IOGKF Logo - Our Family Symbol

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 The IOGKF logo represents a particular organisation and is NOT a symbol representing Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate as a style in general. 

• The IOGKF International administrative office is the global legal owner of the IOGKF logo, which is a trademarked property.
• The logo represents the IOGKF only. No other Goju-Ryu organisation, karate group or martial arts discipline is represented by the IOGKF logo.
• IOGKF Full Membership countries in good standing are granted the privilege to have sole control of the use of the IOGKF logo and name in that organisation, including the use thereof on any merchandise, literature or product within its organisation.
• IOGKF Representative Membership countries in good standing are granted the privilege to display a sign bearing the name and logo of the IOGKF and traditional Okinawan Goju-Ryu karate.
• Non-IOGKF or former IOGKF members are never permitted to use the logo under any circumstances.

• The founder of IOGKF, Master Morio Higaonna, was inspired to have a logo created to represent the organisation he was creating.
• Master Morio Higaonna presented the IOGKF logo for the first time in July 1979 at the IOGKF founding meeting in Poole, England. 
• The logo represents the common goal shared by all IOGKF members to protect and preserve traditional Goju-Ryu karate-do for generations to come.
• Since 1979 the logo has been the identifying symbol of the International Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-do Federation. It only represents IOGKF.

• The name Goju-Ryu means "hard and soft style". Master Higaonna was inspired to include both a soft and hard element. The outer design - the round exterior, is part of a symbol formerly used by the Yoyogi Dojo. The inner design - the square structure, is a representing of the Miyagi family crest.
• Master Morio Higaonna was given permission by Sensei Chojun Miyagi’s family to incorporate their family crest in the logo.
• The logo can also be related to Heaven and Earth, which is known as "Kenkon" in the traditional Japanese language, because Heaven is often represented as circular and Earth as angular symbols in Okinawan culture.
• For simplicity the logo is referred to as "the IOGKF logo".

•  IOGKF member country heads are given specific permissions on how to use the logo.
• IOGKF International administrative office has protected the IOGKF logo from numerous abuses and misuses of the logo made by non-IOGKF members.
• Suspected violations or misuse of the IOGKF logo can be reported to the Country Chief Instructor / Kambukai at admin@australiakarate.com OR to admin.office@iogkf.com 
• Failure to comply with requests to cease misuse of the IOGKF logo will see the matter passed on to the IOGKF Logo Protection Taskforce. The Taskforce may also elect to involve IOGKF Legal in the proceedings. 

The IOGKF logo is 1 of 4 trademarks created by and legally owned by IOGKF International administrative office:

1. The IOGKF Logo

2. The acronym: IOGKF

3. The full name (English): International Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-do Federation

4. The full name (Japanese): 国際沖縄剛柔流空手道連盟