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| The names are
given once the student achieves brown belt level. In most cases,
the first part expresses the individual’s primary spiritual
characteristic, and the second part expresses the individual’s
primary martial characteristic. In some cases, instead of this pairing,
both parts of the name express a balance of related attributes.
The name is intended be accurate for every stage of the individual’s
life.
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DAVID
sensei
DAI
AI TEN,
TA I
GREAT
LOVE OF HEAVEN,
DEEP DIGNITY
Summer 1988
added January 25, 2000, from the students~
You are God’s man on earth, God’s priest. You show us
God in your life. You teach us more than martial arts; you teach
us God. Your eyes are laughing, even when you are serious. You love
us, you encourage us, you treat us with respect. You teach us REAL
martial arts.
You are the light
of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people
light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its
stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way,
let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds
and praise your Father in heaven.
--Matthew 5:14-16 |
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LESLIE
assistant sensei
YUUKI
NO GENSEN,
EIEN SENSHOUSHA
WELLSPRING
OF COURAGE, ETERNAL VICTOR
June 19, 2001
You are a warrior of love, who shows courage in all circumstances.
Nothing holds you back or slows you down. Your determination, endurance,
and discipline lead you always to strive for excellence. You have
never turned aside from any challenge you have faced, and you are
undefeated. You show respect, honor, and love to every student,
regardless of rank—learning from your seniors, teaching your
juniors, and blessing all with your insights and wisdom. You manifest
your virtues in daily life, through your deeds.
In all things we are more than conquerors through
him who loves us. For I am convinced that … [nothing] in all
creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
-- Romans 8:37, 39 |
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SARAH
KOEINE
NO KYOTEN,
YUSHU NA JYUN REISHA
STRONGHOLD
OF HONOR,
PILGRIM OF EXCELLENCE
March 25, 2003
You are motivated by two driving forces: integrity and reserve.
Your integrity draws you inexorably to the Truth with the desire
to be completed by Someone greater than yourself, and your reserve
causes you to move carefully toward that end. You live, therefore,
between these two drives. Though they are partners, at times they
may seem to be in tension. Nevertheless, the two forces are like
an anchor and a sail, both necessary for the journey toward completion
that only God can give. Your reserve is a place of security and
power—hence a “stronghold”—but you are not
afraid to venture forth on the quest for completion. Therefore you
are both an excellent pilgrim and a pilgrim who seeks excellence.
Everyone who hears these words of mine and
acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that
house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.
--Matthew 7:24-25 |
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ADAM
KAGAYAKU
RYU,
KANDOU NO KEISHOSHA
RESPLENDENT
DRAGON,
HEIR OF WONDER
July 22, 2003
In the western tradition, a dragon is a fearsome and powerful beast,
but in the eastern tradition, a dragon is a sign of good fortune,
both mythical and archetypal. You are strong in martial techniques
and tender and showing kindness, and so embody the dragon in both
its images. “Wonder” is how you show godly manhood,
rejoicing in what God has made and your place in it. As wonder’s
heir, you both possess wonder and will grow more and more into it.
Deep inside you take things seriously, but your buoyancy in all
situations is characterized by a winsome joy. You know that in the
Lord all things are secure.
Jesus said, 'Your heart will rejoice, and no
one takes your joy away from you.'
-- John 16:22
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STAN
ISHI
NO DODAI,
SHODOUSHA
FOUNDATION
OF STONE,
STANDARD BEARER
July 22, 2003
You are a delight and inspiration to those who walk the godly way
and the martial way. Both formidable in prowess and accessible to
the youngest students, you are like the centurion who answered Jesus,
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but
only say the word, and my servant will be healed.” When Jesus
heard the centurion, he marveled and said to those who followed
him, “Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found
such faith” (Matthew 8:8, 10). You know the way of authority
because you yourself exercise it well, with both strength and humility,
following a vision of excellence.
This is contained in Scripture: ‘Behold,
I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone, and he who
believes in him shall not be disappointed.’
-- 1 Peter 2:6, referring to Isaiah 28:16 |
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MICAH
DOUDOUTOSHITA
SHUGOSHA, HIMETA ISHI
REGAL
GUARDIAN,
HIDDEN STONE
July 22, 2003
In many ways, you are like Aragorn. Your power is kingly, not expressed
by aggression but powerful when power is called for, and compassionate
and humble by nature. You rejoice when others have reason for joy,
and you protect, guide, and guard others when you are called to
do so. Your godliness is hidden in the sense of being humble and
deep, like a stone that is a foundation upon which other stones
may be securely laid and find their proper place. You are like treasure
hidden in a field—not vain but of worth beyond all other possession.
