Kata, Codes, and Patches
Mizu Gami :
The Isshin-ryu patch, worn on the upper left side of the karate gi, is known as the Mizu-Gami ( or “Water Goddess” ). The goddess, is named “Magami.” The “Magami” has appeared in the Orient for centuries, prior to it’s use in the Isshin-ryu patch. According to a magazine article on Master Angi Uezu, Soke Tatsuo Shimabuku purchased a painting, the day after having a dream of being challenged to combat by a stranger, who was passing by, while the Soke was resting in his courtyard. When Master Shimabuku refused, the stranger surrounded him with a ring of fire. Shimabuku threw water on the fire and extinguished it. When he looked for the man, he had disappeared.
The painting prompted reminiscences of his dream, with a goddess, half woman and half sea serpent, rising from the ocean, with her left hand open in peace and her right hand, ready to defend herself, was balled in a fist, displaying strength and fortitude. He felt that this represented a depiction of the essence of Isshin-ryu, the fighting style he had developed as a result of decades of martial practice, since the central theme of Isshin-ryu would be defensive.
The “Mizu Gami” itself is encircled with a reddish/orange ring representing the fire which had circled Soke Shimabuku in his dream state, which transposed in his mind to represent the evil which assails us in this world. The roiling sea water from which “Magami” rises, signifies purity and puts out the fire, thereby defeating evil.
The gray background signifies night, when the man attacked the Master. It might also have demonstrated that all things in this realm are not simply black and white, but are more difficult to discern, just as the stranger suddenly disappeared. The dragon ascending to the sky, represents good fortune, perhaps an allusion to the good fortune of finding and studying Isshin-ryu, the martial art that means, “The one Heart Way.” In fact, the karate name that the Soke had taken, was Tatsuo, meaning “Dragon Man.” The three stars above the dragon, represent a depiction of the sky in the Far East and for Shimabuku was a reference to his three major teachers; Choki Motubo, Chotoku Kyan and Chojun Miyagi. The stars can also represent the physical, mental and spiritual ascendancy inherent in the study of the art of Isshin-ryu.
Meant to be primarily defensive in nature, the overall essence of the patch reminds us of the dangers around us and stresses our option of peace or defense, even if that defense requires deadly application of our art.
“The Essence” Patch -
The patch worn on the upper right sleeve of the gi, was designed by Sensei Ed McGrath during the seventies. Originally, is was represented in a circular form, until his students, in the early nineties, requested that the patch now be enlarged to designate that they were the students of Ed McGrath’s school of Isshin-ryu. At the outset they wanted to have the patch read, Ed McGrath’s Isshin-ryu karate. However, if Mr. McGrath’s Sensei had taught him anything, it was that Isshin-ryu was the art presented to us by only one man, Soke Tatsuo Shimabuku. The manner of presentation of our art should always take place with that premise in your mind. This may seem to be splitting hairs, but reverence and respect should always be shown to our original Master and the pioneers who spread that art from Okinawa, throughout the world.
The “Essence” patch was meant to symbolize the world that we live in, not earth, but the world of the martial arts. The Circle of White stands for the students, the kyus, who begin with purity of mind and in that circle, we represent the fundamental of consistency and continuity, for, as this era of kyus move on and become the teachers of the future, they will be replaced by the enthusiasm of a new breed of student, with an open mind for us to form into a karate-ka.
The mass of Red is the student body, represented by all of the kyu ranks, all striving for knowledge, development of mind, body and spirit and, in the end, excellence. They represent the largest element in the dojo. They are it’s body and soul and the life’s blood of any school.
The lower portion of the Circle of Black, representing the Dans or Black Belts. They are the teachers and the Masters, who mold the future of the kyus and they must be chosen with great care by the Master of the dojo, for the benefit of the students. They must be intelligent, proud of the art they teach and excellent proponents of and therefore, examples of that art. They must also show loyalty, common sense, honesty, with unblemished backgrounds in order to safeguard the vulnerable students. They are never Saints, since those are hard to come by, however, the word “dojo” means more than school, it literally means “a place to learn the way.” The students are not only taught the art, but, the etiquette of a dojo, temperance in all they do, courtesy and the precepts of decency. The Black Belts, like their rank, are held to a higher standard, in order to be models of good citizenship. The student body must be able to look up to the Black Belts, or the dojo will not accomplish it’s purpose.
The Red Dot within the Black Belt section signals to all participants that even the Black Belts are still students of Isshin-ryu and will remain so throughout their life. A Black Belt who no longer works out, who feels he knows it all is a student who is on the decline. The venue for the upper ranks must always be a hunger for more knowledge, innovation of technique and the highest level of skill that can be achieved with the body and athleticism that fate has given them. The Black Belt must always go forward, must always press the limits to achieve excellence.
To end on a personal note, Master McGrath has always been suspicious of a Sensei’s resume, when it claims that they have degrees of black belt rank, in several of the martial arts. In the days of the forefathers of Okinawan karate and Chinese arts many of the greatest Sensei's studied and taught one specific kata throughout their entire life. They utilized that kata, to defend themselves against multiple opponents and, in fact, they often voluntarily defended the village they lived in against well armed marauding bands of thieves and bandits. By that measure, men like Miyagi spent years in perfecting a series of moves within one kata, aiming for overall perfection.
Isshinryu Karate: "One Heart Way"
CODES
1. A person's heart is the same as Heaven and Earth.
2. The blood curculating is similar to the moon and the sun.
3. The manner of drinking and spitting is either hard or soft.
4. A person's unbalance is the same as a weight.
5. The body should be able to change direction at any time.
6. The time to strike is when the opportunity presents itself.
7. The eyes must see all sides.
8. The ears must listen in all directions.
KATA
Emty hand katas
Seisan
Seiuchin
Naihanchi
Wansu
Chinto
Kusanku
Sunsu
Sanchin
Weapon Katas
Kusanku Sai
Tokumine No Kun Bo
Urashi Bo
Shishi No Kun No Dai Bo
Chatan Yara No Sai
Bo Bo Kumite
Bo Sai Kumite
Chie Fa Tonfa
Kiken Na Ki Nunchaku
Takusan No Ki Nunchaku
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