why Karate (Oriental Martial arts)?

[isshinryuronin]

I believe that, on at least one level you may be confusing, and or conflating Confucianism with Taoism. The Tao is “the way”, which is certainly at odds with Confucian thought in several instances.

Taoism is more influential in Chinese MA than Japanese. I think Japan's MA "way" is different than CMA's. Since most of karate originated in China, some DNA is still there. Confucianism, with its emphasis on loyalty, hierarchy, order and respect did quietly fit in with Japan's fighting arts, and Zen also matches very well with the Japanese warrior mentality of austere stoicism and general fatalistic outlook more so than Taoism, IMO.

Japan is very good at taking concepts that are "at odds" with each other and not only accepting them but finding a way to make them work in harmony. Shinto wedding, Buddhist funeral. Christianity finds a way to fit in also, for example. They pick and choose freely for what works for them. While Okinawa shares this same attribute, its historical view was less concerned with philosophy or religion, keeping it simple with ancestor worship and a touch of Shintoism.

At least this is my overall impression from what I've gathered from my various readings and experience over the years. I see "karate-do" more of a Japanese construct of the art than Okinawan, although Nagamine's Matsubayashi shorinryu seems to embrace it, especially the Zen aspect. At the 3 dojo I've been active in, we just did karate.

 

[isshinryuronin]

in the 1960s, no one knew the terms for Chinese martial arts so his sign read Karate Kung fu.

My karate schools' signs said the same thing. No one in those days knew the difference between kung fu, karate and sushi. It was all cool Asian stuff. The first sushi bar in LA county opened in Malibu in about 1972. Great place and experience with comraderie among the customers that's unknown today.

 

[HighKick]

My karate schools' signs said the same thing. No one in those days knew the difference between kung fu, karate and sushi. It was all cool Asian stuff. The first sushi bar in LA county opened in Malibu in about 1972. Great place and experience with comraderie among the customers that's unknown today.

My first school was named 'Midstate Karate Studio' because my partner at the time and I were convinced not many people had ever heard of Tae Kwon Do in 1986 rural middle TN. About three years later we changed the name.