Budo:
a) The Japanese character for Bu is made up of three ideograms, which mean “stop”, “two” and “spears”.
one's art should be used to quell violence and promote peace and harmony and even to deal with simple everyday interaction with ones peers..
b) The Japanese character Do means ‘way’
the meaning of a Life's Philosophy, a Spiritual Reference which includes a sub-set of trainings usually brought into play through Meditation, Fine Arts and Social Interaction with others promoting the Collective Historic Culture of the Asian Martial Philosophy.

[ The character for Way, dating to Miyamoto Mushashi, famous, undefeated two hand swordsman and author of  Go Rin No Shi: A Book Of Five Rings: the classic guide to strategy in the 15th Century Japan, is read "Michi" in Japanese or "Do" in Chinese-based reading. It is the equivalent to the Chinese "Tao" and means whole life of the warrior, his devotion to the sword or form, his place in the Social system. It is the road of the Cosmos, not just your ethic, but the Devine footprints of God pointing the way . ]

c) The Chinese form of Budo contains two Chinese characters. The character for Bu is composed of two symbols : One meaning "stop" another that represents two crossed halberds. Thus bu means stop a conflict. Do means a way or a life philosophy.

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In Japan, it is not considered adequate to express one's feelings only in words; they can only be conveyed adequately by accompanying the words with some concrete expression.

An expression of Budo is one of Action in Strength, Justice, Law and Reason in the Cause of Society for the Good and Protection of any individual or the Collective of one's Society and Culture .

The very concept of Budo originated from a will to preserve the Japanese Martial Cultural Inheritance and from the idea that the modern civilized man could continue the methods of training that produced and protected that Way Of Life.

Budo is the culmination of Active and Inactive Meditation, Works, Trainings, Study and Education within all aspects of the Social Culture of a Martial Society combined with an actual Martial Art.

Most all Budo-systems were founded between 1910 and 1960, and for the express purpose of CONTINUING THE CULTURE of the "Old Ways".

One can recognize the term Do, or Way, in the names of the different Martial Arts -- Karate-do, Kendo, Judo, Aikido, Taido-- marking the close bond of Budo to the very Life Blood of the Martial Society.

Budo can be discovered in the very essence of Ancient Japanese Society and Culture: Bushido.....

To understand Budo, one must understand bushido.

Those chosen for The Way of Life of the Samurai included the central motive: bushido

bushido:
bu-shi-do
---cultivating the martial virtues of Honor, Trust, Discipline and an indifference to pain or death and an unfailing loyalty to an individual's leaders, combined with education and training in culture and art.. Bushido, a word encompassing the very collective core of the culture of Martial Arts.

( If you have seen Sho-Gun, the TV epic, you will recall the Samurai and their Tea Ceremonies, Poetry, Songs, Calligraphy, and even their Ancestral Worship- which is in reality a display of respect for the Historical Past of One's Culture-- and other Traditions of the time, they are a portion of the Do --Way-- )

budo:
---An implementation of a Life's Philosophy and Spiritual Reference brought into play through the REFINEMENT of the Mind, Body and Soul through concrete acts, Meditation, Fine Arts, Rigorous Trainings and Social Interaction with others promoting the Historic Culture in defense of the weak, seeking to halt violence rather than cause it.

Thus, Budo implies an emphasis on combining the pro-active, in-active, spiritual and meditative aspects of the Martial Arts Society and Culture to produce a powerful, yet disciplined individual whom utilizes reason along with strength to effect and affect the Martial Arts Society, Culture and People in a Positive Way.

Budo has often been falsely based on strength and ability to triumph in conflict and to, as we have seen occur, is offered up as an award? for attaining 3rd dan grades in three separate arts.

One does not Gain Budo Win Budo, nor can they be awarded Budo do to an act or series of acts or accomplishments, for Budo is the Way of the Arts!

It is this writers belief that one must learn and then demonstrate Budo, they cannot not Earn it!

The true aim of Budo is to conquer oneself through discipline, hard work, and the learning and education of the Martial Society Traditions that build strength and bravado, yet refine the individual until they recognize their inherent value (and the value of all forms of Life), regardless of physical strength; producing one who is of true benefit to society.

The formal discipline of Budo combined into Martial Arts can be regarded as an expression of humility towards your instructor, creating an atmosphere of focus and concentration to enhance the outcome of training.

Budo includes The Way of a Life's Journey in the Arts, Culture and Philosophy of the Martial Arts Society. One must strive to learn MORE than moves and counter moves and reaction to action. As stated above, one must learn Culture and Know Culture to Protect the Lives, Ways and Society of the Culture. The cause and very essence and birth of Budo was and is the continuation of the The Way of the Martial Arts and the Historical Culture of the Society.

One Utilizes Budo to arrive at Budo. In time, everybody’s physical strength fades, yet it is only after many years of training and maturing that the full potential of one's abilities in Budo are harvested.

Thus Budo has a content which expands in quality far into one's mature age, even after physical ability is diminished. Budo contains an element of Zen. Most Budo-systems utilize a short sitting meditation before and after training. The connection between Zen and Budo is best understood if training is thought of as a form of active meditation.

One DEMONSTRATES Budo by conquering oneself, through discipline, hard work, and education... including the education of the Society and Art in which one belongs to.