Helping you to Achieve
Wado-Ryu Karate Classes
Karate Programs
| Karate Instructors |
Karate
Do Training Should Consider |
History of Wado-Ryu
| Wado Ryu System
Syllabus
History of Wado-Ryu
Modern karate has its beginnings so far in the past that its earliest history is lost. What we do know is that the roots of Wado-Ryu come from the martial arts traditions of China, Okinawa, and Japan. Those elements came together in the last century due to the efforts of a most amazing Japanese martial artist named Ohtsuka Hironori, or as Westerners would say it, Hironori Ohtsuka.
Karate is a term which originally meant "T'ang-hand". This is in reference to the T'ang Dynasty of China from which many karate concepts were adapted by the Okinawans. In the 15th and 16th Centuries, the Okinawans had developed a system of unarmed combat called Okinawa-te or To-de or sometimes simply Te. This art was supposedly enhanced by the influence of Chinese emmissaries in the 17th Century, who introduced kata, or forms, and other Chinese principles. Among the kata believed to have been introduced were, notably, Kushanku and Chinto which were supposedly named after the men who introduced them. This was at a time when Okinawa had come under the control of Japan, and Okinawans were required to surrender their weapons on pain of death. The empty-handed fighting arts may have been studied so that the Okinawans might defend themselves from their conquerors. More recent investigation reveals that the empty-handed fighting systems of Okinawa were probably developed by the "Pechin" class, who were responsible for law-and-order as well as for the military.
Okinawa-te is often described as having developed in three main areas around the towns of Naha, Tomari and Shuri, and was taught secretly for centuries, usually within families. We often associate different emphasis in internal, external, and linear techniques as being representative of the tode from these three areas. Over time, this art also came to be called karate-jutsu (Chinese-hand fighting art).
A little before the beginning of the last century, karate-jutsu began to be taught in public schools in Okinawa as a means of physical exercise for youth and as a way of preparing them for military conscription. Hirohito, while Crown Prince of Japan, saw a demonstration of karate-jutsu while on a visit to Okinawa, and subsequently asked that someone come from Okinawa to demonstrate karate-jutsu on mainland Japan. The Okinawans, wanting their art to be represented by a refined, "gentlemanly" person who was also an accomplished martial artist, chose Gichin Funakoshi to represent their art. Funakoshi was a Shuri-te stylist and was accomplished in poetry and calligraphy.
A first visit by Funakoshi was not successful, as it was given to primarily to representatives of samurai families who were not much interested in an empty-handed art, but a later demonstration in 1922 at the first public sports festival in Tokyo caused a great deal of interest in karate. Funakoshi was asked to stay and teach his art. In 1933, Master Funakoshi changed the ideogram, or written form for karate from one which meant China (T'ang) hand to one which meant empty hand (though pronounced the same). The term empty hand carries with it many Japanese Zen connotations appropriate to the concept of a "do" or "way" and was probably more acceptable to Japanese, due to the political situation at that time. Mainland Japan already had several indigenous empty hand combat arts (i.e., jujutsu, aikijujutsu, aikido, kenpo and judo), and many Japanese found karate to be highly compatible with these existing systems.
In 1921, Master Hironori Ohtsuka, who had studied Shindo Yoshin Ryu jujutsu from an early age, had been granted menkyo kaiden (certificate of full proficiency) from Tatsusaburo Nakayama in that art. He had also visited many other jujutsu and kenpo dojos trying to learn from as many styles as possible. In 1922, after a demonstration in Tokyo, Ohtsuka met with Funakoshi at the Meisei Juku where he was staying at the time, and asked to study his karate. He was accepted, and began to study immediately with Funakoshi. Because of his extensive understanding of martial arts and his enthusiasm, he quickly absorbed Funakoshi's kata (which, aside from basic technique, was all that was being taught at the time). He soon introduced the concept of yakusoku kata (prearranged fighting techniques) which was warmly accepted by Funakoshi. Ohtsuka was granted his black belt in karate in 1924, making him one of the first Japanese to be promoted in this art. Because he continued to train in Shindo Yoshin Ryu jujutsu, he was made a shihan (master teacher) in that art, and also became assistant instructor to Funakoshi. During this time he also began to train with Kenwa Mabuni, Choki Motobu and others, from whom he learned much additional information, especially concerning kata.
