Although the Japanese martial arts are very diverse, since the Meiji period (1868-1912) many retain the suffix do , which can be translated as "way of?. The affix is used to describe techniques in which physical and spiritual disciplines are combined. These are some of them:
Karate Do : "the way of the empty hand". The term refers to a defense technique without weapons and without double intentions.
Judo : literally, "way of softness" or "of gentleness".
Kendo : "the way of the sword".
Aikido : can be translated as "the way of the spirit in harmony". It is based on defending without hurting.
Kyudo : "the way of the bow". Originally, this discipline, which seeks spiritual balance, was exclusive to the samurai.
