The Torii
In Asian cultures, the torii is a gateway built at the entrances to temples and schools. It connotates a gateway to higher learning. At Bill Adams’ Martial Arts, we consider ourselves a black belt school, and pride ourselves on the development of our students to black belt and beyond.

Isshin-Ryu Style Seisan (first kata)

The system we teach is Isshin-Ryu Karate Do, one of the many forms of karate that originated in Okinawa. Okinawa is given credit for developing karate as we know it today and passing it down through the centuries. Our style of karate, founded by Tatsuo Shimabuku, is a combination of two older styles, Goju Ryu and Shorin Ryu. Tatsuo Shimabuku, founder

It was designed specifically for personal combat, however, Americans have modified the fighting practice to enable us to participate in sporting events.
The hallmarks of Isshin-Ryu Karate include:
• Techniques that are delivered from natural stances as opposed to wide,locked positions, giving the practitioner mobility and dexterity;
• A vertical fist compared to a horizontal fist. Although not exclusive to Isshin-Ryu, the vertical fist position is unique compared to most styles;
• Close-in techniques and low kicks for street practicality;
• Hand techniques and foot techniques are equally stressed, so that a practitioner learns to use all of the weapons at his or her disposal.

Emblem
The emblem is called Mizu-gami or Me-gami (depending on whose history you read). It shows a woman that represents quiet character, who is half sea-dragon. Her left hand is open in a universal sign of peace, and her right hand is closed in a fist representing strength if evil prevails.
In Asian mythology, the sea-serpent is born at the bottom of the sea and ascends to the heavens as depicted by the small dragon above her head. The churning sea and the gray background represents a typhoon. Mizu-gami represents a mother taking care of her child, calm and gentle as a mother would be under these circumstances, but ready to unleash the same amount of fury a mother would if her child was harmed in any fashion. The three stars represent the three arrows of karate: spiritual, physical, and mental.
This colorful emblem represents a vision which came to Master Shimabuku, in a dream he had during the time he was developing Isshin-Ryu. The words Isshin-Ryu, when translated from the Okinawan language, literally mean "One Heart Way". [Note: The word shin also means "mind", so you may seetranslations as "One Heart/Mind Way".]
the isshin ryu patch
History
During the 17th century, Okinawa was overrun and occupied by the Satsuma Clan of Japan. Okinawa was never to be independent again. The weapons of the Okinawan samurai were confiscated, and they were forbidden to own, use, or carry any weapons. The edict issued in 1609 also forbade the practice of martial arts. Again, this was to completely subjugate the Okinawans. Faced with the necessity of defending themselves and their people from their oppressors and pirates, and having only their bare hands with which to fight, the samurai warriors turned to the ancient forms of te and kempo. In those desperate years, they developed and refined the techniques until their bodies were as deadly and effective in their defense as had been the swords that were taken from them. Karate was taught in secret and was known only to the nobility. Where and how it was taught was a mystery to most Okinawans, for to be introduced to the discipline of karate was to be marked as one of the most poised and trusted human beings and was an honor as high as any that could be bestowed.
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