Wado-ryu Karate with Demonstration Video

Wado-ryu is a school of karate founded by Hironori Ōtsuka. Wado-ryu is one of four traditional Japanese karate styles (as opposed to Okinawan karate styles; the other major Japanese styles are Shōtōkan-ryū, Shitō-ryū and Gōjū-ryū). Originally a unified school, three organizations now teach the Wadō-ryū style: the Japan Karatedo Federation Wadōkai (abbreviated to Wadōkai; "Zen Nihon Karatedo Renmei Wadokai" in Japan), the Wadōryū Karatedō Renmei, and the Wadō Kokusai Karatedō Renmei (abbreviated to Wadō Kokusai; also known as the Wadō International Karatedō Federation [WIKF]).

Hironori Otsuka (1892–1982) created the Wadō-ryū style of karate. He was the first Grand Master of Wadō-ryū karate.

Ōtsuka was born on 1 June 1892 in Shimodate City, Ibaraki, Japan. He was the second of four children to Tokujiro Ōtsuka. He began training in the martial art of jujutsu under the tutelage of his great-uncle, Chojiro Ebashi. Ōtsuka's father took over his martial arts education in 1897, and he began studying Shindō Yōshin-ryū jujutsu. At age 13, Ōtsuka became the student of Shinzaburo Nakayama in Shindō Yōshin-ryū.

In 1922, Ōtsuka began karate training under Gichin Funakoshi. At this time, Ōtsuka held the license menkyo kaiden in Shindō Yōshin-ryū. He also established a medical practice and specialized in treating martial arts training injuries. From 1922–1929, Ōtsuka became an assistant instructor in Funakoshi's school, and also became a registered member of the Japan Martial Arts Federation. Ōtsuka began to have philosophical disagreements with Funakoshi.[citation needed] This may have come, in part, from his decision to train with Chōki Motobu. Funakoshi's karate emphasized kata, a series of movements and techniques linked by the fighting principles. Funakoshi did not believe that sparring was necessary for realistic training. Motobu, however, emphasized the necessity of free application, and created a series of two-person kumite called yakusoku kumite.

Ōtsuka continued to gain recognition as he expanded the teaching of Wadō-ryū karate throughout Japan. In 1964, three of his students (Tatsuo Suzuki, Toru Arakawa, and Hajime Takashima) from the Nihon University Karate Club undertook a two-month tour of Europe and the USA. They performed 49 demonstrations in this period and, as a result, Suzuki was invited back to London as a resident instructor.

In 1972, Ōtsuka received the title of Meijin and the rank of 10th dan by the Japanese royal family's Higashi No Kuni no Miya, President of the Kokusai Budo Renmei (International Martial Arts Federation). It was the first such honor ever bestowed upon a karate teacher in Japan.[citation needed] Ōtsuka continued to teach and lead Wadō-ryū karate into the 1980s, and died on 29 January 1982. His son became the second Grand Master of Wadō-ryū karate and honored his father by taking the name "Hironori Ōtsuka II."

The name Wadō-ryū has three parts: Wa, dō, and ryū. Wa means "harmony," dō means "way," and ryū means "style." Harmony should not be interpreted as pacifism; it is simply the acknowledgment that yielding is sometimes more effective than brute strength.

From one point of view, Wadō-ryū might be considered a style of jujutsu rather than karate. When Hironori Ōtsuka first registered his school with the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai in 1938, the style was called "Shinshu Wadoryu Karate-Jujutsu," a name that reflects its hybrid character. Ōtsuka was a licensed Shindō Yōshin-ryū practitioner and a student of Yoshin Koryu Jujutsu when he first met the Okinawan karate master Funakoshi. After having learned from Funakoshi, and later also Okinawan masters Mabuni and Motobu, Ōtsuka merged Shindō Yōshin-ryū with Okinawan karate. The result of Ōtsuka's efforts is Wadō-ryū.

To the untrained observer, Wadō-ryū might look similar to other styles of karate, such as Shōtōkan-ryū. Most of the underlying principles, however, were derived from Shindō Yōshin-ryū. A block in Wado may look much like a block in Shotokan, but they are executed from different perspectives.

A key principle in Wadō-ryū is that of tai sabaki (often incorrectly referred to as 'evasion'). The Japanese term can be translated as "body-management," and refers to body manipulation so as to move the defender as well as the attacker out of harm's way. The way to achieve this is to 'move along' rather than to 'move against'—or harmony rather than physical strength. Modern karate competition tends to transform Wadō-ryū away from its roots towards a new generic karate that appeals more to the demands of both spectators and competitors.

