Grandmaster Yoichi Nakachi created the Butokukan crest in 1963, because, if we had used the older Shinpu-Ren crest, we would have been linked to their notorious background, and all the unproved rumors that go with it. THE WHITE RING: The white ring around the outside of the crest represents all students, white to brown belt in rank. THE BLACK RING: The small black ring within the white ring represents the potential in every white belt to become a black belt. THE BLACK BACKGROUND: The large black background represents all the black belts. It is the largest area because, as a Karate-ka, you will spend most of your time in this area. The larger area at the top signifies the lower ranks of black belts and tapers down to show fewer black belts in the higher ranks as they progress closer to the Red Ring, or Master Ranks. THE RED RING: The red ring manifests the rank of Master. Butokukan presently has only two; Grandmaster Yoichi Nakachi (deceased) and Master Robert Hill (Bremerton, WA) THE SEIKEN: The forefist was chosen by Master Nakachi to represent all of the body weapons from the head to the feet, because it is the most commonly used of all the body weapons.