“karate being just karate “ is a far-fetched misconception

  We find three different variants of Karate today ...

(a) the genuine Okinawan combat or “self-protection” version,

 (b) the “Japanized” recreational, or “self-perfection” version,

  and (c) the sports version for competition. 

In all other Japanese martial arts, we find different terms for these different versions. For instance, there is the term ju-jutsu, [or ju-jitsu], for the original combat version used by samurai in ancient Japan, and there is the new term ju-do for its modern sports variation. 

However, to avoid misunderstandings, not the same term but different terms should be used for different versions. 

 ... hence, we should use these three different terms:

(a) Classic “karate-jutsu” [initially called Ti in Okinawan language and Te in Japanese], is bugei-karate for the civilian Okinawan self-protection version, created 600+ years ago, and practiced secretly on the island.

 (b) Old-style “karate-do” is the “Japanized” self-perfection version; it is budo-karate as a way of life. Karate-do was created on mainland Japan shortly before WWII to support the nation's spiritual mobilization. Before the 1920s, karate was unknown on mainland Japan. 

(c) Modern “sports-karate” are the art’s new competition versions, created about 60 years ago, and hence some decades after mainland Japan’s old-style [non-competition] karatedo. Sports-karate is as far away from Okinawan karate as javelin-throwing or fencing are away from their initial martial use.