What's Wado-Ryu Karate-Do?

The Origins of Karate

The martial art of Karate comes from Okinawa which is one of the Ryukyu Islands at the southern tip of Japan. Karate is thought to have developed from Chinese martial arts imported into Okinawa combined with local fighting techniques. Okinawa had been occupied by mainland Japanese forces for many years. Occupying forces banned the islanders from possessing weapons. However, the Islanders remained fiercely independent and developed unarmed fighting techniques as well as learning to use common farming tools against swords and spears (for example, Nunchaku were small flails used to beat rice straw which were transformed into weapons by the Islanders and were made famous in modern times by Bruce Lee in his martial arts movies of the 1970's).

Karate Introduced to Mainland Japan

Karate was little known outside of Okinawa until as recently as the 1920's. In 1921 the Japanese Ministry of Education arranged a demonstration of ancient Japanese martial arts in Tokyo. An Okinawan school teacher, Gichin Funakoshi (1868 - 1957), was asked to travel to Tokyo to demonstrate the art of Karate. Funakoshi's demonstration was a great success and he was asked by Kano Jigoro (1860 - 1938), founder of modern Judo, to give another demonstration at the revered Kodokan judo centre. Funakoshi was subsequently pursuaded by a local painter, Kosugi Hoan, to remain in Tokyo and give lessons to members of his painters club. So, at the age of fifty-three Funakoshi began teaching Karate in Tokyo. Funakoshi's style of karate became known as Shotokan.

Hironori Ohtsuka's Way of Peace and Harmony

(Source: "Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy Grading Syllabus 6th, 5th and 4th Kyu", written by M. Shiomitsu 9th Dan Hanshi, Chief Instructor of the Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy.)

The founder of Wado Ryu, Hironori Ohtsuka (pictured left), was born in June in 1892 and started to practice Ju-Jitsu at the age of five to overcome infirmity and illness. At the age of thirteen he joined the dojo of Tatsusaburo Nakayama, the third grandmaster of Shinto Yoshin Ryu Ju-Jitsu. He visited and trained at various Ju-Jitsu dojos for a few months at a time while remaining as Nakayama's student in order to gain more experience. At the age of twenty-nine, he succeeded his teacher as the fourth grandmaster of Shinto Yoshin Ryu.

In May 1921 an event of fate occurred to Master Ohtsuka. Okinawan Karate (then called To'de) was brought to mainland Japan and first displayed to the public by Gichin Funakoshi. Master Ohtsuka spent more time training in Karate under Master Funakoshi, becoming his Shihan Dai (senior assistant) after only one year having made rapid progress because he was already a Grandmaster of Ju-Jitsu. Master Ohtsuka also called on both Mabuni Sensei and Motobu Sensei, thus deepening his understanding of Karate skills. This meant he learnt two streams of Okinawan Karate, one being Shurite and the other being Nahate. The combination of strong Okinawan Karate and the solid fighting skills of Ju-Jitsu such as Tsuki (punch), Keri (kick), Nage (throw), Shime (strangle) and Kansetsu Waza (joint lock) created Wado Ryu Karate Jitsu. Wado consists of two words 'Wa' meaning harmony or Japan and 'Do' meaning the way or path. In 1934 'Wado-Ryu Karate Jitsu' became official and also in the same year the present day Grandmaster Hirononri Ohtsuka II was born.

Despite Master Ohtsuka's great achievements, he was not satisfied with himself so he decided to study Yagyu Shinkage Ryu Kenjitsu which consisted of swordmanship with Tachi (long sword), Kodachi (short sword) and Tanto (knife). These skills together with the theories of Nagasu (parry, to let it flow), Inasu (dodge) and Noru (to ride) helped to give Master Ohtsuka the basics for his martial art of Wado-Ryu Karate Jitsu. Master Ohtsuka also created Kihon (basic theories or techniques) extracting various techniques from Kata and thus completed the unique martial art that is Wado-Ryu. When one practises Kata two principles must be applied, that of imagining opponents in all directions (including above and beneath) and that of using the Kata in modified forms through the practise of Kumite in its various forms. Master Ohtsuka sadly passed away in 1982 at the age of 89. His wishes are firmly carried on by his son who had 40 years of direct teaching from his father. Now, the Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy is the only organisation in Europe recognised by the Ohtsuka Soke in teaching and practising the correct, authentic techniques and spirit of Wado-Ryu Karate-Do.

Grand Master Ohtsuka was awarded his 10th Dan by the brother of the Emperor of Japan and became the oldest practising karateka in the world. Click here to find out more about Grand Master Ohtsuka.

The Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy

The Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy is headed by Grand Master Hironori Ohtsuka II who is the son of the founder of Wado-Ryu karate. The Grand Master last visited the UK to lead a 5-day training course at the Guildford Spectrum between Saturday 23/Feb/08 and Wednesday 27/Feb/08. The Grand Master is next scheduled to visit the UK in 2010.

The Chief Instructor of the Academy is Sensei Masafumi Shiomitsu (9th Dan Hanshi - pictured left). Sensei Shiomitsu was born on November 24th 1940 and began to study Karate at the age of 14 with a local teacher. In 1959 Sensei Shiomitsu entered Nihon University and became a member of the Wado-Ryu Karate club. Sensei Shiomitsu led the University team that won the All Japan Wado Ryu style match and became Captain of the Univerity Karate team before graduating with a degree in Economics. Sensei Shiomitsu was appointed assistant Chief Instructor to Britain in 1965 and has also lived in Spain, France and Madagascar. Sensei Shiomitsu now lives in London with his wife and two children. Sensei Shiomitsu visits the Fudoshin Karate Club two to three times a year to lead training.

The Fudoshin Karate Club

The picture below shows Sensei Shiomitsu with students on a recent visit (18/Jun/08) to the Club on a Wednesday training session in Farnborough. Membership of the Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy allows members of the Fudoshin Karate Club to train at other "Academy" Clubs around the UK and Europe and to enter Academy competitions and attend Academy courses. The Academy ensures consistency of techniques, methods and instruction across it's network of Clubs. Sensei Shiomitsu nexts visits the club on Wednesday 10/Dec/08.

The picture (left) shows Sensei Shiomitsu (standing left) with Club Lead Instructor Sensei Rob Windsor (3rd Dan - standing right). Rob started Karate in 1985 and passed his Black belt (1st Dan) examination in 1989. Rob has been a Black belt for 18 years - he passed his 2nd Dan in 1991and his 3rd Dan in 2005. Throughout this period Rob has been coached and trained by Sensei Shiomitsu. A Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Club has been present at Farnborough Leisure Centre for over 30 years.