Wado-Ryu “The Way of Peace”
Wado-Ryu karate-do founded by Otsuka Hironori is one of the four major styles of Japanese karate practiced today. Born on June 1, 1892 in the Ibaragi prefecture Otsuka began martial arts training in jujutsu at the young age of six under the guidance of his father. By the age of thirteen he entered Shindo Yoshin-Ryu jujutsu where he studied under Master Nakayama Yokiyoshi.
The Shindo Yoshin-Ryu, an off shoot of Yoshin-Ryu was unusual in that, whereas most jujutsu schools stressed throwing and ground techniques, the system Otsuka studied stressed kicking and striking. While attending University he studied atemi-jutsu (kempo).
In 1921 he was awarded the coveted menkyo-kaiden (certificate of full proficiency) from Nakayama Sensei who also designated Otsuka his successor. A year later he would meet a man who would change the direction of his life: Funakoshi Gichin.
During a demonstration for the Crown Prince Hirohito, Funakoshi Gichin displayed his “karate” for the public which was a fairly unknown local Okinawan martial art at the time. Funakoshi welcomed Otsuka with open arms thus; he began his training in Shotokan karate-do at the age of 30 in 1922.
From that moment on Otsuka began to formulate ideas about adapting his jujutsu and kempo techniques to the Okinawan art of karate. He quickly rose through the ranks to become Funakoshi’s senior student. Otsuka greatly admired the “randori” (free play) of Kano Jigoro’s judo and sought to incorporate a similar element into the practice of karate. Funakoshi however remained adamant that no free sparring could be permitted because the techniques of karate were too dangerous. It was Funakoshi’s sincere belief that any attempt to make karate into a sport would damage it’s effectiveness as a true fighting art system of self-improvement.
In time, tension developed between Otsuka and Funakoshi especially after Otsuka pioneered development in early karate competition. As early as 1934, he had developed rules and regulations for competitive free-sparring, which he incorporated into his system. Eventually, Otsuka left Funakoshi to found his own style, which for a number of years had no name.
In 1939 he organized the All Japan Karate-Do Federation, Wado-Kai with headquarters in Tokyo. It was not until he attended a hug martial arts festival in 1940 when he was asked to register a name for his school that he called it Wado-Ryu. This amalgamation of jujutsu’s yielding principles (the non opposition to strength) combined with techniques of traditional Okinawan karate gave a softness to his style that is unique to Japanese karate.
Karate-Do for Otsuka was primarily a spiritual discipline: “Violent action may be understood as the way of martial arts, but the true meaning of martial arts is to seek and attain the way of peace and harmony.” In his teaching Otsuka emphasized that karateka should always exercise three vital elements in the study of karate: physical strength, spirit and heart. A deep concern for human welfare was evident in Otsuka’s teachings. For him, “ten-chi-jin, ri-do” (heaven-earth-man, principle-way) is harmonious union to be respected and sought through adherence to “shugyo” (austere disciple).
Typically, in Wado-Ryu, as skill and knowledge are acquired through training and concentrated effort, the student is said to develop inner strength and calmness of character, as well as the virtues of self control, respect for others, and true humility.
The training foundation of the Wado system is comprised of basics (punching, kicking, blocking, guarding, striking, joint twisting and throwing techniques), kata and pre-arranged and freestyle sparring. Equally emphasized and fundamental to the Wado system is tai-sabaki shifting to avoid the full brunt of an attack.
For his outstanding contribution to karate, the Emperor of Japan awarded Otsuka Sensei the Fifth Order of merit of the sacred Treasure in 1967, he was the first karate master to receive this distinguished award. In 1972, he was the recipient of the Hanshi Award, an even greater honour. Along with this award came the honour of being ranked at the head of all martial arts systems within the All Japan Karate-Do Federation.