With you is the well of life,
and in your light we see light.
--Psalm 38:9 |
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STEPHANIE
IDAINA
MUSUME,
HOSHI WO KAGAYAKASU
DAUGHTER
OF HONOR, STARKINDLER
July 22, 2003
You manifest in your life the ancient Japanese concept of “ten
chi”—heaven and earth. In the Biblical testimony, the
concept is found in Jacob’s ladder that connects heaven and
earth by a way enchanted with angels. Patient, kind, humble, pure,
loyal, affectionate, and wise, you show forth the best of the Christian
martial way. On the one hand, you are like Rose, the humble hobbit
maiden of hearth wisdom who alone was worthy to marry Samwise Gamgee.
On the other hand, you are like Varda, the goddess of Valinor and
spouse of Manwë, who kindled the stars in Middle-Earth.
He showed me the river of the water of life,
bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side
of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding
its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing
of the nations.
--Revelation 22:1-2 |
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CHRIS
SHIRO
I OOKAMI,
HOSHI NO SENYUSHA
WHITE
WOLF,
POSSESSOR OF STARS
July 22, 2003
Your life in the martial way is complex, for it is internal and
celestial—both within you and connected to heaven. You are
a possessor of the stars, not as their owner but as American Indians
knew possession—ours not to own but to cherish as a steward.
The image of the white wolf is a mystical symbol, old and deeply
archetypal. You are the holder of sacred things, able to walk unafraid
through a dark forest, at home in the night, blending into the surroundings
and in harmony with them. In some ways, you are hard for ordinary
eyes to see, yet to all you make a definite presence. You have a
strong commitment to the martial way, knowing that your place is
essential without having to press for it.
To him who conquers, I will give a white stone,
with a new name written on the stone which no one knows except him
who receives it.
--Revelation 2:17 |
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BENJAMIN
KOUKETSUNA
KO,
KOKORO NO YASASHII SHIMOBE
SON
OF INTEGRITY,
SERVANT OF GOODNESS
July 22, 2003
In a world that is often dangerous and characterized by evil, you
have been guided into the way of truth, beauty, and godliness. You
are humble and caring for others, quick to forgive, and displaying
only goodness. Yet you are also filled with resolve, and point the
way to excellence by following it yourself with dedication. Patient,
persevering, and growing in power, you are a credit to the martial
way, for you know and show that it is a not primarily a way of force
but of virtue.
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever
is gracious, if there is any excellence,
if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
-- Philippians 4:8 |
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JONATHAN
SUIKOUNA,
MIHARININ, SEIJITSUNA SHIMOBE
NOBLE
WATCHMAN,
SERVANT OF TRUTH
July 22, 2003
Because you are utterly dedicated to God in Jesus Christ, you have
a high birth, being born again of the Holy Spirit. Your nobility
in Christ is displayed in that, like a watchman, you look for the
best and discern what comes your way in order that you may choose
rightly. As you follow the martial way, these qualities cause you
always to seek excellence. Not yet fully confident, sometimes you
have a fear of failure. God will permit this to remain for a time
as you mature in your ability to care for others. You are a servant
of truth because you are a servant of Christ, and therefore will
hold up your head with honor.
I have prayed for you that your faith may not
fail;
and when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.
--Luke 22:32
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ALEX
TENKOU
NO KAJIN,
HIMETA HI
SINGER
OF LIGHT,
HIDDEN FIRE
July 22, 2003
You are a daughter of light, trusting, innocent, pure, and full
of delight. The joy you display is expressed by singing, for deep
singing comes from both head and heart, and means being in God’s
presence at the beginning of new and great things. If there is light,
then there must be darkness in which the light shines, and all light
comes from God in all its varied forms. You know that life is not
always easy but can always be filled with joy. You show dedication
and perseverance in the martial way, and by keeping on this way
even when it was hard, you have kindled fires of power and truth
and honor deep inside you.
The morning stars sang together,
and all the sons of God shouted for joy.
-- Job 38:7 |
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MOLLY
YOROKOBI
NO GENSUI,
KAGAYAKU AURORA
WELLSPRING
OF JOY,
SHINING AURORA
July 22, 2003
You are like the Northern Lights, the aurora that covers the whole
sky with color and beauty. Like the aurora, you are able to reflect
light but are clear enough so that other things can be seen through
you and they become beautiful. You are like a shimmering field of
silky light, responding to everything around you but in a harmonious
way that beautifies everything. This means that you don’t
get in the way of other people, but you bring out their own joy
and make them better. You put magic into ordinary things.
You will show me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy,and in your right hand
are pleasures for evermore.
--Psalm 16:11 |
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