The UKA Crest was designed colaboratively by Jose and Kevin with approval from Norm. A few key elements and symbolism of the crest include:
- Pagoda Shape(Ed Parker, Infinite Insights vol. 1)
- The TOP of the crest is like a roof which gives shelter to all who are under it.
- The SIDES )( are curved conversely because, like the roof of a Chinese home, it is to send evil back to where it came from, whenever it tries to descend.
- Axe Head shape(Ed Parker, Infinite Insights vol. 1)
- it represents the executioner—in the event a member is influenced by evil ideas and thoughts contrary to our philosophy, or shames the IKKA organization, he is cut off, never to coexist with us again.
- Confidence
- From Dictionary.com: belief in oneself and one's powers or abilities; self-confidence; self-reliance; assurance
- Respect
- From Dictionary.com: to hold in esteem or honor; proper acceptance or courtesy
- Discipline
- From Dictionary.com: to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control (verb); to train by instruction and exercise(verb); activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill (noun)
- Ed Parker's Universal pattern (Ed Parker, Infinite Insights vol. 4)
- it represents the fundamental shapes, figures, and patterns of the techniques of Kenpo
- in the UKA crest it is represented in three dimensions; known as the Universal Sphere. The Universal Sphere expresses the flat truths of the universal pattern and extends them entirely around the Martial Artist
- it serves as the background to the Dragon and Tiger
- The Tiger
- represents youthful or earthly strength, aggression, and vitality
- tiger is colored white, yellow, and black
- white represents the first belt, it is a belt which is given early
- yellow is the first earned belt, it is a dangerous stage in the martial artists career when new techniques and inexperience must be brought under control
- the black stripes are to remind even the experienced martial artists to be cautious
- The Dragon
- represents wisdom, experience and spirituality
- the dragon is in a dominant position with respect to the tiger
- traditionally the dragon on Kenpo crests is red and yellow UKA uses green, yellow, and red
- the green is representative of growth, nature, and life
- the yellow is representative of happiness, intelligence, and harmony
- the red is representative of professorship (seen also in the stripes of the belt)
- the dragon's talons closely resemble a Karambit
- Karambit
- a single bladed weapon which can act as an extension of the Martial Artists natural weapons
- can be easily hidden, even while being wielded by the Martial Artist
- is frequently made "dull" or non-lethal while still maintaining its usefulness as an extension of the martial Artists natural weapons
- as represented on the UKA Crest three karambits are overlayed to form a 'K'
- Black Belt
- the belt has three red stripes which is generally considered a teaching rank
- the three stripes of the black belt indicated UKA's dedication to producing Martial Artists dedicated to teaching