After Ohtsuka began to teach his karate at Tokyo University, he began to have conflicts with Funakoshi over the introduction of jujutsu techniques and the practice of jiyu kumite (free-sparring), of which Funakoshi did not approve, and there was a parting of the ways. Ohtsuka introduced different kinds of body shifting techniques, a more upright stance for mobility, and reliance on evasion and counter techniques. He also introduced throws and joint locks into the repertoire and reduced the number of kata in his system to nine. (Though many schools teach several more, Ohtsuka believed these nine were sufficient if studied properly.) These include Pin-an kata 1 through 5, Kushanku, Naihanchi, Seishan, and Chinto.
As described by Sensei Masafumi Shiomitsu, 8th Dan Hanshi, Wado-Ryu may be considered a synthesis of four elements: Shurite karatedo, Shindo Yoshin Ryu jujutsu, Toda-Ryu kodachi, and Yagyu-Ryu kenjutsu. To the linear techniques of Shurite are added the body movement principles and grappling techniques of Shinto Yoshin-Ryu, the nagasu techniques of Toda-Ryu (which is a system of fighting with short sword against longer weapons), and the movement and flow of Yagyu-Ryu style of swordsmanship. From these sources are defined several principles which are fundamental and particular to Wado-Ryu.
Master Ohtsuka intentionally made his karate as Japanese as possible. He also discarded techniques which he felt were ineffective and added much of his jujutsu technique. In the 1934, when required to name his martial art, Ohtsuka submitted the name The Karate Promotion Club. In 1940, when requested to submit an official name by the Butokakai, a governing body for Japanese martial arts, Master Ohtsuka devised the name Shinshu Wado Jujutsu. This was later shortened to Wado. The term wa means peace or harmony, but it also represents Japan as a shortened form of Showa, which was the name for the era of Emperor Hirohito. Originally the style was referred to as Wadokai which is "Wado-style" but upon becoming a hereditary system, the name became Wado-Ryu. Master Ohtsuka's submission to the Butokukai contained a comprehensive syllabus, but later he decided to exclude many of these techniques as redundant. Due to Master Ohtsuka's commitment and innovation of technique, Wado-Ryu has rapidly become one of the most popular karate systems throughout the world, and its early acceptance of jiyu kumite has enabled it to be very successful in competition.
The emphasis on developing the whole body through regular exercise and training make karate an excellent means of promoting good general health, and the application of the self defense techniques builds confidence and promotes personal security. Ohtsuka Sensei, who died in January, 1982, once said, "The difference between the possible and the impossible is one's will." He practiced karate daily until his death at the age of 89.
Unfortunate conflicts shortly before the death of the founder caused Wado to be split into two organizations, usually referred to as Wado-Ryu and Wado-Kai. Wado-Ryu Karate is directed through the Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Renmei, Tokyo, Japan which is headed by Hironori Ohtsuka II, 10th Dan and son of the founder. Wado-Kai is represented by JKF Wado-Kai in Japan, headed by Mr. Eiichi Eriguchi. A third major organization, Wado Kokusai (Wado International Karate Federation) was founded by Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei. Wado-Kai organizations retain the original symbol of a fist enclosed by a dove. Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Renmei has adopted the kanji for "wa" enclosed by the dove as its symbol, and the Wado International Karatedo Federation has adopted the rising sun enclosed by the dove as its symbol.
-Michael Cimino-Hurt
Master Hironori Ohtsuka
Master Hironori Ohtsuka was born June 1, 1892 in Shimodate City, Ibaraji, Japan where his father, Dr. Tokujiro Ohtsuka, operated a clinic. As a boy he listened to a samurai warrior, his mother's uncle, Chojiro Ebashi, tell thrilling stories of samurai exploits. This may well have been where the first seeds were sown that would later be some of the guiding principles and philosophies of Wado-Ryu karate.
In 1898, when he was six years old, Ohtsuka sensei began to study jujutsu under his maternal grand-uncle, and at 13 started his formal training in Shindo Yoshin Ryu jujutsu under Yokiyoshi Tatsusaburo Nakayama. Whereas most schools at that time stressed throwing or grappling techniques, this school stressed atemi (striking and kicking techniques). His martial arts training continued even when, in 1911, he entered Waseda University to study business administration. It was during this period that master Ohtsuka began studying atemi-style Kempo, while he continued his studies in Shinto Yoshin Ryu. When his father died in 1913, he was forced to quit school and return to Shimodate to work at Kawasaki Bank.
