alanseijas Posted August 25, 2003 Posted August 25, 2003 (edited) Hello. I've got a problem. I study Isshinryu Karate. I achieved Shodan in 1989. I took 13 years off, and now I'm back because I enrolled my 2 sons at a dojo. Watching them has re-sparked my interest, and now I cannot get enough. Along with training, I have been studying the history of my beloved style; and my dojo wears the wrong patch. To make it worse, they even call it the wrong name (see my sig). I have studied with A. J. Advincula--- the one who actually MADE the original patch, and I feel kind-of loyal to him. On my gi is HIS patch. Now, here I am; the new guy with a different patch. Everybody is walking up to the "new" black belt at the school, and asking me about it. They all say they like mine better, and I can describe every little detail about it to them. I can even tell them why theirs is wrong. I can see that I'm starting to make waves. Well, I just went to Karate camp; and after a few late night beers, the highest rank in the association of 3 joined dojos walks up and asks me why I wear the Advincula patch. I tell him that I have studied with the man, and I ask if my patch bothers him. He says that it does, and offers to cut his patch off of his shirt that he was wearing to give to me. I end up with a new patch in my hand (that's making a long story short). I love these guys, and really want to be welcomed into their association; but I felt like if I put that patch on my gi that I'd be betraying Advincula and Shimabuku. I will add that my children wear the wrong patch, but I feel that's different because I don't want them to be different. If all the kids were wearing clown pants, mine would be too. This is the BEST dojo that I've ever seen, and was holding my gi at 1:30 am staring the 2 patches. What would you have done???????????????? Edited August 25, 2003 by alanseijas The patch or crest worn by Isshinryu karateka often raises admiration and curiosity. The patch is based on a day dream Tatsuo Shimabuku had in the fifties while he was creating his karate style. This dream was the missing piece in the puzzle called Isshinryu. The patch is often incorrectly called Mizu Gami, which means 'water goddess'. Originally the Isshinryu emblem was called 'Isshinryu No Megami', which means 'Goddess of Isshinryu'. The goddess is the Goddess of Isshinryu karate and not the goddess of water.
JerryLove Posted August 25, 2003 Posted August 25, 2003 Screw the patch and worry about doing Karate? https://www.clearsilat.com
kchenault Posted August 25, 2003 Posted August 25, 2003 Put them both on or keep the one you want. I wouldn't change. Ken ChenaultTFT - It does a body good!
alanseijas Posted August 25, 2003 Author Posted August 25, 2003 I cannot put them both on, because the Megami gets mounted over your heart.......... The patch or crest worn by Isshinryu karateka often raises admiration and curiosity. The patch is based on a day dream Tatsuo Shimabuku had in the fifties while he was creating his karate style. This dream was the missing piece in the puzzle called Isshinryu. The patch is often incorrectly called Mizu Gami, which means 'water goddess'. Originally the Isshinryu emblem was called 'Isshinryu No Megami', which means 'Goddess of Isshinryu'. The goddess is the Goddess of Isshinryu karate and not the goddess of water.
kchenault Posted August 25, 2003 Posted August 25, 2003 I would keep the correct one, and practice your art. Ken ChenaultTFT - It does a body good!
CheekyMusician Posted August 25, 2003 Posted August 25, 2003 Try talking to the guy who had a problem with the patch and explain why you believe their club is wearing the wrong patch. Be honest with him. Tell him how much you enjoy training and how you think his club is one of the best you've seen (flattery, especially if its from the heart, might help bring him round a little), and tell him how you feel about betraying previous instructors if you remove your patch and put on his. If he still wont back down you'll have to question your priorities here. Being head strong and sticking by what you believe in is important, but at the end of the day it is just a patch. If this club really is as great as you say it is, would you want to risk advancing in your karate training just because you wanted to be stubborn about a patch? If you answer yes to this question, then ask your instructor if you could train in a plain gi with no patches. Smile. It makes people wonder what you've been up to.
ninjanurse Posted August 25, 2003 Posted August 25, 2003 Whose dojo is it? Aren't there many different schools that teach Isshinryu just as there are TKD or Shotokan? Personally I believe that you can honor your past instructors by the way you practice and behave as a martial artist more than you can by what color gi or patch you wear. Shouldn't you give honor to your new sensei by wearing his patch? BTW, what would your former sensei have to say to you about it? "A Black Belt is only the beginning."Heidi-A student of the artsTae Kwon Do,Shotokan,Ju Jitsu,Modern Arnishttp://the100info.tumblr.com/
Kyle-san Posted August 25, 2003 Posted August 25, 2003 It's just a patch, does it honestly make that much difference to the art you're learning?
alanseijas Posted August 25, 2003 Author Posted August 25, 2003 Thank you for all the replies! I already made the decision at 1:30 am that night (morning), and was waiting for other opinions before I told you what I did. * the patch and worry about doing Karate? / I wouldn't change / I would keep the correct one, and practice your art ---- I don't think I would ever be invited into the Yudansha (association of black belts) with my patch. Especially now that my (AND my kid's) Sensei heard the coversation. He didn't join in, but I know he heard. Try talking to the guy who had a problem with the patch and explain why you believe their club is wearing the wrong patch. ----- I kind-of did. I made a long story short about that night. He didn't really have an answer other than he didn't want ME to be different; and I have told them that I think they're the best. ask your instructor if you could train in a plain gi with no patches. ---- Good idea, but if he was cutting his patch off of the shirt he was wearing; I think it must be pretty darn important to them. Shouldn't you give honor to your new sensei by wearing his patch? ----- I hear Ya'. The problem is a little more complex, though. See, Isshinryu is Tatsuo Shimabuku's creation. We bow to his picture at the beginning and end of every class. He only approved 1 patch to signify his style, and someone else changed it. Is he rolling over in his grave? I have no problem (am even honored) with wearing the association's patch on my left shoulder where that belongs, but a different diety over my heart? BTW, what would your former sensei have to say to you about it?----- The last time I saw Master Advincula (3 months ago), I asked him how he felt about people changing his patch and claiming to be an Isshinryu school. He told me it makes him unhappy. I will see him on Sept. 7th, and if I decided to put the new patch on; I would definately have to cut it off and put HIS back on. Upon returning, the other one would have to go back on. Lots of sewing! The patch or crest worn by Isshinryu karateka often raises admiration and curiosity. The patch is based on a day dream Tatsuo Shimabuku had in the fifties while he was creating his karate style. This dream was the missing piece in the puzzle called Isshinryu. The patch is often incorrectly called Mizu Gami, which means 'water goddess'. Originally the Isshinryu emblem was called 'Isshinryu No Megami', which means 'Goddess of Isshinryu'. The goddess is the Goddess of Isshinryu karate and not the goddess of water.
JerryLove Posted August 25, 2003 Posted August 25, 2003 Umm. You could get 2 gis and save yourself a bunch of sewing. https://www.clearsilat.com
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