Traditional Karate - Wado-ryu
Wado-ryu Karate Hironori Ohtsuka, Meijin Jin (1892-1982)
A style of Karate developed by Ohtsuka-Hironori 10th Dan Meijin (AD 1892-1982). Wado combines traditional Japanese Budo, Okinawan Shuri-te (To-de) and Shinto-Yoshin-ryu Jujutsu, and was recognised as an independent style in 1934. Wado-ryu is reputed to be one of the fastest and most efficient forms of Karate in the world; emphasis includes the fundamental principles and concepts of 'Nagasu, Inasu, Noru, and Irimi'. The Founder was responsible for introducing partner-work routines to Karate. Wado-ryu was also the first style of Karate to practise Jiyu-gumite (free-fighting) as part of the training.
There are estimated to be over 350,000 Wado-ryu members practising in Europe alone.
The aim of Wado Karate is not merely perfection of the physical techniques of self-defence, but, the development of a mind that is tranquil yet alive, able to react intuitively to any situation. In Wado, as skill and knowledge are acquired through training and concentrated effort, the student is expected to develop inner strength and calmness of character, as well as the virtues of self-control, respect for others, and true humility. Basic techniques - punching, kicking, blocking, striking with open hand, joint twisting, and trapping techniques - Kata (a sequence of techniques done in certain order against imaginary opponents), and prearranged and free style sparring comprise the training foundation of this style. Equally fundamental to Wado is tai sabaki, body shifting to avoid the full brunt of an attack, a technique derived from Japanese swordsmanship.
Karate Basics - Fundamental Concepts and Foundations of Wado
The following are the fundamental concepts & foundations of Wado-ryu Karate-do.
- Inasu - Block and counter in same motion
- Irimi - Entering techniques
- Ma Ai - Distancing
- Nagasu - Side shifting to avoid an attack
- Noru - Timing your counter to hit when the attacker’s forward motion is at its greatest
- Nage Waza - Throwing techniques from shindo yoshin ryu jujitsu
- Ni (Wa) Sentenashi - No first strike
- Go No Sen - Block then counter after attack
- Sen No Sen - Block and counter at the same time after attack
- Sen Sen No Sen - Counter before the opponent can initiate his attack
- Yasume - Being relaxed at all times, except for the instant prior to delivering a technique
- Tai Sabaki - Body shifting / moving
- Zanshin - Constant awareness of your surroundings
- Mudana no Chikara - Do not use unnecessary strength and power
- Mudana no Iroki - Do not use unnecessary movement
- Mudana no Waza - Do not use unnecessary technique
- Karate ni (wa) sentenashi - Never attack first, mentally or physically. If you attack never be angry if you are angry never attack
- Karate-do wa rei ni hajimara, rei ni owaru koto wo wasuruna - Karate begins and ends with courtesy
Kata
In Wado-ryu there are nine principal Kata that are performed. These are, in practicing order, Pinan Nidan, Pinan Shodan, Pinan Sandan, Pinan Yodan, Pinan Godan, Kushanku, Naihanchi, Seishan and Chinto. Master Ohtsuka limited the teaching to these nine Kata. The five Pinan Kata join together to promote Kushanku. Naihanchi and Seishan come together to form Chinto. Bassai, Wanshu, Niseishi, Rohai, Ji'tte, Ji’han, Ji'in and also Suparinpei are additional Kata that are also practiced.
Pinan Kata
'Peace', 'peaceful period', 'tranquillity'.
The five Kata developed by Itosu-Yasutsune in 1903. The five Pinan Kata are Pinan Shodan, Pinan Nidan, Pinan Sandan, Pinan Yodan and Pinan Godan. Pinan Kata are the fundamental Kata significant to the Shuri-te Karate styles as Wado-ryu, Shito-ryu, Shorin-ryu and Shoto-ryu. Pinan forms were developed by Itosu-Yasutsune (AD 1830-1914) in 1903 and were the first Kata ever taught and incorporated into Okinawan public schools. His ideas for these Kata are said to have stemmed from either Chiang-nan or Ku-shanku (there is some debate as which). Known also as Ping-an or Heian (during the Heian 'peace & prosperity' period). In Wado-ryu Pinan Nidan is taught prior to Pinan Shodan, as a general rule, due to (so it is said) Pinan Nidan is easier to learn as a 'first' Kata. In Shotokan, Funikoshi-Gichin changed the names around, so his students would not be confused by the 'practising' order. In traditional Wado, however, the name has remained the same, and Pinan Nidan is still generally taught first. Also known as Ping-an, Ping-yan, and Hei-an.
