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This is my place for the rest of my photos that I haven't shared yet.
The shot above shows my fellow Sensei's certificate. So far to go have I.
Yondan at last. You will notice the style changed name from "Ryu" to "Kai". This wouldn't happen until the later part of 1996.
Shoshindo-Ryu Crane, ca. 1909 by Junbun Shigake, a student of Obata Jiroo. Calligraphy at left: "Shoshin Way". Look at the way in which the crane is directing his attention to the word "sho" meaning enlightened. Is this an enlightened crane?
The idea of eternity is never far from Shoshin-Ryu. This is the Shoshindo Phoenix, a symbol of eternal stamina, and again by the same artist. Ca. 1911, re-printed as a lithograph ca. 1928. The border on the grading certificates pictured above is a double-phoenix with both heads rising above the SKR graphic.
A symbol of growth through learning. In the same way a tree near a crystal clear river takes its nourishment to grow from that source of water, so the student takes his or her nourishment for growth from the sensei.
One of the many variants of the seals used by Shoshin-Ryu. This is done in the Gyousho style, and is the go (or "yang") seal. It is read from top right downwards. Then, the reader reads from bottom to top of the second column, and top to bottom of the third, following the characters in a down and up snaking pattern. This is a rarity amongst all styles of Karate, and is emblematic of the sense of continuity that underlies progression in Karate-Do through Shoshin-Ryu.
A rare treat: Another sample of an authentic SKR seal. This one is done in a calligraphy style unfamiliar to me, but it is in the Ju (or "ying") method. These seals are the signature stamp of our school of Karate, and are fastened to all important documents, along with various other seals made by important personages.
If you can believe it, this is the same seal of the same club, and is read in the way the others would be. Done in the Tensho style of calligraphy, this is the most authoritative, formal and obscure of the varying forms of seal used in the club. Note: These seals can only be used by members of the Shoshinkai Karate-Do Renmei. You are free to use them if you are a member :)
Garyu-no Shoshin. The Shoshin Sun Dragon. To celebrate *100* years of Shoshin Karate-Do, Chinese-born Wu han Wei commemorated the event with the portrait of the Shoshin "Ryu"- a sound that means both "school" or "style" and dragon. Done in 1984. Calligraphy reads "Shoshindo-Ryu Karate-do Kai." Shoshindo being the original name of Obata Hanshi's art.
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The Tensho scripted seal of Yamashita Shihan gives another example of seals and calligraphy. You may not use this seal under any circumstances.
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This is my name. In Japanese tradition, seals and not signatures are used. Sensei will place their seal on official club documents when required to do so. This is a rendering of my seal which I use in important matters. I have used the actual seal to mark grading certificates and the like in the past. (Magnfied a bit big, sorry). You may not under any circumstances use this. You have been warned.
Sample Photo 12
