Some people use the term Budo to mean any discipline that has become a way of life for the practitioner. This is a Japanese word and thus technically relates to Japanese disciplines (not Chinese or Korean). In many cases a dojo will state that Budo is their primary aim when what they really teach is combat arts or sports forms of martial arts ('martial sports')

The word "budo" is the translation of characters used in the Japanese language. "Bu" means military, or related to the military, or martial. "Do" means path, way or method. Budo actually refers Japanese fighting systems post-1600 which in turn are based on older martial arts, but which emphasize the fundamental concept of "do" - personal, ethical and spiritual development as the ultimate goal of training though the use of the techniques of war. Karate is not an art with which Budo concepts were originally associated due to it's Okinawan origins, however since Japan's involvement in the development of Karate during the early part of the 20thC, these classical concepts have been adopted by most Karateka in order to study karate in the same manner as older Japanese fighting systems.

These concepts are central to the study of Budo.

Heiho - Military Strategy

Heiho was a name given by Ito Ittosai Kagehisa (1560-1653) to a concept in swordsmanship. ie. The training has to aim more at spiritual elevation than just the acquisition of techniques. His idea was that without a strong mental and correct spiritual attitude, one who practices the art of the sword will only manage to destroy himself. This attitude has to be calm, pure and sincere. It is the only way to turn the tactics of the opponent to one's advantage. The Japanese characters for Hei-ho are read "the warrior's way" whereas the same ideograms are read "the way of peace" in Chinese.

Isshin-itto - "One mind, one sword"

This was an expression used by Ittosai, to underline the fact that there cannot be technical efficiency without spiritual maturity. Ittosai thought that it was useless for a man with no moral value in learning an efficient fighting technique because this learning would only become a way of destroying himself. He felt that someone who aimed at mastering the sword had to master both literature and the martial art to achieve a balance (Bun Bu Ryu Do). It was an obvious incentive for the warrior to aim above all, to forge a more useful character for the benefit of society.

Heijo-shin-kore-do - (Also called Heijo-shin-kore-michi) : "The ordinary conscience is the Way"

This a famous answer given by master Zen Nansen Fugen to the question "what is the way ?" by his student Joshu Jushin during a Koan which brought inspiration to the latter. This answer refers to the state of mind (Heijo-shin) in which the mind, or the conscience, is not engaged in any direction, and simply remains at a balanced state, that is to say "ordinary". During the 8th century, the Chinese master of Chan Ma-tseu (Baso in Japanese) already defined his Way as the one of the "every day mind"