Kushanku
A Karate Kata created by Sakugawa-Kanga and named after the famous Chinese Shaolin martial-artist, Kung-Hsiang-Chung (Kung-Shian-Chun, Kun-Shang-Kwan), who visited Okinawa in 1762. Later developed by the Shorin-ryu school of Okinawa. Known also as Kosokun, Ku-sanku, Ku-sankun, and Kanku. Kusan (or Kushu, sometimes Kosho) translates as "foreign attaché" or similar Government Official. In many historical references, Kusanku is said to be the name of a Chinese sailor who taught tote in Okinawan in 1756. It is likely that the Kata is based on his teachings, or perhaps a Kata that he taught while in Okinawa. Many Shorin lineage styles include a version of Kusanku and most are fairly similar. Funakoshi
Gichin renamed this Kata and Shotokan lineages call the Kata ‘Kanku’, which translates as "To View the Sky" (this name is in reference to the opening move in Kusanku). Chito-ryu Kusanku looks very similar to many other versions of Kusanku at the beginning (opening the arms wide followed by 2 open handed blocks), but otherwise is very different from other versions.
Naihanchi
'Stealth stepping', 'inside moving'.
A Kata practised within the Wado school of Karate, based on the original movements of Naifanchi, which was developed by Motobu-Choki. The original version of this Kata has links with the White Crane system of Fukien, China. The Kata was created to practise techniques designed to protect from frontal attack. Known as Tekki in some styles of Karate, namely Shotokan. The Itosu-Yasutsune series of Naifanchi include Naifanchi-shodan, Naifanchi-nidan, and Naifanchi-sandan. Also known as Naifanchin, Naifuanchin, and Naihanji.
Seishan
'Thirteen'. Refers to thirteen techniques.
Also known as 'Formal position', 'correct posture', by some schools of Okinawan Karate, depending on the interpretation of the kanji. An Okinawan Kata that was generally taught as the first Karate Kata in the 1900's, during the period of time Itosu-Yasutsune taught at the public school system. Seishan is still practiced in China, in one form or another, by numerous schools of Kungfu. Nowadays Pinan Kata are generally considered to be the 'introductory' Kata. Also known as Seisan. Known as Hangetsu in Shotokan. Not only is it practiced in multiple Okinawan styles of Karate (both Naha-te and Shuri-te lineages), it continues to be practiced in China by several schools of Martial Arts (Arhat or Monk Fist boxing, Lion Fist boxing and Tiger Fist boxing). The kanji that represent Seisan, also translates as "correct arrangement" or as is traditionally understood, "correct posture". The kanji was changed, in some styles, to reflect the requirement for correct posture in order to perform the Kata properly. The second character is 'correctly' pronounced as "sei" in Japanese, not "san" as in Okinawan, so the two kanji together would normally be pronounced as "sei-sei".
Chinto
'Quell the east', 'fighting to the east', 'winning sword'.
A Kata named after the shipwrecked Chinese Martial Artist who was responsible for bringing the form to Okinawa. Further developed by Itosu-Yasutsune in the Shorin-ryu school of Okinawa. Renamed Gankaku by Funikoshi-Gichin in 1922. The Kata is characterised by one leg stances included with one leg kicking techniques. Traditionally, "Chinto" translates as "fighting to the east", which could be interpreted from these characters, i.e. quelling a disturbance to the east. Chinto is a Shuri-te and Tomari-te lineage Kata and found in many current styles, including Shotokan (they call it "Gankaku", or "crane on a rock"), as well as many Shorin Ryu schools. According to Karate historians, the oldest forms of Chinto were performed to the right and left, unlike the current version performed forward and back. Chinto Kata, being performed in Shuri-te time, had the
techniques performed forward and back (as in Gankaku).
Bassai
'Thrust asunder', 'penetrating a fortress'. Also translates as 'remove an obstruction'.
The Karate Kata developed by Karate Master Matsumura-Soken. Practised within the Shorin-ryu schools of Okinawan Karate. Some styles practice two versions of this Kata, within their syllabus, known as Bassai-dai and Bassai-sho. However, there is also a third lesser-known version of Bassai, known as Passai-Guwa, which was passed down to a very select amount of individuals by Motobu-Choki. Only two individuals are now known to teach this, Shimabukuro- Zenpo and Miyahira-Katsuya. So in conclusion there are numerous versions of the Kata Bassai, some having little differences from each other as they come from the similar
originating source. These variations include (as well as the differing terminologies) Bassai (including Bassai-sho & Bassai-dai), Batsai, Ishimine-no-Passai, Passai (including Passai-sho & Passai-dai), Patsai, Matsumora-no-Passai, Oyadomari-no-Passai, Passai-Guwa, and Tomarino- Passai. Possibly, the Kata means "uprooted fortress", as in a fortress that is uprooted and mobile like a phalanx, this would be in the spirit of the Kata, as it incorporates quick motions but then roots for solid attack and defence portions like a fortress. The oldest known version originated in the mid 1800's in Nishihara village on the east side of Shuri. The original kanji (and original meaning) could easily have been lost over the last 150 years.
Wanshu
'Wang Xiu'.
A Karate Kata that had its roots originating in Taiwan, China, and introduced into Okinawa in 1683 AD. Named after a Chinese emissary, Wang-Xiu, and developed as an Okinawan Tomari-te Karate Kata by Karate Master Matsumura-Soken. Practiced within numerous Okinawan and Japanese Karate schools. Later renamed Enpi (flying swallow), in some Japanese styles, due to translation difficulties. Also known as Empi, Enbi, and Enpi.
