Grand Valley
Karate Academy

This is the Isshin-Ryu Karate patch which depicts the beautiful sea goddess named Me Gami. It is to be worn on the left side over the heart. Hence "The One Heart Way". Master Tatsuo Shimabuku had a dream which gave him the inspiration to break away from the traditional Shorin-Ryu and Goju-Ryu Karate styles and form Isshin-Ryu Karate.                      Master Shimabuku dreamed that he was training in the dojo alone. A stranger entered, and challenged him. Master Shimabuku took a Seiuchin stance, and placed his open left hand out in front of him to wave away the stranger, but hid his clinched right hand behind his head. He warned the stranger that he would use his karate if he was forced to fight. The attacker vanished leaving Master Shimabuku surrounded in flames. Master Shimabuku calmly put out the flames then woke up.                                                                                 About 1960 Master Shimabuku told one of his U.S. Marine students Arsenio Advincula, about his dream. From the details of the dream, Master Shimabuku's philosophical beliefs, and character, Advincula designed the original Isshin-Ryu Karate patch which was in the shape of the vertical fist. Steve Armstrong who was one of  Master Shimabuku's original students took one of the patches to the United States and changed the shape from a vertical fist to a oval because it was easier to mass produce for commercial sale.

To see what each symbol in the patch means, simply click on the symbol.