Sensei Roger's Badge

The Butterfly and the Irenic Warrior

The Essence of the Mon is that of the Tao (Chinese = the “way, path, discipline”) or Do (Japanese) of harmony expressed in the dualism (Ying and Yang) of life. In this case, that the hard and soft, the violent and gentle, can be mutually supporting while existing and flourishing, harmoniously in the one being.

This dualism is depicted by the image of an Australian Blue Ulysses Butterfly with a sword as its body and a spearheaded pommel as its head. The image symbolises the metamorphosis from an Irenic being (the peaceful Butterfly) to include an armed Warrior essence (evidenced by the sword/spear). The theme is rooted in the German word for Butterfly (Etymology - Schmetterling, n. Butterfly [G, f. “Schmetter” = Smash, destroy, throw down violently and “ling”, diminutive suffix])), where a violent word, with a slight change becomes an inoffensive joyful being.

The Australian Blue Ulysses (named after the mythical Greek wanderer and hero warrior from Homer’s Iliad, a poem dealing with the siege of Troy) continues the analogy of the dualism of soft and hard, while creating an Australian connection. The fact that it is named for a wandering warrior is also a metaphor for my life as a wanderer and embryonic warrior.

In the badge can be seen the thought of the possibility and existence of a Peaceful Warrior (Shizuka no Bushi) ethic. An ethic which abhors violence and despises those who try to dominate others, while having the knowledge, understanding and strength to protect themselves and others from the forces of violence and domination.

The essence of the badge is expressed in the statement that “the most important experiences a man can have are those that take him to the very limit; that is the only way we learn, because it requires all our courage. Only those who know those frontiers know life; everything else is just passing time, repeating the same life events, growing old and dying without ever having discovered what we are doing here.” (Marquis de Sade).

My Mon illustrates the results of the journey in following this exploratory path and how the martial Arts have provided a constant, which assists me to return from any diversionary and unexpected events.

The border of the Mon is a circle of 3 rings (black, red, black), representing the encompassing influences of the founders of the 2 free style Martial Arts that I have most practised and is the rim of the wheel of fate, symbolises the knowledge, experience and improvement that the martial artist endlessly seeks to pursue and achieve.

Schmetterling

The red word “Schmetterling” ((Etymology - Schmetterling, n. Butterfly [G, f. “Schmetter” = Smash, destroy, throw down violently. “ling”, diminutive suffix])) at the top centre of the Mon between the upper wings of the Butterfly, introduces the idea and importance, of the dualism of the hard and soft aspects of both the Art and of the practitioner, existing in the same body in cooperation. By using the German word with hard/soft implications (ie making a soft Butterfly out of a violent action), my initiating thought and my long involvement with the German culture – which has a strong Martial/Warrior element – is displayed.

The Silver Sword/Spear Butterfly Body and Head and Red Japanese Characters

A Silver Sword, with a bladed Spearhead, depicting a warrior’s weapons carried by the peaceful Butterfly form, together encapsulate the idea of a Peaceful Warrior, but also from its position, joins the German word Schmetterling and the red Japanese characters - Ookami karyuudo no musuko – Son of Wolf hunter. A connecting of my life’s theme with the martial aspects of my surname, Catchlove, which anglicised, is a translation from the French phrase, “Chasse Loupe, meaning “Hunter of Wolf.”

The Peaceful Element

The peaceful entity and pacifist way of life is symbolised by the inoffensive, gentle, winged Butterfly image. Also to be clearly seen in the armed Butterfly image is the inverted Y of the now, universal peace sign . The three stems of the peace sign also represent the sub themes of my Martial Arts Journey, being, my three beginnings, the three phases of development (Physical, Mental and Spiritual) and my three major learning’s, respect, not to judge others by their belt and humility. The three stems are also a metaphor for though life often takes me to a crossroads and offers other directions (the 2 branches). I then have to rely on returning to my central core tenets (the vertical stem) to maintain my progress in my Way.

The Wolf’s Head Crest

The albino Wolf’s Head, with flashing red eye and bared white teeth, on a Gules (red) background, representing my wolf hunting family background. The Gules shape, which can be seen as either a shield, or a stylised bell curve, shows with its outline, the process of moving from the ancient past to the way and the future and is represented in the archway surrounding the Wolf’s head.

The Red Dragon on an Octagon in a Circle

The black ringed border containing the Dragon is dissected to form a black ringed Octagon. The vectors of the Octagon represent the 8 tenets, which form the code of moral principles of the Bushido, the Way of the Warrior. Three of the dividing sectors, longer and thicker than the others, are coloured, and which, without the Red Dragon overlay, meet in the middle of the circle to form the modern peace symbol , thus portraying my preference for peace and non violence. In this object, with the Red Dragon sublimated over the peace symbol, the analogy of the dualism of peace and violence existing in the same object is poignantly repeated.

The Golden Bushido Cross

On the lower left wing of the Schmetterling is a Golden Bushido Cross representing the integrity of the Way of the Warrior, is the focus of the form and the arms separate the four phases of the journey along the Way of life.

The Pendant Golden Moon

Off centre to the right of the Spearhead is a not yet full, hanging pendant Golden Moon, showing that none of the processes of ceaseless striving are yet complete or finalised. Because of its asymmetrical position on the Mon, it also shows that this practitioner is not perfect, not entirely balanced and still has much work and learning to do so as to then be able to pass on these lessons.

Blending Thunder, Wolf and Butterfly

The idea, of the courage, strength, stamina and durability (all hard characteristics) of the gentle butterfly is beautifully expressed and extended in the Haiku.

Thunderclaps, and wolves run

from the destruction; but not

The Butterfly.

(Dai Sempai Adrian Cartland)

By their quietness they become Sages; by their movements, Warriors!

(Lao Tzu)