Niseishi
'Twenty four'.
Refers to the twenty-four acupoint contacts, within the Kata. A Karate Kata practised within numerous schools of Karate including Wado-ryu, Shito-ryu, Sanku-kai, Ryuei-ryu, Kobayashi-ryu etc. The name of the Kata was changed by Gichin-Funikoshi, and is now known as Ni-ju-shiho (twenty four steps/moves) in Shotokan and numerous other styles of Karate. Niseishi is Chinese for the number 24. In Japanese, it translates as Nijushi, the "ho" character (in this case) means "move" and hence Nijushiho translates as "24 moves". The Chinese and Japanese kanji are identical. Chito-ryu Niseishi is not the same Kata as Niseishi from Shuri-te lineage styles; even the embusen (stepping pattern) is different. The complete origin of Chito-ryu Niseishi is unknown, however some pieces of our Niseishi can be found in other Okinawan Kata. Some Goju-ryu schools, specifically those in the line of Higa Seiko (a student of Higashionna Kanryo and later Miyagi Chojun) practised a Kata they call "Hakutsuru" (some Japanese pronounce this Hakaku, in either case, it means "White Crane") which contains the "cut, front kick, slide forward, xblock, back to square stance, ridge hand strike, repeat" sequence. It seems that Seiko Higa obtained this Hakaku Kata from Gokenki (1886-1940), the Chinese tea merchant who taught White Crane Gungfu in Okinawa from 1912/13 until his death.
Rohai
'White heron', 'vision of a crane', 'crane sign', 'heron sign'.
A Kata of the Tomari-te and practised in many schools of Karate in Okinawa and Japan. Developed by Karate Master Matsumura-Soken. In the Matsumura-Shorin-ryu school of Okinawa the three versions taught are Rohai-ge, Rohai-chu, and Rohai-jo. Also known as Lo-hai or Gankaku. Rohai translates as "heron sign" or "heron mark". The name "Rohai", with identical kanji, is the name of a traditional Okinawan Kata. The traditional Okinawan Kata is not the same Kata as the Chito-ryu Rohai and includes the signature moves of standing on one leg to avoid leg attacks. The origins of Chito-ryu Rohai are unknown.
The Three 'Ji' (Temple) Kata of Wado-ryu
Jitte
'Temple hand/s'. A Tomari-te Kata named after a Buddhist temple and developed by the Shorei-ryu Karate Master Itosu-Yasutsune. This Kata is practised within numerous Karate schools of Okinawa. Also known, some say mistakenly, as Jutte; ten hands.
Jihan
'Temple sound'. A Kata named after the Buddhist temple Ji'han-ji and developed by the Karate Master Itosu-Yasutsune.
Jion
An Okinawan Shorei-ryu Kata named after the Buddhist temple Jihan-ji.
Jiin
'Temple ground'. A Kata of the Shuri-te school of Karate developed by Itosu-Yasutsune. Named after the Shaolin Temple, Ji'in-ji.
Seienchin
'Control, suppress, and pull', ‘calm within the storm’, 'war form'.
An Okinawan Kata, with roots from the Chinese Hsing-i system, practised within the Shito-ryu, Goju-ryu, and some Wado schools. Seienchin uses techniques to grasp, unbalance, sweep, and takedown.
Suparinpei
'One-hundred and eight'.
Was introduced to Okinawa from the Fukien Province in China over 100 years ago. Involves fast and slow complex movements with harmonised breathing control. The most advanced of the 13 Goju-ryu Kata developed by Karate Master Chojun- Miyagi. Contains 108 fighting movements symbolising, it is said, the 108 desires/temptations (violations) of man, as listed in Buddhist doctrines. However, as there are considered 108 major stunning and killing points on the human body it has been said that this Kata has its origins from an acupoint school originally established by Feng-Yiquan. Additionally, Susruta-Samhita was an Indian medical Sastra of the 2nd century AD. Susruta wrote the book to give information highlighting the 108 'vulnerable points' on the body. This Kata was practised by Ohtsuka-Sensei. However it was believed that, as it did not reflect the correct 'concepts' of Wado-ryu, it was dropped from the school in the very early years of the style's development. However, due to its popularity amongst Wado-ka, it has resurfaced. The Wado version of this Kata is now practised within many JKF-Wadokai Dojo throughout the world.
Wado-kai
'Harmony Way Association'. Refers to an Association governing a group of Wado clubs. However, it also refers to the official title adopted by the Japanese Karate Federation for Wado organisations, throughout the world, within its membership. The full title of the JKF-Wadokai is the Zen Nihon Karatedo Renmei Wadokai.
Ohtsuka-Hironori 10th Dan Meijin (1892-1982)
The founder of Wado-ryu Karate. Hironori-Ohtsuka was born in Shimodate City, Ibiragi, Japan on the 1st June 1892. He was the first son of Tokujiro-Ohtsuka, who was a doctor of medicine.
1892 was also the year that the Dai-Nippon-Butoku-Kai was established.
He started training under Chojiro-Ebashi, an uncle of his mother, in April 1897 at the age of four, a style of training he would continue with, even at Waseda University in Tokyo.
