Isshinryu no Megami
Most Isshinryu students know that the Megami is the symbol of
Isshinryu karate; however many do not fully understand the
history and meaning of this protecting goddess of Isshinryu.
The word “Megami” means Goddess (“Me” meaning woman and “Gami”
meaning God). The proper reference to the protecting goddess
of Isshinryu is “Isshinryu no Megami” or Protecting Goddess of
Isshinryu.
The Isshinryu no Megami is based on a daydream that Master
Tatsuo Shimabuku had in the 1950’s while creating his
Isshinryu system.
In this dream, a goddess riding a dragon came to Shimabuku and
told him that he had enough knowledge and experience to create
his own style of karate. It is believed that the goddess was
Ryuzu Kannon, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy and Compassion. In
his dream, Ryuzu Kannon told Shimabuku to create an image of
her incorporating his vision for the new style.
The Isshinryu Patch
The original Isshinryu patch was developed by Sensei Advincula
in 1961. At the time sensei was a young American Marine and
student of Tatsuo Shimabuku. Advincula asked Shimabuku for
permission to use the picture of Megami to design the
Isshinryu patch. Some of the symbols found within the patch
are as follows:
Shape of the Patch—The shape of the patch represents a
vertical fist, a distinguishing characteristic of Isshinryu
karate.
3 Stars—The three stars have multiple meanings and are in the
position of the Okinawan kanji (symbol) for one ( — ).
Isshinryu means “One-heart way” and Shimabuku believed that
“All things begin with one.” The three stars also represent
the triads of Mind/Body/Spirit & Shorin-ryu (mother), Goju-ryu
(father) and Isshin-ryu (baby). The three stars also symbolize
all Tatsuo’s teachers who light the way.
Dragon in the Sky—The dragon in the sky is Tatsuo (meaning
Dragon Man).
The Tiger in Megami’s Headdress—The tiger represents earth and
the body. The dragon represents heaven and the mind/spirit.
The dragon and tiger therefore represent heaven and earth, yin
and yang or the spiritual and physical sides of Isshinryu
karate.
Dark Background —Symbolizes the night and the unknown. The
three stars in the night sky represent Shimabuku’s teachers
who light the way.
Gold Border—Represents the purity of karate and is a reminder
that karate should never be misused.
The Hands of Megami—The left hand is open indicating that a
karateka (student of karate) always prefers a peaceful
solution. The clenched right fist represents the strength to
defend if necessary and only as a last resort.
Half-Woman / Half-Dragon—The upper body (woman) illustrates
that karate can be as gentle or soft as a woman. The lower
body (dragon) shows that, if needed, karate can be as fierce
or hard as a dragon. The turbulent water symbolizes the
possibility of danger, which is always present. The calm face
of the Megami helps one remember to remain calm especially in
times of crisis.