The name Kai on a personalized wall scroll

凱 is the transliteration to Mandarin Chinese for the name Kai.

This Chinese character means triumphant or victorious. In Chinese, it can be the surname, Kai.

Note: In Japanese this can be the given name Tanoshi.

カイ is the name Kai in Japanese.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

一心会 is the Japanese martial arts title "Isshinkai" or "Isshin-Kai."

It literally means "One Heart Association" or "Single-Heart Club." This title is often associated with Isshin-Ryu Aikido and Isshin-Ryu Karate-Do. This title is appropriate for the name for a dojo that teaches these styles.

改善 means betterment, improvement, to make better, or to improve - specifically incremental and continuous improvement.

改善 became very important in post-war Japan when Edwards Deming came to Japan to teach concepts of incremental and continuous improvement (for which the big 3 auto-makers did not want to hear about at the time - even kicking Deming out of their offices). The Japanese workforce absorbed this concept at a time with their culture was in flux and primed for change.

This kaizen term is closely associated with the western title "Total Quality Management." Perhaps dear to my heart since I spent years studying this at university before I moved to China where TQM did not seem to exist. Slowly, this concept has entered China as well (I've actually given lectures on the subject in Beijing).

If you are trying to improve processes at your business or need to remind yourself of your continuous TQM goals, this would be a great wall scroll to hang behind your desk, or in your workplace.

See Also:  Kansei

This is the title for Nippon Karate-Do Genbu-Kai.
A Japanese karate association of the Genbu school.

Note that while this title does make perfect sense in Chinese, it is really a Japanese title. In fact, the first word is "Japanese/Japan."

If you'd like your martial arts school, dojo or club added to our calligraphy database for easy ordering of a custom calligraphy wall scroll, just contact me.

This is the title for Wado-Kai Aikido.

See Also:  Wado-Ryu

Wado-Kai is used as a title for styles of Karate and Aikido.

Breaking down the characters into the proper Japanese Romaji, you have "wa dou kai" or "wa dō kai." The meaning is roughly-translated as "Harmony Way Club" or "Peace Method Association." The first Kanji should probably be read as harmony, rather than peace in this case.

See Also:  Wado-Ryu

鎧 is a simple way to write armor or armour in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

This can also be Yoroi (a Japanese place-name). It can also refer to mail as in chain mail.

Wado-Ryu is a style of Karate or Jujutsu (Jujitsu).
Note: Many will argue as to whether this is a style of Karate or Jujutsu.

While some find Wado-Ryu similar to Shotokan Karate, enough differences exist in perspective and technique that it stands by itself.

Breaking down the characters into the proper Japanese Romaji, you have "wa dou ryuu" or "wa dō ryū." The meaning is roughly-translated as "Harmony Way Style" or "Peace Method Style." The first Kanji should probably be read as harmony, rather than peace in this case.

See Also:  Wado-Kai

和道流空手 is the Japanese martial arts title, "Wado-Ryu Karate."

See Also:  Wado-Kai