In 1905 Ohtsuka-Hironori entered the Shimozuma middle school, where he started Shindo-Yoshin-ryu Ju-jutsu under Tatsusaburo-Nakayama.
In 1910 Ohtsuka-Hironori entered Waseda University to learn commerce.
In 1917 he started work at the Kawasaki Bank; at this stage he was learning numerous styles of Ju-jutsu. Ohtsuka-Hironori met, and became good friends, with the founder of Aikido, Morihei-Ueshiba.
In May 1919 he became Master of 'bone-setting technique'.
On the 1st of July 1921 he received his Shindo-Yoshin-ryu Ju-jutsu licence from Tatsusaburo-Nakayama, and so became the Highest Authority.
He started his Karate training with the famous Gichin-Funikoshi in July 1922, a style known as Karate-jutsu. Ohtsuka-Hironori met Funikoshi Sensei during a Martial Arts demonstration at the Sports Festival organised by the Japanese Educational Department. Funikoshi Sensei agreed to teach Ohtsuka-Hironori all he knew about Okinawan Karate-jutsu, the lessons started that same day. Within one year Ohtsuka-Hironori had studied all the Kata within the system. Even after this time Ohtsuka-Hironori could see the 'shortfall' in the Kata-only system. It was explained to him that all of the concepts of 'Budo' was within Kata, and that was the only aspect to train.
In 1924 Ohtsuka-Hironori introduced Yakusoku-gumite to the system, this concept of 'partner-work' revolutionised Karate-jutsu. He also developed Idori-no-Kata, Tachiai-no-Kata, and Shirahatori-no-Kata.
In 1928 he was 'Shindo-Yoshin-ryu Shihan', the Chief Instructor of his Shindo-Yoshin-ryu, he also set up a 'bone-setting' practice at this time.
In 1929 he registered with the 'Nippon-Kobudo-Shinko-Kai', the Japanese Martial Arts Federation.
In 1934 Ohtsuka-Hironori was recognised as an independent style, and started teaching full-time. Due to his dedication to Karate he had to close his 'bone-setting' business.
In 1938 Ohtsuka-Hironori registered his new style as Shin-Shu-Wado-ryu. In 1939 all Karate styles were asked to register their systems with the 'Dai-Nippon-Butoku-Kai', Ohtsuka-Hironori named his style Wado-ryu. Other styles that registered were Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, and Shoto-ryu (Shotokan-ryu).
In 1940 on May the 5th the 'All Styles Karate Demonstrations' took place at Butoku-Den in Kyoto. All the major styles took part, these included Goju-ryu, Keishi-Kempo, Nippon-Kempo-ryu, Shito-ryu, Shoto-ryu, and Wado-ryu.
In 1944 Ohtsuka-Hironori was promoted to Chief Instructor of all Karate under the Dai-Nippon-Butoku-kai.
In 1945 the Americans, at the end of the Second World War, disbanded all Martial Arts. In 1951 all Martial Arts were reinstated, after the signing of the American peace treaty with Japan.
In 1955 the first Karate tournament took place, organised by Ohtsuka-Hironori, it was called the 'First All Japan Wado-ryu Karate Championships'.
In 1964 'The All Japan Karate-do Federation' (JKF) was established. This same year Suzuki-Tatsuo, Arakawa-Toru, and Takashima-Hajime introduced Wado-ryu to Great Britain, Europe, and the United States of America.
In 1966 Ohtsuka-Hironori was awarded 'Kun-Goto-Soukuo-Kyo-Kuju-Jutsu-Sho' (similar to the OBE in Great Britain) from Emperor Hirohito for his dedication to Karate.
In 1972 he was awarded the title of Meijin from Higashino-Kunino-Miya (a member of the Japanese royal family) President of the International Martial Arts Federation the 'Kokusai-Budo-Renmei'. Ohtsuka-Hironori was the first man in history to receive the highest honour in Martial Arts. For his services to Japanese Martial Arts, and to honour his new position as the highest Karate Authority in Japan, he was awarded the Shiju-Hoosho medal from the Japanese Government, the only man in the history of Karate to be so honoured.
Below is an adaptation from an open letter written by Ohtsuka Hironori (10th Dan) Meijin to all Wado-ryu students, sent out two-years prior to his death, explaining the origins of Wado-ryu.
"At the age of five years old, I was in very poor health. It was then that I began my training in Ju-jutsu at the school of my uncle, Sensei Chojiro-Ebashi, the official Martial Arts Instructor of the Tsuchiura Clan. Since this time I have trained continuously until my present age of eighty-eight years. For this, I can heartily thank the traditional Samurai education, which was both gentle and strict. I also thank and pray for my dear mother without whom I could never have succeeded in my deepest aims; I thank her sincerely for always being near.
On my thirtieth birthday, Master Nakayama, the third Grand Master of Shinto Yoshin-ryu Ju-jutsu, allowed me to learn the deepest and most secret doctrines of our school. It was then that I succeeded him as the fourth Grand Master.