Kata

• Ten-No: basic drills first invented by Gigō Funakoshi (son of Gichin Funakoshi).
• Taikyoku series: developed by Gichin Funakoshi as a preliminary exercise before the Pinan series; many Wadō-ryū schools teach these basic kata, particularly Taikyoku Shodan.
• Pinan kata: created by Ankō Itosu, and consisting of Pinan Shodan, Pinan Nidan, Pinan Sandan, Pinan Yodan, and Pinan Godan. Funakoshi renamed this series as the Heian series.

Kusanku: "Sky Viewing". Kūsankū was the Okinawan name for Kwang Shang Fu, a Sapposhi (emissary of China's ruling class) sent to Okinawa in the 18th century. This kata uses stances and attacks comprising of the five previous Pinan kata. No new techniques are introduced. Funakoshi renamed this kata as Kanku Dai.

• Naihanchi (also known as Naifanchi): this was the original name for the three Tekki kata, but was changed by Funakoshi. This is a lateral kata learned from Chōki Motobu. Wadō-ryū practices only the third Naihanchi kata.
• Kūsankū
• Seishan : the name means "13 hands." This kata was named after a well-known Chinese martial artist who lived in or near Shuri c. 1700. The movements are repeated in sets of three, and has pivots and turning of the head. Funakoshi renamed this kata as Hangetsu.
• Passai (also known as Bassai): a Tomari-te kata that uses dynamic stances and hip rotation. Funakoshi renamed this kata as Bassai Dai.
• Chinto : formulated by Matsumura Sōkon from the teachings of a sailor or pirate named Chinto (or Annan, depending on the source). Crane stance occurs many times, and the flying kicks differentiate Chinto from other kata. Funakoshi renamed this kata as Gankaku.
• Rohai : Rohai has three variation invented by Itosu. Wadō-ryū practices Rōhai Shodan. Funakoshi renamed this kata as Meikyo.
• Niseishi : the name means "24 steps." Transmitted by Ankichi Aragaki, this kata is known in Japanese as Nijushiho.
• Wanshu : the name means "flying swallow." This is a Tomari-te kata based on movements brought to Okinawa in 1683 by a Chinese envoy of the same name. The metaphorical name, "Flying Swallows," comes from the soft blocking sequences near the end of this kata. Funakoshi renamed this kata as Empi.
• Jion : A Tomari-te kata; part of the Jion kata group.
• Jitte : another Tomari-te kata of the Jion kata group; the name means "10 hands."
• Suparinpei : known as "108 hands," representing the 108 evil spirits of man. This kata is also said to have represented a band of 108 warriors that travelled the Chinese countryside in the 1600s, performing 'Robin Hood'-type tasks of doing good deeds, giving to the poor, and so on. It is also known by its Chinese name of Pechurrin, and occasionally referred to as Haiku Hachi Ho (a name given by Funakoshi). Suparinpei was originally listed as a Wadō-ryū kata with the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai by Hironori Ōtsuka, but he eventually discarded it. Some Wadō-ryū instructors and schools still teach this kata.

In addition to the solo kata listed above, many Wadō-ryū schools also practice paired kata, which reflects its jujutsu heritage. These paired kata are performed by two people (one as the attacker and one as the defender), demonstrating a range of self-defense techniques. The paired kata of Wadō-ryū often vary from one organization from another, because Ōtsuka did not standardize them. The paired kata are:

• Yakusoku Kihon Kumite: consists of 10 fundamental techniques of attack against combination attacks (combinations of kicks and punches), influenced by jujutsu body movements.
• Kumite Gata: consists of 10 - 24 varietal techniques (depending on the organization) of attack emphasizing Katamae (pinning) and Kuzushi (breaking balance) and multiple strikes.
• Idori no Kata: consists of 5–10 techniques (depending on the organization) of seated self-defense, influenced by jujutsu throwing and joint-locking techniques.
• Tantodori no Kata: consists of 7–10 techniques (depending on the organization) of defenses against knife attacks, influenced by jujutsu body movements, throwing, and joint-locking techniques.
• Skinken Shirahadori: consists of 10 techniques of defenses against sword attacks, influenced by jujutsu body movements, throwing, and joint-locking techniques.

In addition to the three paired kata above, there are also Gyakunage Kata (kata of throwing), Joshi Goshinjutsu (kata of women's self-defense), and some others, but they are not commonly taught.

History of Wado-ryu Karate



Wado karate-Shihan Ishikawa 8th Dan Demonstration