About the Patch

The white background is significant of the many beginners who form the base of the art.

The yellow or orange represents the first level of proficiency - the mechanical, dangerous stage of learning. This is a time when the student is more impressed with the physical prowess and thinks he knows all the answers. The circle is gray, symbolising the brain, the brain of the association - remember that the brain is often referred to as "gray matter". The other colors represent proficiency, achievement and authority.

The brown - the color of the tiger's eyes - represent the advanced students though not great in number. Also at this level the student becomes more observant. His eyes, like that of the tiger, are keen and ever so watchful and critical, always looking up to the higher levels of proficiency; striving for perfection and preparing for the day he bears the label of "expert". This level of expert proficiency is represented by the color black, while red is that of professorship over and above black belt. But yet, as indicated by the colors of the dragon, there are still traces of white in the eyeball; yellow or orange on his fins; brown in the iris of the eyeball and black in the pupils. These colors are there to remind even the "professor" that he should always be humble and able to return to any level. He should also be able to perform the things that he expects others at various levels to do and always be conscious of never demanding too much of his students.

The top of the crest is like a roof which gives shelter to all who come under it while the sides are (concaved) curved conversely like the roof of a Chinese home sending back evil to where it came from, whenever it tries to enter. The bottom of the crest forms the shape of an axe. This represents an executioner, symbolizing that should a member shame the Kenpo style or be influenced by evil ideas and thoughts contrary to the style's philosophy (oppose the codes), he will be cut off - never to co-exist with members again.

Represents every conceivable direction, path,angle or orbit that the hand or fist may travel, whether they are used singularly, simultanously, or in combination. It contains straight lines, curved lines, quarter circles, half circles, full circles, overlapping full and half circles, diamonds, rectangles, triangles, crosses, heats, figure 8's, octogons etc. It was created by the founder of American Kenpo, Grandmaster Edmund K. Parker and the interpreation is in the eyes of the beholder.

The dividing lines in the circle represent:

1. The original eighteen hand movements, directions in which the hands can travel
2. The angles from which you or an opponent can attack or defend.
3. The pattern in which the feet can move.

KENPO
Is a modern term describing one of the more innovative systems of the Martial Arts which originally started in Hawaii, which currently has spread worldwide. "KEN" means fist and "PO" means law, therefore KENPO represents "the Law of the Fist".

KARATE
Karate is a term used by the Japanese to describe the oriental boxing systems of Japan and Okinawa. "KARA" means empty and "TE" means hand, hence KARATE signifies "Empty Hands".

The circle is symbolic of several things: (1) It depicts life itself, a continuous cycle where there is no beginning nor end. So is it with the art of KENPO, it too is a cycle of perpetual and unending movement or motion. Techniques follow a cycle, movements are part of a cycle, physical prowess, humility and self-restraint are no more than components of a progressive learning cycle; (2) All moves evolve from a circle whether they are defensive or offensive; (3) The circle represents the bond of friendship that should continuously exist among IKKA members; and (4) The circle is the base from which our alphabet stems.

The oriental writing is a reminder of the originators of our Art – the Chinese. It is in respect to them but not that we serve them. The lettering to the right means KENPO KARATE – Law of the Fist and the Empty Hand – the Art that we practice. To the left it means Spirit of the Dragon and the Tiger – a constant reminder that we want to attain the spiritual level and that the physical level is only a stepping stone or vehicle that we use to reach the higher or spiritual level.