Isshinryu Mizu-gami


The Isshinryu patch represents a vision that Shimabuku had while creating Isshinryu, Shimabuku felt that this vision depicted the "mold" that he wanted to fashion Isshinryu after. There is some symbolism in the patch that students are always inquiring about. They are always curious about the woman, who is half sea-serpent, in the troubled waters.

The female charater, a goddess named Mizu-gami by Senei Shimabuku, represents the quietness that a Karate-ka should display, Her left hand is held in a sign of peacel her right hand is clenched in a fist, representing strength if evil persists. The small dragon ascending in the dark toward three stars in the heaven represents a sign of good luck in oriental legend. Perhaps this portion of the design meant that Isshinryu would prosper and grow as a major style of Karate. Tatsuo, Master Shimabuku's first name, means "DRAGON BOY" which some find significant. The gray background and stars represent calm and quiet nights and signify that Karate us to be used as a defense only.


Additional Symbolism in the Isshin-ryu Patch

This patch represents a vision (dream) Master Shimabuku had while he was in the process of creating the Isshin-ryu style.

The female figure represents a water goddess, called a mizu-gami, who is half woman and half sea serpent. She is the goddess of Shinto religion and regarded as good luck.

The three stars have many meanings:
  • Father (Gojo-ryu), Mother (Shorin-ryu), Child (Isshin-ryu)
  • The 3 Grand Masters: Kiyan, Miyagi, and Motobu
  • The 3 arrows of Karate: Physical, Mental, and Spiritual
  • The dragon means good luck in the Oriental tradition
  • The dragon ascending towards the heavens also represents good luck
  • Master Shimabuku was a religious man, therefore the stars represent the heavens and God, which symbolize perfection of which we are always striving for.
The oval shape of the patch represents the Isshin-ryu fist

The orange border on the patch represents a dream Master Shimabuku had of being surrounded by a ring of fires and successfully escaping. This dream occurred while he was in the process of developing Isshin-ryu which is why he incorperated it into the symbol of Isshin-ryu.

The rough waters represent rough times in Okinawa at that time.

The grey sky represents the calmness a karatika should display. It is also associated with the calm before the storm.

The yellow in the water represents the animosity between the Japanese and the Chinese.

The sea goddess' long ears are associated with the Buddhist belief that the longer your ears were the more wisdom you had, hence the long ears on all Buddhist gods.

The gold chains around the sea goddess' neck are associated with another Buddhist belief that the more chains she had around her neck and the longer they were, the more knowledge she had.