Karate was becoming increasingly popular around this time, and I began to study its techniques from several eminent Okinawan Masters who had begun to teach in Tokyo. It occurred to me that there were many fine attributes in the Okinawan systems, and so decided to blend these with the finest elements of Shinto Yoshin-ryu Ju-jutsu to create a genuine and original Japanese Martial Art. Through this process I developed Kumite, Gyaku-nage, I-dori, Tachi-iai, Tanken-dori, and Shinken-Shirai-dori.
Every year, for purposes of promoting the Japanese Martial Arts, the Butokuden in Kyoto held a national festival. In 1938, the festival focused on the originators of each Martial Art, however, no originator of Japanese Karate had been identified. I named the originator of the first true Japanese style of Karate-do as Shiro-Yoshitoki-Akiyama (the founder of Shinto Yoshin-ryu Jujitsu) and named this new style of Karate-do, 'Wado-ryu' meaning: 'Japanese-way school' or also 'Peaceful-way school' since the kanji lettering for 'Wa' can mean both.
The fundamental meaning and original aims of Martial Arts is the promotion of peace. To bring peace to society and to guard against its loss so that human beings can enjoy a happy life. We must strive for peace in a world where it is increasingly difficult to achieve. We must not simply rely on God's mercy to achieve it but must strive as individuals, with all our will, to attain it. Immense spiritual and physical power is required so we will not surrender to the difficulties and barriers which lie before us on this journey. The hard training in Martial Arts aims to foster this dauntless, indefatigable strength which is why the beauty of Martial Arts training is beyond the vicissitudes of mundane affairs."
Ohtsuka Hironori (10th Dan) Meijin.
Ohtsuka Hironori.
On the 29th of January 1982 Ohtsuka-Hironori Meijin died at the age 89, he had practised Martial Arts for 85 years.
"Buno-michi-wa Tada-aragoto-na-to-omohiso Wa-no-michi-kiwa-me Wa-o-motomu-michi: The way to practise Martial Arts is not for fighting. Always look for your own inner peace and harmony, search for it." Ohtsuka-Hironori.
Fukazawa-Hiroji 8th Dan
Mr. Fukazawa started his pursuit of the Martial Arts at a young age, starting with Kendo and then later moving to Judo.
It was at the age of 14 when he began the practice of Wado-ryu Karate-do. During his first 18 months of Karate training Sensei Fukazawa trained at a Dojo in Inoue before moving on to Sensei Minoru Mochizuki's Dojo where he trained for several years.
Fukazawa Sensei was also privileged to study Aiki Jutsu, Aikido and Katori Chinto Ryu.
In 1974 he travelled to France to help Sensei Mochizuki son, Hiroo, to spread Wado-ryu Karate-do. He soon moved to the north of Italy where he lived for two years and established some Wado Karate Dojo there. Sensei Fukazawa now lives in France where he is the Chief Instructor of the WIKF federation in France also he is an active member of the French Karate Federation, holding several positions such as Federal Expert and he is a member of the French grading panel.
He is well known for his expertise of Wado Kata and his explanation of the moves within these Kata (Bunkai).
Fukazawa Sensei is also a founder member of the WIKF and in 2001 he was appointed World Chief Instructor to the Wado International Karate-do Federation by Professor Tatsuo Suzuki Hanshi.
Ishikawa-N
Shihan Ishikawa was born 4 April 1942, in Karafto, Japan (Karafto is in the North of the Japanese island Hokkaido). The island Hokkaido is one of the most Northern islands of Japan. Karafto lies nearly on the same level as Stockholm, Sweden.
Growing up: Ishikawa lived in Sapporo (approximately 1 Million residents) till he was 12 years old. After that Ishikawa lived in the big city Nagoya (approximately 3 million people) (level: Lyon, France). Nagoya lies on the main island of Japan, named Honshu.
Study: Ishikawa studied economics at the Chukyo university in Nagoya from 1960 to 1964 and has a bachelor degree. After this, Ishikawa studied human anatomy for a year at the same university.
Karate history: Japan, Ishikawa started Karate when he was 14 years old. At this age Ishikawa was busy with sports like athletics and baseball. His father practised Kendo, but Ishikawa didn't like this at all and was more interested in Judo and Karate. Ishikawa started with Judo, but because he was so skinny, it didn't fit him. Coincidentally next to the Judo Dojo was a Karate Dojo where they practised Wado Karate. Ishikawa was very interested so he started Karate in this Dojo. At the age of 18 (1960) Ishikawa received his 1st Dan (black belt) in Wado Karate. Back then it was a very good, because the highest graded Wado Karate-ka in Japan was a 5th Dan. (in Judo the highest graded was a 10th Dan.) At the age of 21 he received his 2nd Dan and at 24 years (1966) his 3rd Dan.
After this Ishikawa went to Europe by request of Kono Sensei to promote Wado Karate and give lessons in Holland.
