Wadō-ryū
Wado Ryu originated officially when Hironori Ohtsuka registered this new Karate style in May 1934. The new style was a result and combination of various martial arts trainings he had throughout his life.
There are three organizations currently teaching and promoting the Wado-Ryu style of Karate, named:
- Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Renmei (or Zen Nihon Karate-do Renmei Wadokai)
- Japan Karate-do Federation Wadokai
- Wado Kokusai Karatedo Renmei (or Wado International Karatedo Federation)
History of Wado Ryu and its Founder
Hironori Otsuka was born in Japan in June in 1892. He began learning Koryu Jui-jitsu at the age of 6 from his uncle. Later he studied Shindo Yoshin Ryu Jui-jitsu.
In 1922, he started learning karate and became first student of Funakoshi to achieve black belt.
Hironori Otsuka also studied various other styles to broaden his skills, knowledge and horizon or martial arts. He started teaching in 1929, when he established the first karate club at Tokyo University in 1929.
Hironori Otsuka named this style as “Shinshu Wado-Ryu Karate-Jui-jitsu”, however the name shortened to Wado-Ryu later on.
In the 1950’s his second son Jiro Otsuka, began teaching Wado-Ryu.
Wado-Ryu Headquarters was established in Meiji University in Tokyo, which later got named as Zen Nippon Karate Renmei (All Japan Karate Federation) in 1954.
In 1963, he dispatched his skilled students to spread the style around the world and since then the style has spread to many countries all over the world.