Budō is a compound of the root bu (武:ぶ; wǔ in Chinese), meaning "war" or "martial"; and dō (道:どう; dào in Chinese), incorporating the character above for head and below for foot, meaning the unification of mind and body "path" or "way"[4] (including the ancient Indic Dharmic and Buddhist conception of "path", or mārga in Sanskrit[5]).

Dō in the Japanese context is an experiential term in the sense that practice (the way of life) is the norm to verify the validity of the discipline cultivated through a given art form.

[citation needed] The first significant occurrences of the word budō date back to the Kōyō Gunkan (16th century) and were used to describe the samurai lifestyle rather than the practice of martial techniques.

Many consider budō a more civilian form of martial arts, as an interpretation or evolution of the older bujutsu, which they categorize as a more militaristic style or strategy.

According to this distinction, the modern civilian art de-emphasizes practicality and effectiveness in favor of personal development from a fitness or spiritual perspective.