Karate history: Europe, period 1966 - 1978. In December 1966 Ishikawa came to Europe as an assistant of Kono Sensei. Ishikawa assisted Kono Sensei in teaching Wado Karate to Judo teachers. Back then the highest Dutch Wado Karate-ka was a blue belt! Ishikawa taught Karate for a few years in Holland (1967). After that he spend several months teaching in England. France was next - where he was requested by Mochizuki Sensei to teach Wado Karate. Ishikawa taught not only in Paris, but throughout the whole of France. Ishikawa also gave seminars in Belgium and Germany. Around 1971 Holland sought a Japanese Karate teacher, since Kono Sensei left to Germany. In 1971 Ishikawa returned to Holland (Amsterdam) to teach Wado Karate. In the beginning Ishikawa Sensei only instructed Karate teachers. Famous teachers who trained with Shihan Ishikawa were: Jack van Hellemond, Teun Tromp, Jetze van Dijk, enz. and later Rob Zwartjes, Wim Muilwijk, Harm Massee, Alex Brouwer and many others. Later, Shihan Ishikawa went to other sport schools and teachers of sport schools invited Shihan Ishikawa to give seminars. Shihan Ishikawa also gave many demonstrations and special seminars such as summer camps, weekend training, etc. In 1970 the first union was created: Wado Kai Europe. Shihan Ishikawa was General Secretary from 1970 to 1978. In the period of 1966 to 1978 (12 years) Shihan Ishikawa gave a major contribution to the popularity and professionalisation of Wado Karate in Holland.
Karate history: Europe, period 1978 - 1989. In this period Karate was less popular and there were problems about the way how Wado Karate should develop itself. In this period Shihan Ishikawa was continuously busy spreading Wado Karate and promoting it, by teaching, giving demonstrations and seminars.
Karate history: Europe, period 1989 - 1999. In 1989 a successful attempt to promote Wado Karate in Europe was created with the new union: WIKF. This Wado International Karate Federation was created and gave the popularity and further spread of Wado a boost. This WIKF was under leadership of Hanshi T. Suzuki, 8th Dan, who led this organisation from his home-base in London, England. By request of Hanshi T. Suzuki, Ishikawa became, during 1989-1999, Chief Instructor Europe of the WIKF.
Karate history: Europe, period 1989 - 1999. During the WIKF period Shihan Ishikawa felt more and more urge to follow the traditional Wado Karate according to the style and the rules from Grand Master Ohtsuka as it was and is promoted at the home-base in Japan. In 1998 Shihan Ishikawa contacted Hanshi Takashima (8th Dan) in Japan. Shihan Ishikawa knew Hanshi Takashima from his student time, when Takashima taught the students from the university. Shihan Ishikawa knew that Hanshi Takashima was one of the few who still trained with Grand Master Ohtsuka the last period of Ohtsuka's life. So, he was close to the founder teaching traditional Wado Karate and preserving such. Hanshi Takashima became supervisor of a new organisation that would promote traditional Wado Karate. On this basis, Wado-ryu Renmei was founded. This organisation is led by Shihan Ishikawa under the supervision of Hanshi Takashima.
Every year Shihan Ishikawa invites the supervisor Hanshi Takashima from Japan to come to Europe for 2 weeks to give many guest-seminars (mostly in May) promoting traditional Wado Karate.
Karate: Past - Present – Future. Shihan Ishikawa will keep on promoting and teaching the traditional Wado Karate as designed and intended by Grand Master Ohtsuka. From his home-base Rotterdam (Holland), Shihan Ishikawa is not only busy in Holland, but through the whole of Europe and even outside Europe. All this supported by Japanese instructors who have been close to Grand Master Ohtsuka.
Shihan Ishikawa invites everyone who shares his vision, to teach and promote with him and under his guidance, the traditional Wado Karate as created by Grand Master Ohtsuka.
Ohtsuka-Hironori 10th Dan Saiko-Shihan (1934-)
Ohtsuka-Jiro was born in February 1934.
He started Kendo under an army officer during the Second World War at the age of nine and studied Ju-jutsu until 1951, until the Martial Arts restrictions were lifted; he then went on to study Karate, Aikido and Judo at high school.
He started training in Wado-ryu Karate with his father after finishing at high school.
Ohtsuka-Jiro was nominated by Ohtsuka-Hironori Meijin to become the successor as the Grand Master of Wado-ryu Karate-do. He nherited his father's name, Ohtsuka-Hironori, in 1982.
Sakagami-Kuniaki 7th Dan Honbucho
Sakagami-Kuniaki started training in Wado-ryu in 1959 when he was a teenager. He originally wanted to train in boxing but found that the nearest boxing gym was thirty miles away; in those days this was a great distance to travel.
A friend then told Sakagami-Kuniaki he could easily find a Karate Dojo so Sakagami-Kuniaki decided to do that instead. The Dojo happened to be one of Suzuki-Tatsuo's, a very famous Instructor with a good reputation. At this time Sakagami-Kuniaki did not know anything about styles, it by chance happened to be a Wado-ryu Dojo.
The training was a little different then in those days you would do jogging in bare feet and the discipline was military style, you never said "no" in the Dojo, only "yes", "hai", you were allowed to question if you were not sure of something but you could not question the teachings.
