Kyokushin/Dojo Symbols
The Kyokushinkai Kanji.
The kanji (Japanese characters) calligraphy, worn universally on the front of the (uniform) Gi, simply means "Kyokushinkai", which is the name given by Sosai Mas. Oyama to the Karate style he created. It means the society of the Ultimate Truth. Originally there was no name for the style, it was simply; Oyama Dojo, but with the growth of the style he created it became necessary to give the style which had become unique at this time, an official name.
Sosai Oyama chose Ultimate Truth. This was taken from the writings of his hero, the Samurai; Miyamoto Musashi in The Book of Five Rings. Sosai had read this book and it inspired him to train in the mountains like his hero before him, to develop his karate which would become Kyokushinkai.
The design of the kanji was done with Oyamas wife and is representative of a sheathed Samurai sword, in honour of Musashi. It is composed of three characters:
Kyoku: Meaning "Ultimate" |

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Shin: Meaning "Truth" |
Kai: Meaning "Society" |
The Kanku.
The symbol of Kyokushin Karate is the Kanku, shown in the badge worn by many Kyokushin groups at the top of the left sleeve of the (uniform) Gi, which is derived from Kanku Dai Kata, the Sky Gazing form.
In this Kata, the hands are raised and the fingers meet to form an opening through which the sky is viewed. The top and bottom points of the Kanku represent the first fingers of each hand touching at the top and the thumbs touching at the bottom, symbolising the peaks or ultimate points. The thick sections at the sides represent the wrists, symbolising power. The centre circle represents the opening between the hands through which the sky is viewed, symbolising infinite depth. The whole Kanku is enclosed by a circle, symbolising continuity and circular action.
Elite Fighting Arts, Dojo Badge.

Our Dojo badge - It shows in the centre a hybrid; a winged lion (Simorgh) or Persian Griffin, the protector; symbolic of purity & truth, reaching out to the Japanese rising sun with the Kyokushin Kanku. The text is separated by 2 open circles (Enso) representing the pursuit of perfection.
Historically the Simorgh is of special significance, also named Saena or Senmurw. Much like the Greek counterpart the Chimera, this Hybrid winged lion in Persian and ancient Aryan legends is considered so old that it has seen the destruction of the world 3 times over. The Simorgh learned so much by living so long that it is thought to possess the knowledge of all the ages. In one legend, the Simorgh was said to live 1,700 years before plunging itself into flames before arising again (like the Phoenix) a symbol of rebirth, truth & pruity.
Simorgh is the most commonly used name for this creature, taken from early literature (meaning thirty birds) from the Persian poet Farid u-din Attar & the works; Conference of the Birds.
The story recount the longing of a group of birds who search for a leader. They decide on the Simorgh & go on a journey to find it. They journey over 7 valleys, each representing 1 stage of attainment to wholeness.
One by one the birds drop out, unable to fulfill the changing journey. Eventually only 30 birds reach the land of the Simorgh but instead of finding their spritual leader, they discover a lake & in it their own reflection. It is then that the remaining few realise that they are not separate from the universe, but are at one with it. In this realisation they discover the Ultimate Truth to enlightenment & balance in all things, is found within.
Elite Fighting Arts
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