Crests and Patches
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Crest, patches, emblems, and insignias have traditionally and historically been used in the martial arts and ways to represent various groups, arts, divisions, ranks, grades, etc.
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In Koei-Kan Karate-Do two crests are predominantly utilized. The first is the cherry blossom (Sakura). This crest was adopted as the symbol of the All-Japan Karatedo Association (Zen Nihon Karatedo Renmei) founded by Master Toyama Kanken in 1946. Official permission was given by Onishi Eizo Kancho Sensei in 1971 to use the cherry blossom as the representative emblem of Koei-Kan outside of Japan.
The second emblem/crest utilized in Koei-Kan is the paulownia (kiri). This is the leaf of the paulownia tree (Shinobibai).
The paulownia crest and the chrysanthemum (kiku) are considered dual symbols of the Japanese imperial throne. This association was crystallized during the early thirteenth century. At that time Emperoro Godiago conferred both of these crests upon the founder of the Ashikaga line of Shogun (Ashikaga Takauji), who in turn loyal to the shogun and the Empereor. This custom was carried on by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the late sixteenth century.
It was by this process that the Onishi family (through their ancestral Samurai clan, the Oshimiki) obtained the use of the paulownia crest.
For information about bogu, the full contact armor created by Onishi Eizo, click here.
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Dojo Hours
Mon. 7pm-8pm
Tues. 12pm-1pm/7pm-8pm
Wed. 6pm-8pm
Thurs. 12pm-1pm/7pm-9pm
Fri. 6pm-8pm
Sat. 1pm-3pm
Sunday closed
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