Eight years later, after much dedicated study, he overtook the mastership of Shinto Yoshin Ryu jujutsu from Master Nakayama after being presented with a "Certificate of Full Proficiency" in that art (Menkyo Kaiden). This was on June 1, 1921, his 29th birthday, and was an outstanding accomplishment for a man so young. Master Ohtsuka had also spent much time traveling to different dojos to study and train in various other styles of jujutsu and kempo, absorbing valuable information wherever he could find it.
1922 was to be a pivotal year for Ohtsuka-san the karate-ka. Master
Ohtsuka was aware of karate, and had hoped to be able to go to Okinawa
to study this art. It was in this year that crown Prince Hirohito
invited the Okinawan karate master, Gichin Funakoshi, to visit Japan and
demonstrate his martial art. Master Ohtsuka heard of this visit and
journeyed to Tokyo to witness the demonstration. Later, when
Funakoshi-san decided to stay in Japan and teach karate at the
Meishojuku Gymnasium, Master Ohtsuka visited with him at the "Meisei
Juku" (home for Okinawan students) and spent many hours discussing their
ideas about the martial arts. At this time Funakoshi agreed to accept
Ohtsuka as a student of his karate. Master Ohtsuka immediately saw the
advantages of combining the karate of Funakoshi, especially
the kata, with the techniques and principles of Shinto Yoshin Ryu
jujutsu. Because of his martial arts skill, Master Ohtsuka was able to
grasp the principles of karate very quickly, and in 1926 Master Ohtsuka
was one of the first Japanese to receive a shodan (black belt) in
karate. In 1927 he left the bank at Shimodate, and became a medical
specialist treating martial arts injuries in order to devote more time
to the martial arts.
Now undistracted, Master Ohtsuka sorted through the variety of styles and techniques, rejecting the trivial, retaining the significant, refining the essential, combining the strengths of many, while using the warrior's code as his basic philosophy. In order to expand his knowledge, especially of kata, he travelled to study kata with such known authorities as Choki Motobu, Kenwa Mabuni and others.
Constantly learning, teaching, building - never content with the status quo. He was among the first of studying ways of organizing the kumite techniques of the dojo (at that time taught in a manner that frequently resulted in injury) into controlled methods of free-style fighting that could be used in competitive matches. He was also the first to develop kumite kata for karate which would become a major innovation adopted by many styles. Unfortunately, the inclusion of jiyu kumite (free sparring) and jujutsu techniques in his instruction was not accepted by Gichin Funakoshi, and the two parted ways.
In 1929, Master Ohtsuka started the first karate club at Tokyo University, and the next five years would see him establish clubs in many other universities. It was in the fall of 1934 that Master Ohtsuka officially introduced his own style of karate. At first he called it "The Karate Promotion Club," but when the butokakai (a government body for martial arts) requested in 1940 that all members submit the name of their founder and the official name of their style, Master Ohtsuka devised the name "Wado" or "The Way of Harmony."
The man Hironori Ohtsuka was as unique and full of vitality as the style of karate he founded. Even an above average man in his seventies or eighties would probably have been content to rest and let others continue his work, but Master Ohtsuka was not. Never believing that he, or the martial arts in general, had learned all that there was to know, he continued to practice. Putting on his gi, he would train every day for twenty minutes on just one technique, and continue this for a full month. Those who have studied with him remarked how he enjoyed walking on the unbelievably crowded streets of Tokyo, so that he could practice smoothly weaving and twisting without letting anyone touch him. Ohtsuka was a very moral man, and always showed great concern for his students. Many of his students, now senior instructors, called him a gentle man and considered him a father figure. Ohtsuka Sensei's belief in karatedo as a powerful means for spiritual and moral improvement is reflected in his poetry and writing on the subject.
Master Ohtsuka's abilities and dedication brought him fame and honor, bestowed from many quarters. As well as founding Wado-Ryu Karatedo Renmei, he was vice-Chairman of the All-Japan Karate-do Federation, a founding member of the Kokusai Budoin (International Martial Arts Federation), and Director of the Japan Classical Martial Arts Promotion Society. In 1966 the Emperor Hirohito honored him with Shiju Hoosho Medal (Fifth Order of Merit, Cordon of the Rising Sun) for his contributions to karate, and he was the only karateka to receive this award. In 1972, Master Ohtsuka was the first karateka ever honored by the royal family with the title of Meijin and Jyuu-dan (10th dan).
Master Ohtsuka died January 29, 1982, in Tokyo, Japan at the age of 89. A fitting epitaph for him could surely be a statement made by him that - "the difference between the possible and the impossible is one's will," for surely to this giant of a Budoka, nothing could seem impossible.
This information was found at:
http://www.geocities.com/keikoden/