Martial art or something else....

I was sat thinking after working with the Dojo tools about what karate has become and that so many of us say we do martial art but actually do not.....

Many karate tools are found
In an Authentic Dojo 

Martial arts began as a form of self defence, this much we know. Fighting methods were developed and designed to hurt, mame or even kill.
So why is there all this other stuff, like Budo and all the inward direction of training?

I think largely it has come about over time from the culture from which it (karate) was borne.

As Westerners we take up a Martial art for learning self defence. In my experience anyway.

Tools are designed to develop Weapons....

'Punching air' may develop a certain level of technique, but does nothing for developing a weapon. A weapon that can absorb an impact as well as create one.
Tools used in Karate develop a Martial body and Martial mind.... something that many Karateka simply don't understand, or do, but find the training too hard.

Other tools develop strength.

So, before you know it, you are no longer training in a Martial way training in air, but are doing something completely divorced from it, as you try and understand all the other STUFF that is attached to what you thought you were doing in the first place.

More tools....Martial in nature....

Its easy to become sidetracked and lose focus as to why you began a Martial art, for in the beginning and not knowing any better, training is accepted for what it is. Unfortunately its probably not what you thought and actually does you a disservice leaning more towards health and fitness.....

As for Kata, well, that is there to help develop and broaden the Weapon arsenal and to help show us how to use them. Its not for show or aesthetics. Kata in itself is another tool.

To sum up.....you can't train in Karate without having the mind of developing a weapon (body/mind) and you cant do that merely by punching air, that's why tools are used, and you can't develop the weapons arsenal without working on Kata.....

Sounds simple enough....but how many of us are actually doing something different to that of what we think we are.

Weapon forging..... too hard?