Tatsu Do Philosophy

1. A man that knows doesn't speak . . . . a man that speaks doesn't know.
2. The great art of learning is to undertake first a little.
3. A wise man knows this own ignorance. A fool thinks he knows everything.
4. To see what is right and not do it is a want of courage.
5. No legacy is so rich as honesty.
6. To be trusted is a greater compliment that to be loved.

The Patch

The patch in martial arts is a logo or emblem that identifies the style a person belongs to as well as setting that person apart from other styles. It also unifies the people within a system.

Every patch has a different meaning. In Tatsu Do, the patch contains two phrases: "Tatsu-Do" and "Ride the Wind." Tatsu-Do means "The Way of the Dragon." The dragon is Soke William R. Cavalier, who developed this style of martial art. The motto "Ride the Wind" means to be able to bend under stress and not break, or to take things as they come and bounce back.

The dragon in the center of the patch is gold with a black outline, surrounded by red. The color gold represents eternal and the dragon symbolizes vitality, which can be interpreted to mean ki or energy. The color red is outlined by a black line in the shape of a circle. This represents the sun, the source of energy for earth. Red is also associated with the ki of a person, his aura. The color white represents purity. This means purity of both thought and action. One must not let distractions come in the way of good action; one must see things are as they are and not the way you want to see them. Black is a combination of all colors. Consequently, it means strength of character. It gives the patch definition by outlining the dragon and the outside edge. In addition, it contrasts with the white and is therefore connected with the philosophy of yin-yang.

The circular shape of the patch symbolizes the idea that learning never ends. We must never stop learning -- we must always keep an open mind to new ideas and techniques.