Sakagami-Kuniaki won the Middle Japan Kumite two years running and then went on to take a British Wado team to Japan to participate in the World Wado Karate Cup. This was a proud moment for Sakagami-Kuniaki, as he had always wanted to take an English team to Japan.
website: www.wadokaiengland.co.uk
Shibamori-Kando 8th Dan
Shibamori Sensei was born in Ibaragi, Japan in 1945.
He started his Wado-ryu Karate studies under Sakai Kazuo 9th Dan sensei in Yokohama, and was also training with Ohtsuka Hironori himself.
In 1973 he moved to Austria and started to introduce Wado style in Linz.
From the year of 1987 he became Chief Instructor of Hungary and Founder of IWKU (International Wado Karate Union), teaching Wado Karate in Austria, Hungary, Romania, Italy, Germany and France.
His unique personality is an excellent example of the true Karate-ka having great physical shape and daily practice of Karate-techniques.
Shinohara-Yoshitsuga 8th Dan
My full name is Yoshitsugu Shinohara. I was born in 1946 near the centre of Japan, in the prefecture of Nagano (where the 1998 Olympics were held). I moved to Tokyo in 1961 to further my education and find work. I entered Meiji University in 1966 to study Economics and Political science.
I had practised Judo in my teenage years but when I started University I changed to Wado-ryu Karate. Because I was a bit short but a fighter and challenger, I wanted to become stronger. Although Karate was a relatively new Martial Art at that time, it seemed the ideal sport for me to achieve my goals.
All the junior Karate students were taught by Sempai (senior colleagues) and OB (old boys) in the Meiji University Kenren (student’s union) Karate-do Club. Every training session lasted about 3 hours and we trained almost everyday, and they used a military style of discipline. The aim of the Karate training was to improve skill, speed, strength, stamina and self-discipline (the 5 S’s). The training was often repetition of a few thousand kicks and punches with full speed and power (kihon). Then Kata, yakusoku-gumite and finally Jiyu-gumite at each session. We often found a small pool of sweat on the floor around our feet when we were allowed to have a standing short break in summer season.
However the training methods were not always scientifically correct, we had to hit makiwara board with seiken many times with full power…the skin on my knuckles peeled off and they bled all over, but I was forced to continue hitting the board. The worst part was when I had to hit the bloody makiwara again 2 days later when the skin on the knuckles had just started to heal. However, after 2 years of hitting the makiwara, my fist became so strong I used to be able to hit a large concrete lamppost with full power without damaging my hand.
We also often had to bunny-hop up and down approximately 150 steep stone stairs. One day when on of our Sempai saw me smiling when I had completed it, he ordered me to repeat the exercise. Many years of Judo training had made my legs quite strong, but that evening, people at the train station watched us with strange looks on their faces when many of us wobbled down the stairs holding onto the railings.
We often went away for one week long Gasshuku (training camp) for intensive training. The day’s training began at 6am sharp with a morning run in bare feet for about an hour and plenty of press-ups, sit-ups, etc. Apart from breakfast and lunch breaks we continued to practice Karate all day until we were completely exhausted. One day after the training, a Sempai heard us talking, complaining about the hard training and tiredness; he said that we were not really tired, because we were still able to speak!
I remember one occasion, well after midnight our sleep was abruptly interrupted by colleagues because a junior colleague was missing. We were really worried because he was not a tough character and his belongings were still in the dormitory which meant he hadn’t run away at night…there was also a fast flowing river next to our Ryokan (inn). Fortunately, we found him later in the middle of the back stairs, poor boy was so exhausted and had fallen asleep and couldn’t make it to his bed!
I remember the 2nd year above Sempai were a hard lot, they used to take us to free fight with them after the formal session at the club and beat us black and blue. One of them in particular was pertinacious brute…he would force us to fight for at least 20 minutes despite our injuries and exhaustion. One day when I had suffered enough and felt I couldn’t continue any more with him but didn’t want to be defeated by him, he was very good at sunegeri and kingeri to torment us, I was determined I would take a chance and use my Judo techniques to strangle him into unconsciousness and quit the Karate club for good. After all I was a 2nd Dan in Judo and had confidence to beat him with the knowledge of Judo if I could get a hold on him. Strangely, the Sempai was not cruel to me that evening or ever again.
Competition was not popular at that time, fighting was not as sophisticated as nowadays, we did not wear any protection, mitts etc… we just aimed to knockdown our opponents…therefore, competitors often received injuries at the tournaments. I remember one incident at one of the early Wado-kai Championships. One of my colleagues received a serous injury, he kicked his opponent so hard but his leg crushed opponents knee and his leg was broken in half…white shinbone was protruding through the skin!
Ohtsuka Shihan visited our club once a month to teach. We were all glad to see him because although his lessons provided us with much information, the sessions were physically easy. There were 96 boys when we joined the Karate club but just 9 of us survived through the 4 punishing years training and this number was a club record; normally only a few students were successful enough to complete the course and sometimes none!
