Originally posted by spetznaz
True, 'do' traditonally means path/way while jitsu traditionally means art. And there are many that still use that way of looking at things. The way i was formulating it was 'do' as the artistic/edification modern way of most martial forms, and 'jitsu' being the warrior-oriented form (and this is just as legitimate as the prior way depending on how one interprets the kanji for do and jitsu).
Thus you are correct, but so am i. It depents on what intepretation of kanji one uses.
For example take jujitsu and judo. Jigoro Kano, who 'invented' judo, did so because jujitsu had taken a negative connotation at the end of the 19th century going forward. Most people doing jujitsu in Japan were thought to be thugs. He thus 'refined' jujitsu moves, added a lot of self-edifying principles, and started an art called judo at a place called the Kodokan (hence Kodokan Judo). The principle here was that the do was a way, and an art.
To use your example of kendo and kenjitsu.
Kendo is the artistic expression of the human body through sword.
Kenjitsu is the efficient slaying of an enemy through sword.
Kendo uses shinai.
Kenjitsu using bokken (wooden swords that can be as lethal as the real katana), and obvioulsy katana themselves.
Another example: Aikido and Aikijitsu.
Morihei Uheshiba 'founded' Aikido from Aikijitsu for much the same reasons that Jigoro founded Judo from jujitsu. There was a lot of bad blood at the time towards the jitsu forms. Aikido is very refined, very civilized, and highly philosophical. There is an economy of motion, and it is an expression of inner harmony. Aikijitsu was a Samurai method of defeating (and killing) enemies when unarmed.
Final example. Karate-do and Karate-jitsu. Karate-do is the modern form of karate (encompassing all the major families of Japanese and Okinawan styles). The only major surviving member of karate-jitsu would have to be the Kyunkinshai system, which is amazing. Karate-do (be it Gichin Funakoshi's Shotokan, Choyun Miyagi's GojuRyu, etc) is largely an expression of the body through unarmed techniques. Karate-jitsu on the other hand was used by peasants to defend themselves from marauding Samurai.
One thing i loved about my martial systems training abroad was that when it came to Shotokan (which i left after gaining a Ni-dan ranking to pursue other styles) i was taught the hidden technqiues in Kata. Most modern students, particularly those in the US, never learn just how effective some of those Kata movements can be.
In conclusion;
Do means way, jitsu means art.
Do also means artistic expression,and jitsu means combative expression.
Again, it all depends on how you intepret the kanji.
Hope that made sense.
So which do you think is better to practice?
