-
琉 Ryū “gemstone”
Short for Ryukyu, the name of an ancient kingdom to the south of Japan which is known today as Okinawa.
-
搏 Haku “fight”
It means to fight or wrestle with great effort.
-
心 Shin “heart”
It means heart, spirit, or mind.
Hidari Gomon 左御紋
Left-turning Honourable Crest
An ancient symbol of the Ryukyu Kingdom. It has been adapted for Ryū Haku Shin by reversing its direction, and using green, gold, and red as its constituent colours.
Green & gold (PANTONE® 348C #00843D, PANTONE® 116C #FFCD00) are the sporting colours of both Australia and Brazil. Red (Electric Red #EE0000) is the red of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Each of the three colours also represents one of the values traditionally associated with the Hidari Gomon, adapted to align with Ryū Haku Shin’s club values:
-
Green: integrity
“Stay true to your values and honour your word.”
-
Gold: courage
“Face challenges with courage and encourage others.”
-
Red: altruism
“Show kindness and give from the heart.”
Shisa シーサー
Ryukyuan Guardian Lion-Dog Statues
The mascots of Ryū Haku Shin! A traditional Ryukyuan cultural artifact and decoration, these are placed in a pair on people’s rooftops or flanking the gates to their houses. The left Shisa has a closed mouth, keeping good spirits in, while the right one has an open mouth, warding off evil spirits.
Ensō 円相
Zen Circle
A circle drawn with one brushstroke. It symbolises enlightenment, strength, elegance, the universe, and emptiness. An Ensō may be open or closed (an incomplete or complete circle). The one used for Ryū Haku Shin is open, which represents that judo is a craft in which there is always room for movement and development, no matter which level you are at. “No one is perfect; everyone has something to learn.”
Yata no Kagami 八咫鏡
Eight-span Mirror
A symbol used by Kodokan Judo in their logos and widely adopted by judo clubs around the world. It is visible in Ryū Haku Shin logos around the red comma of the Hidari Gomon. This was done intentionally to reflect how it usually appears in judo logos around the red sun of Japan in its centre. It represents “wisdom” or “honesty” depending on the source. It is an ancient sacred bronze mirror, and is considered the most precious of the Three Sacred Treasures of the Imperial Regalia of Japan.