Dragon and I Ching

Qian [1st hexagram]:

Line 1: This line is represented by a dragon flying low.
Line 2: The second line is symbolized by a dragon arising in the field.
Line 4: The fourth line symbolizes a dragon getting ready to leap out of the abyss and fly into the sky.
Line 5: This line says the dragon is already fling - a man of great virtue is ready to be a leader.
Line 6: This line says the haughty dragon reaches its limit.
Line 7: This line says that the ancient Chinese believed that, although dragons were the strongest and most powerful creatures, they never fought for leadership.

Qian is "heaven" and represents the "Creative or as Master Huang says, Initiating." If you view our style from this perspective you realize that Tatsuo Sensei followed it exactly. It was the process of the creative and initiating that brought about his development over many years of what he perceived as an eclectic form of Okinawa Fighting Art and thus named it appropriately "Isshinryu."

If you review the excerpts from Master Huang's edition of the I Ching you will see connections to various aspects of the Isshinryu system. If you look deeper into the meaning of each you will find connections to the process and the kenpo gokui which he provided us when leaving his dojo.

Knowledge of Tatsuo Sensei, his thoughts and beliefs, and his customs and the customs of his people; you can "see" beyond and into the depth of Isshinryu and find what it truly has to offer us as its children.