The word kagami means mirror. More precisely, in the Middle Ages, polished bronze mirrors used by geisha were called kagami. This gave the word a figurative meaning, as geisha were the bearers of the highest cultural values of the age. In Shinto shrines, a circle made of polished metal can be found everywhere in the frequented area of the altar, symbolizing the sun, wholeness, light, and perfection.
This was also the case at the Honbu dojo shinzen. Kai means belonging, connection, togetherness. Every day, people look in the mirror, where they usually see themselves as a face or a figure, but also as a personality. By its very nature, the mirror cannot lie; it mercilessly reflects our bad moods and suffering, but it is also merciful, because we can also see our joy and success reflected in it. This is what the completeness of the mirror means. That is why it is a suitable symbol for a karate club. Freely translated, kagami kai means:
This character trait develops during rigorous training and is known as Osu no Seishin. The origin of "osu" is the expression oshi shinobu, which means perseverance under load or pressure. It refers to the willingness to push yourself to the limits of your endurance and persevere against any pressure. In its deepest sense, the word has a double meaning - the personal resistance of the soul to stop and fight, thus representing the need to overcome the fears that are natural to everyone.
Our style is called Kyokushin, and it was founded by Sosai Mas Oyama. We have two symbols that represent Kyokushin. One is Kanku, and the other is calligraphy. Kanku comes from Kanku Kata. The tips of Kanku are formed by the fingers, symbolizing excellence. The thicker parts of Kanku, formed by the wrists, symbolize strength and energy. The center represents infinity and depth; looking through it helps to unite our body and spirit. The circle surrounding Kanku
represents continuity. The calligraphy was originally painted by Sosai Mas Oyama's friend, Master Sensei Haramotoki. Its meaning is "The community of fundamental truth."
Kokoro is a Japanese word that is often translated as heart or spirit. To get closer to the meaning of kokoro, we need to know that there are three words for heart in Japanese. One is shinzou, which refers to the physical organ (anatomically), another is ha-to, which refers to the heart in love, and the third is kokoro, which has a more complex meaning. Kokoro originally means heart. When we hear the expression "the heart of the city," for example, everyone thinks of the center of the city. The heart is a very important part of our body, a key part of the body; if our heart stops, we die. Kokoro is both a state of being and a goal of action. It encompasses everything that a person thinks, feels, and wants to express.
