originally influenced by Chinese Kempo and referred to as TE (hand) and/or TODE. The characters for TODE can be read as either tode or karate, which had an original Okinawan translation of Chinese hand. The modern translation and characters for KARATE DO as empty hand way are credited to Gichin Funakoshi, who introduced Okinawan Karate to Japan in 1917. Another distinction is between KARATE JUTSU – fighting technique taught in times of war and KARATE DO – martial arts taught in times of peace.