alanseijas Posted August 25, 2003 Author Posted August 25, 2003 Umm. You could get 2 gis and save yourself a bunch of sewing. That's true, but I wear the "Iron Man" gi. It's pretty expensive.......... 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.
tommarker Posted August 25, 2003 Posted August 25, 2003 It's your sensei's school, and your money. If he doesn't like your patch, and tells you not to wear it in his school then: 1. obey his wishes, no matter how silly you think it is, and continue to train there. 2. take your money somewhere else or set up your own school. I'm no longer posting here. Adios.
CheekyMusician Posted August 25, 2003 Posted August 25, 2003 Umm. You could get 2 gis and save yourself a bunch of sewing. That's true, but I wear the "Iron Man" gi. It's pretty expensive.......... I'm not trying to be rude, so please don't think that I am, but you seem to be making problems for yourself. You seem to have an answer for everything. Here, for example. Does it really matter what gi you train in? You might prefer a specific gi, but you could buy another cheaper one and put one patch on it. And here....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. Obviously it is important to him, but it must be important to you, too. A plain gi would be showing maturity on both parts. It would be a fair compromise if no other solution could be sorted out. And here... 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! I'm sure Master Advincula would be more understanding than you would think. If you spoke to him openly and honestly and told him exactly what you'd told us. You would rather wear his patch, but that your instructor felt it was disrespectful and you felt the school was top-notch and didn't want to risk causing waves by refusing to wear the new badge. Maybe I'm just being naive here. I really can't see why any self respecting Master would be concerning himself too much with a bit of fabric. The JKA symbol or the Shotokan Tiger are often used to represent my style, but if I attended a club who chose to wear no patch, or a different patch eg. a dragon, kicking karateka, a fist etc. I would have no qualms about it as long as that club had good technique and the instructors had a good attitude. Smile. It makes people wonder what you've been up to.
alanseijas Posted August 25, 2003 Author Posted August 25, 2003 I love all these replies! Thank you. About the money thing, I don't pay to train there. He doesn't charge Black Belts. Does that make it worse? I mean, he accepted my 14 year old rank (I did have to prove it); and allows me in his dojo. Well, I guess it's time to tell you what I did. 1:30 am---- staring at those 2 patches, I took out my knife; and cut the Advincula patch off. I walked to my car and got some electrical tape. Using the little circles of tape method, I stuck the new patch on. I put the gi on again in the morning for the 7:00 am workout, and I could see all 7 of the Yudansha looking for me to see what I had decided. I got a hug from my (and my kid's) Sensei, and he said the new patch looked great. At the closing ceremony for the end of camp, the Yudansha was giving out awards. Like "most memorable moment," "Bushido award," and the like. I hear this award being announced---- This individual deserves a lot of appreciation for helping out the Yudansha throughout this camp. He is a newcomer, and has amazed all of us with his techniques. Especially the needle and tread technique. The Betsy Ross Award is for Alan Seijas! I stood there for like 4 seconds with my mouth wide open. They thought I had actually sewed it on, I guess; and I have decided that I will. I love this dojo. Not just for me, but for my kids. My heart still flips when I think about cutting the Advincula patch off, though. Please keep the replies coming, and now you can tell me if you think I did the right thing! 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.
CheekyMusician Posted August 25, 2003 Posted August 25, 2003 I think what you did is mature and respectable. You felt strongly about the patch issue, but I think it was right that you put your training ahead of a piece of fabric. It would have been terrible if you'd been kicked out the dojo or made feel less welcome for a trivial issue. Smile. It makes people wonder what you've been up to.
kilo Posted August 26, 2003 Posted August 26, 2003 Yeah why dont you just get 2 gis. Kendo is like starwars and everyone gets to be Darth Vader."Luke, I am your sensei"
SaiFightsMS Posted August 26, 2003 Posted August 26, 2003 Dojo's are not a democracy. They are a school. Like any school you wear the uniform required by the school including the patch. If I may suggest your old patch would make a lovely wall display. That way you could still honor your past training and your old sensei.
iolair Posted August 26, 2003 Posted August 26, 2003 Umm. You could get 2 gis and save yourself a bunch of sewing.I agree - get a gi top to wear while you attend training sessions in this club, and wear their patch. Use your own gi with your own patch everywhere else. You should wear the club's patch while you are training in that club to show respect to the head instructor there. Currently: Kickboxing and variants.Previously: Karate (Seido, Shotokan, Seidokan), Ju Jitsu, Judo, Aikido, Fencing.
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