If Tracys Kenpo is Japanese, why do you have an American “T” and Chinese looking dragon for an emblem, instead of using the Kosho Shorei Ryu Mon of James Mitose?
A. The dragon is both Chinese and Japanese, and has a universal symbolism, however, it is used to depict the Tracy System, and the emblem is not a Tracy Mon. The “T” is, of course, purely Western, and symbolizes the bridge between the Kenpo of Japanese antiquity and the Tracy system. The Tracy Family, (Gouzoku) displays five Mons, three of which are Kamon. All are worn traditionally in the “three places five places”, and are only displayed in public on traditional Japanese garments, never on the Gi. The three Kamon each depict the three-day moon (one of the first year, another of the seventh year, and another with of twenty-first year) and the plumb blossom of three sizes. As for the so-called “Kosho Shorei Ryu Mon,” it is neither traditional nor Japanese, but appears to be more Okinawan, and is not used by Tracy’s because it has no relevance in Traditional Kenpo.
