At the 2008 Christmas Party, we announced we were changing our name to Savior Martial Arts®. The name change will better describe who we are and reduce conflicts with other groups improperly using our name. We still maintain ownership and trademark rights to “Karate For Christ," but this month we will start doing business as SAVIOR MARTIAL ARTS. Our new tagline for the transition is “Savior Martial Arts®, the next generation of Karate For Christ™".
Throughout this month, you will see several updates.
- Our new web address www.SaviorMartialArts. org will start directing to this website any day.
- Our new name over our wall logo in both dojos will go up in about a week.
- New lighted signs at both dojos will take about 3 weeks to be made and installed.
But most exciting, our NEW UNIFORM LOGO will be fully digitized and ready for application on new gis the first week in Feb. As you can see, it is absolutely gorgeous. A far cry from the current single color blue, this one is nine shades of blue and silver with lots of cool symbolism. Below I offer a full explanation of all the different elements. We will not require students to upgrade to these new gis, but we think you’ll want to. Students may purchase a jacket only for $35, or a full gi for $50, + tax. Add your name and size to the list at the Welcome Desk or Contact Sensi Lynn to get in on the first order. We will not be able to order as often, so we will place 1 large order the second week in February. Though we try to serve everyone, gi’s will be sold on a first come, first served basis, unless you have pre-ordered.
When it came to our new logo, every aspect of the design had to be just right, because we expect to use it on a national scale for years to come. Sometimes we adjusted fine details ad nauseum. But I think you’ll agree, the beautiful result was unquestionably worth it.
The name Savior refers not only to our Savior, but also to the idea that we train students to protect others, not just themselves. Martial Arts is more inclusive, since we have moved far beyond just karate.
The kanji on the bottom line is Savior Martial Arts in Japanese. The first character, kyuu, means to save or rescue. The second, sei, means world or generation. The third, shu, means master or owner. Together, they truly spell out our Lord as He is: the Savior of the World of which He is Master, the Rescuer of the Generations whose fate He owns, having purchased them with His blood sacrifice.
Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” is of course our school verse.
The cross and bowing figure in calligraphy, called sumi-e, remains the same, but is surrounded by an enso (the brushstroke circle). To the Zen Buddhist, the traditional emptiness of its center represents absolute fullness, completeness, endlessness, a circle that embodies complete perfection of harmony.
By placing our Savior’s cross and a bowing student within its center, we declare that the gift of His sacrifice completes us, providing the fullness of our harmony in the knowledge of the endless life it provides.
One significant feature of the enso is that it is never a closed circle. There is always a slight opening . To us, this represents the constant opening God leaves for us to accept and come to the gift that lies within: Eternal Life through Jesus Christ, our Lord. (Rom 6:23)
The four bladed shuriken (throwing star) around the central logo indicates we teach true combat arts, honed for their realworld effectiveness. What we teach is not for play, nor is it a sport.
The central graphic represents our five core values that give a distinctive flavor to everything we teach and also defines the heart of our martial philosophy. The central graphic signifies the primary value that defines our dojo: excellence.
The four blades stand for maturity, grace, leadership, and fun, aspects we strive to work into everything we do at our academy.
—Soke
