Karate Issues - Wado Karate Politics
If you thought Karate was just about fitness, self-defence, and well, Karate you would be very wrong!
When you are deciding which Karate style is the right one for you then make sure that you don’t forget to ask about the Politics that are going on behind the scenes. If you don’t these could very well come back and bite you at a later date! Big time! Some groups are in opposition to other groups even if they practise the same style.
Take Wado for example, a Japanese gentleman named Ohtsuka Hironori founded it. In 1938 he registered his style of Karate and called it "Shinshu Wadoryu Karate-Jujutsu" this was simplified to ‘Wadoryu’. In 1964 the Japan Karatedo Federation (JKF) was established as a general organization for all Karate styles. Wado joined this organization as a major group.
On 5 June 1967, the Wado organization changed the name into Wadokai. Tatsuo Suzuki moved to the UK in January 1965. His autobiography entitled - Tatsuo Suzuki ‘My life- My story’ states that at that time he was the only Japanese Instructor in England. However, most other sources say that he followed an official delegate of the Japanese Karate Federation, Mr Tanabe, to the UK. It is said that Mr Tanabe founded the All Britain Karate Association and that this was the first Wado-Ryu Karate organisation to be established in Europe.
These were not the only two Japanese gentlemen teaching Wado in the UK around this time. Throughout the year of 1965 Mr T. Kono and Mr Masafumi Shiomitsu both traveled to the UK with Mr T Takamizawa and Mr Hayakawa both following the year after. In 1968 Mr Kuniaki Sakagami and Mr Kobayashi arrived in the UK in 1968 and 1969 respectively. Around the same time Mr. S. Suzuki travelled to Ireland and Mr Maeda arrived in the UK.
These people were the first Japanese Instructors to bring Wado-Ryu Karate to the UK.
The All Britain Karate Association remained the principal Karate organisation until 1970. In 1970 Mr Tatsuo Suzuki decided to leave this organisation and establish the United Kingdom Karate-Do Federation, which later changed its name to the United Kingdom Karate-Do Wado-Kai, and became affiliated to the Federation of European Wado-Kai's. Most of the other Japanese Instructors also joined him. However, Mr T. Takamizawa left to form his own Karate Association. Mr Masafumi Shiomitsu transferred his teaching to France and Madagascar for a while but joined the United Kingdom Karate-Do Wado-Kai on his return to the UK.
In 1980 as the result of a conflict between Ohtsuka Hironori and the Wadokai organization, Ohtsuka stepped down as head of Wadokai. Eiichi Eriguchi took his place within Wadokai.
On 1 April 1981 Ohtsuka Hironori founded a new organisation and called it the Wadoryu Karatedo Renmei. A few months later he retired as head of this organisation and his son Ohtsuka Jiro took his place. On 29 January 1982 Ohtsuka Hironori passed away. He was 89 years old.
In 1983 Ohtsuka Jiro became the Grand Master of Wado Ryu and changed his name to Ohtsuka Hironori, in honour of his father. He is now often referred to as Ohtsuka Hironori II.
Ever since then there have been many differences of opinion with regard over whom was going to take control and how things were going to be done from then on. That much is a fact but from here on there are widely differing stories depending on whose autobiography you read or which style you practice.
Everything you read about this Ohtsuka Hironori II says that his father nominated him as his successor to Wado – Ryu and wanted him to take control but his Chief Instructor at that time was Tatsuo Suzuki who claims the same. So right from the founder’s death there was a division. These two men were unable to work out their differences and so a Wado split was inevitable.
In 1989 Mr. Masafumi Shiomitsu expressed dissatisfaction with the direction taken by Wado Karate in the UK. He left the United Kingdom Karate-Do Wado-Kai and formed the Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy. Mr K. Sakagami, Mr T. Takamizawa, and most of the senior British Dan grades decided to join the new Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy.
Shortly after Mr K. Sakagami decided to leave the Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy and form his own organisation known as the Wado-Ryu Aiwakai Karate Federation and this later became Wadokai England. It is still known as that today. Wadokai England is run under the direction of the Japanese Karate Federation (JKF-Wadokai).
This has led to the creation of three major Japanese-led Wado-Ryu Karate organisations in the UK:
- The United Kingdom Karate-Do Wado-Kai, led by Tatsuo Suzuki Hanshi 8th Dan, which is affiliated to the Wado-Ryu International Karate-Do Federation (WIKF), and also known as Wado Kokusai Karate-do Remni). It’s Chief instructor is Tatsuo Suzuki Hanshi 8th Dan;
- The Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy, led by Masafumi Shiomitsu Hanshi 8th Dan, which is affiliated to the Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Federation, whose chief instructor is H. Ohtsuka II, Grand Master Wado-Ryu Karate-Do, 10th Dan.
- The Wadokai England Karate-do Federation, led by K. Sakagami Sensei 7th Dan, which is affiliated to the Japan Karate Federation Wado-Kai, H.Q. Japan.
Confusing, isn't it?
