ST. MARTINS JUNIOR KARATE CLUB,

          LANCASTER

History Of Wado Ryu

Ohtsuka's big day came. In 1934, he officially inaugurated his own style of Karate. He called his new school Dai Nippon Karate Shinko Club (Japanese Karate Promoting Club). This was the first time the term Wado Ryu was introduced by Eiichi Eriguchi.

In 1938 the school name was changed to Dai Nippon Karate do Shinbukai (Japanese Karate Martial Promoting Federation). and his own style was registered as "Shin Shu Wado Ryu".

In 1940 the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai held the 44th Budo festival in Kyoto. At his point it was required that schools registered there founders and also the official name of the style. Wado was registered under the name of Wado Ryu Karate Jutsu along with Goju-Ryu, Shito-Ryu, and Shotokan-Ryu. Ohtsuka registered some 36 official kihon kumite techniques, tanto dori, idori, tachidori, and other techniques, as well as 16 Kata including Pinans 1-5, Kushanku, Naihanchi, Seishan, Chinto, Passai, Niseishi, Wanshu, Jion, Jitte, Rohai, Suparinpei  It was at this point Ohtsuka became the founder of the first, and possibly, only true Japanese Karate style in Wado Ryu.

Ohtsuka first devised the name Shinshu Wado Jutsu, later shortened to Wado. Wa means peace e or harmony, it is also represents Japan, as a shortened version of Showa, which is the name of the era of Emporer Hirohito. Do means the way. Putting the two together, you get "the way of peace and/or harmony". Originally it was Wado-Kai (Wado style) but as it became an hereditary style it was changed to Wado-Ryu (Wado-school).

Wado is possibly the most pure of Japanese Karate-Do. Steeped in history in the traditional Japanese martial arts. Ohtsuka changed many things, he removed hardening of certain parts of the body (such as knuckles as useless preparation). He also heightened stances for increased mobility and introduced more evasion and counter techniques. This was a big move away from traditional Okinawan Karate with strength being replaced by technique. Ohtsuka also introduced joint locks and some throws.

Ohtsuka developed rules for sparring in competitive matches which are widely used now in most modern day martial arts, if not in whole, certainly in parts.

The aim of Wado Karate is perfection of technique as well as development of a mind that is tranquil yet alive, able to react intuitively and without hesitation to any situation. The training required in Wado helps the student acquire inner strength and calmness of character. They learn as well the virtues of self-control and true humility. Karate for Mr. Ohtsuka was primarily a spiritual discipline: "Violent action may be understood as the martial arts, but the true meaning of martial arts is to seek and attain the way to peace and harmony."

Concepts include, maai (the proper distance), kiai, timing, the best chance to attack,  side stepping, blocking and countering at the same time, zanshin (awareness) and Yasume (being relaxed at point at impact.

In 1942 a young Tatsuo Suzuki, began his study of Wado. In 1944, Ohtsuka was also appointed Japan's Chief Karate Instructor.

During the war occupying forces banned the instruction of martial arts. Ohtsuka continued teaching as his school, like many others, worked under the disguise of teaching boxing. 1951 saw the lift of the ban and also saw Wado take the next step, from being a martial art based in Japan to being a world wide martial art. It was in the 1960s when Ohtsuka started sending instructors to Europe and America, showing the west Karate. The first instructor to be sent was Suzuki in 1963.

Ohtsuka was the first person in martial arts to be awarded the much distinguished honours of Master Ohtsuka the Fifth Order of Merit (the Shiju Hoosho Medal), and the Soko-Kyokujitsu-Sho Medal for his outstanding contributions to karate. Ohtsuka was later, in 1972, the first karateka ever honoured by the royal family with the award of Meijin. Along with this award came the rank of head of all martial arts within All Japan Karate-Do Federation(10th Dan)

In 1975 Ohtsuka promoted Suzuki to 8th Dan.

Ohtsuka practised Karate daily until his death at the age of 89(29th January 1982).

More information can be found at Conrad Jones Karate.