The characters/ideograms mean "circle painted with a single stroke in Zen calligraphy." The first character means, "circle; yen; round," the second character means, "mutual; together; each other; councillor; aspect; phase; physiognomy."
A moment when the mind is free to let the body-mind create spontaneously. It symbolizes many things, i.e. absolute enlightenment, strength, the universe and the void, to name a few. As indicated it is associated with Zen and Zen is associated with martial arts, systems or styles in a more esoteric representation.
In the Isshinryu system enso is represented or symbolized in the kusanku kata, i.e. in the opening move the hands begin at the apex indicating heaven (天[☰])then the hands move outward and down to create a circle, i.e. an enso symbol if you will, to meet at the bottom indicating the earth (地[☷]). The symbolism in the kata movement is to symbolize the universe or world in peace as taught in traditional karate. This is also taught through the saying, "there is no first strike in karate."
The circle and symbolism of heaven and earth form through the I Ching's characters the one whole for the Universe or as in the I Ching the yin-yang principle of life and the universe. The Isshinryu system also represents or symbolizes esoteric meaning by the two kata, i.e. sanchin and naihanchi, as sanchin = yang while naihanchi = yin, as representing the birth of Isshinryu, i.e. sanchin = father, naihanchi = mother and Isshinryu = son, etc.
The enso represents reciprocals and compliments within the universe that without we and the universe would not exist, i.e. the one separating into two complimentary opposites of yin-yang. The one, yang, represents the other, yin, by the small opposite colors with each side of the two complimentary halves making for the whole, i.e. the construct wholeness.
It represents the one as neither opposites nor that they negate one another but rather the two complementary sides make for the one whole of everything within the universe. It is a singular cycle of force that make for opposites as togetherness.
The enzo symbolized what makes for the very nature of conflict, combat and fighting. Then the one underlying singularity of all martial systems are the principles that are universal that cannot be taken from nor added to but exist in the absence of principles or non-principles.
Tatsuo-san tried to convey such things to the first generation of karate students in the late fifties and early sixties by presenting them with a silk paper with the ken-po goku-i written in both kanji and English where the first two set speak to heaven and earth; sun and moon, etc. to provide hints to the more esoteric principles of his system - Isshinryu.
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