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Simply Isshinryu Karate Mizu-gami (Also Called Megami)

Misu-Gami (Megami)
The Symbol of Isshinryu Karate

Dream of the Goddess
Around the time he was formalizing Isshinryu, Shimabuku Tatsuo Osensei dreamt of a scene which encapsulated many of the principles of his emerging style.

In the dream, a man approached Shimabuku-osensei. Osensei waved his open left hand in a gesture of peace. At the same time, Osensei kept his right hand closed into a fist in case this mysterious man was less benign than he appeared.

As the man went away, he left Osensei surrounded by a wall of flame. Osensei remained calm and some water extinguished the flames. It is unclear whether Mizu-gami, the Shinto water goddess, or Osensei himself doused the blaze.

After Osensei described the vivid dream to his students, its elements were incorporated into the emblem representing Isshinryu. It has come to be known as Mizu-gami or Megami.

As with any symbol, interpretations of Isshinryu's Mizu-gami abound, hover around the image below to see some of the possibilities