Budo is not a system of techniques for the display of power.
It is a human endeavor that, through encounters at the limits of extremity, seeks to govern oneself, to face others, and to embody order.
The essence of Budo does not lie merely in the acquisition of techniques for combat. Attacking, defense, footwork, and maai (the management of distance) are but forms. The true core is the integrated capacity to actualize these techniques according to circumstance while simultaneously neutralizing the techniques of one’s opponent—this is skill in its highest sense. Moreover, there is required an inner sovereignty that governs such skill: Shinryoku (心力), the power of the mind and spirit. It is the strength to master fear, to maintain composure, and to choose one’s actions with resolute determination.
When skill and Shinryoku are united, Budo transcends mere martial technique or combat sport and becomes a Way. In that realm, the other is no longer an object to be conquered, but a mirror reflecting the self and a presence with whom order is co-created. To embody the underlying principles that reside behind attack and defense, victory and defeat—this is the true meaning of Budo training.
Yet in modern times, this essence is often obscured. When value is placed upon the display of force or upon superficial outcomes of winning and losing, Budo risks inclining toward a refinement of violence. Precisely for this reason, it is necessary now to redefine Budo as a path of skill and Shinryoku, and to articulate and share its philosophy with clarity.
Budo is a path of character formation and, at the same time, a path of human cultivation. It establishes a vertical axis directed toward one’s origin and ideal, while nurturing a horizontal axis that accords equal respect to oneself and to others. When these two axes—seemingly similar yet fundamentally distinct—intersect, a human being begins to move beyond the simple categories of strong and weak, and toward wholeness and mature existence.
This philosophy should not be confined within any particular school or organization. It is a universal principle that transcends differences of nation and culture, and may be shared by all who engage in Budo. When competitors, instructors, and practitioners alike become conscious of this philosophy and reflect it in their daily practice, Budo becomes an endeavor that truly serves contemporary society.
Now is the time to elevate Budo from a path of power to a path of restraint; from a technique of victory to a discipline of character cultivation. To refine skill, to cultivate Shinryoku, and to reconnect with others beyond the self—sharing this orientation is what will open the future of Budo.
The sharing and dissemination of this philosophy is the first step toward transmitting Budo to the next generation and quietly contributing to the future of humanity.
Shihan Akira Masuda
