The emblem of Isshinryu karate represents water Goddess Mizugami also known as Isshinryu No Megami, Megami or Goshu Gin Sama. Mizugami is the goddess who protecting the Isshinryu system. Mizugami have the shape of lower half of a dragon and the upper half of a beautiful woman. The emblem of Isshinryu karate was made based upon Master Tatsuo Shimabuku's dream.                                                            One day Sensei Shimabuku was sleeping, he saw a wonderful dream that took place in the Isshinryu history. He dreamed of practicing alone in his dojo, a stranger came there and challenged him for fighting. Master Shimabuku showed the man his left hand open symbolizing peace and the right clenched symbolizing the power. Then a shape of a dragon appeared over the man and spit fire around the master, then a figure appeared over the master and put out the fire. the figure was that of Mizugami.                                                                After the dream he made a painting of the Goddess by an artist named Nakamine who lived in Naha. After some days he went to his province's Governer's house there he saw the picture of Mizugami the Goddess of sea, with showing open left hand and clenched right hand telling the troubled water to be peaceful either she will have to apply force.                                                                 Later Shimabuku had found his own style and he took the sea Goddess Mizugami as the emblem of Isshinryu karate. Shimabuku called her "Isshinryu No Megami". around 1961 Shimabuku sensei told about Mizugami to one of his top student Sensei A.J.Advincula. Sensei Advincula designed today's emblem. Sensei Advincula traced his own fist as the shape of the patch. The actual shape of the patch is like Isshinryu vertical fist but for mass production, it would not feasible to have that shape so it was changed to an oval shape. another thing is that the isshinryu patch contains eight meanings and the code of conduct must be eight and also there is eight empty hand kata's in Isshinryu karate. There are only three stars in the patch representing three masters of Sensei Shimabuku, but later Sensei Angi Uezu made the five star Megami represented the five masters Chotoku Kyan, Chojun Miyagi, Choki Motobu, Taira Shinken and  Ganeku Shinko. Brief Meaning of Mizugami Patch 3 Stars - The stars are in the position of one (-) in Kanji and mean one or ichi and is the "is" in Isshin-ryu. They represent heart, as shown in the heart of scorpio, or "shin". They also represent Shimabuku's teachers: Ganeku Shinko (uncle) Chotoku Kyan (Kiyan) - Shorinryu, Chojun Miyagi - Gojuryu, Choki Motobu - Kobudo, Shinken Taira - Kodudo They also represent the following triads: Mind/Body/Spirit Strength/Speed/Technique Serenity/Tranquility/Humility Shorinryu (mother)/Gojuryu (father)/Isshin-ryu (baby) Shorinryu/Gojuryu/Kobudo Night - The unknown (the stars, Tatsuo Shimabuku's teachers light up the darkness) Woman's Upper Body - Karate can be as gentle as a woman Dragon's Lower Body - Karate can be as fierce as a dragon. Goddess' Calm Face - Be calm in adversity. Turbulent Water - Danger or evil which is always present. Left Hand Open (Soft) - Talk your way out if possible. Right Hand Closed (Hard) - Use force only as a last resort, and then only what is necessary. Dragon in the Sky (Heaven) - Tatsuo who is the energy of Isshin-ryu moves endlessly from earth to heaven. Dragon (Tatsuo) can also be written "ryu" and is pronounced the same as ryu (way, style or mode). Its hidden meaning -- the ryu of Isshin-ryu. Tiger in Headdress (Earth) - The dragon represents the spirit and the earth represents the matter. The dragon is male and the tiger is female. Both must be in harmony with each other to become united as one mind and body. Gold Border - Karate is golden and pure and is a discipline that must not be misused. The Isshinryu patch was conceived and designed by Arcenio J. Advincula ( A first generation student of Soke Tatsuo Shimabuku ). Advincula was taught the meaning behind the Megami by Shimabuku himself.