Anyway we were young students, enthusiastic with lots of energy and ambition. We tried everything to toughen ourselves up and challenge our limitations. The training sessions were sometimes unreasonably hard but after the session we all enjoyed a drink together and forgot all the aches and pains and were happy, the beer tasted great. We surely learned the value of truth, integrity, courage, perseverance and an indomitable spirit with pride and honour.
When I graduated from the university in 1970, minus a graduation ceremony, because of university disputes (Gakuen-Funso), we just had to leave the teargas filled university (whose motto was Liberty and Right), which had become a battlefield between Zengakuren (united student’s union) and Kido-tai (police combat units). I had now completed my education and I was now free and independent and confident of looking after myself, I wanted to leave Japan to see the world and learn new languages.
After 2 years of hard work as one of Tokyo’s notorious kamikaze taxi drivers (very fast, skilful, special licensed drivers, but not suicidal), I had saved enough money to travel. I boarded a ship in Yokohama Harbour in 1972, but my first voyage was a disaster because almost immediately the ship had left the harbour a huge typhoon struck, with gushing winds and huge waves. All passengers on the ship were seasick and I was unable to leave my bed or eat for 3 days and nights. It took me 2 weeks to get to England through Russia, Austria, Germany and Belgium (now it takes just 12 hours from Japan to England by non-stop flight) and I settled in an Oxford boarding school for languages to study the Queen’s English.
My original plan was to study English for 2 years in England then go to Madrid to study Spanish for another 2 years…but have lived in England now for 29 years. Unfortunately my English is still not good enough to move onto Spanish!
I met a few Japanese Karate Instructors at a college when I moved to London in 1973 and it led me into teaching Karate. I opened Essex Wado-kai Karate Club in 1975 with branches in Romford, Chelmsford and Harlow after 6 months of travel in a camper van around Europe and North Africa. I established BWKS in 1987 with senior students of mine.
Nowadays I get invited to attend weekend courses and teach Karate at other Karate clubs very often, and it’s a pleasure to meet and practice Karate with different people in different places. In return, we invite all the associate members to our BWKS Championships every year, which is the biggest event in the BWKS calendar.
I am also a qualified Japanese language teacher and I used to teach at colleges and am currently teaching in the City of London, so I’m able to help anyone who needs to learn Japanese.
It’s important to be fit physically in the early stages then you can enjoy going out to open fields for jogging, general exercise and Karate training whenever you have time. Exercise is good for me and makes me feel stable and happy. I will continue training as long as I can.
PS - I had a chance to visit the Meiju University Kenren Karate-do Club last year (2000), 30 years after I left and encountered a total change. The old familiar university buildings had been demolished and re-built and are now huge shining new buildings. Half of the 30 students who were training in the new dojo were young women, one of them told me later that most of the women there were (at the club) for health and beauty reasons!
Shiomitsu-Masafumi 9th Dan Hanshi
Shiomitsu-Masafumi was born in Kagoshima, Japan, on 24th November 1940.
He began studying Shorin-ryu Karate at the age of 15.
He entered Nihon University in 1959 and joined the Wado-ryu Karate club, one of the university clubs that Ohtsuka Sensei taught at. His prowess at the style led to his appointment as the captain of the university's Karate team in 1963. By the time he graduated in 1964, with a degree in economics, he had already reached the grade of 4th Dan in Wado-ryu.
Sensei Shiomitsu's natural ability at Wado-ryu led to him being chosen by Ohtsuka Sensei as one of the Karate Instructors chosen to take Wado-ryu Karate outside of Japan. In 1965 Sensei Shiomitsu travelled to England, where he was appointed Assistant Chief Instructor. He then spent the next 10 years visiting and staying in different countries throughout the world, including Spain, Portugal and even Madagascar, teaching Wado-ryu Karate. In 1976 he returned to England in his original position.
In 1981 Sensei Shiomitsu returned to Japan to celebrate the 90th birthday of Ohtsuka Sensei, the founder of Wado-ryu Karate. He was awarded the rank of 7th Dan by Ohtsuka. This was later followed by Sensei Shiomitsu's appointment as the Chief Instructor to the European Wado-ryu Karate organisations, and in 1989 he founded the Wado-ryu Academy.
website: www.wado-ryu.org
Sugasawa-Fumio 7th Dan
Sugasawa Sensei was born in Sawara City, Chiba prefecture, sixty miles east of Tokyo, the youngest son in a family of seven children.
He first experienced Karate when his second eldest brother started training at a local club and erected a Makiwara (striking post) at the family home. Although his first love was Baseball, he used to practise on his brother's Makiwara.
In 1969 he went away to study Commerce at the famous Meiji University, Tokyo. He was coerced into the university Karate club. Although he admits it did not take much by the way of persuading. As a result of his experiences with his elder brother he always had an interest in Karate.
The training was severe, but due to his contact with the physical hardships common in Japanese Baseball training, Sensei had no trouble adapting to the regime.
One of the regular Instructors at Meiji was Jiro Ohtsuka Sensei, son and future successor to the founder of Wado-ryu Karate Hironori Ohtsuka (1892-1982). The founder also visited and instructed at the university, but Jiro Ohtsuka Sensei had a particular attachment to Meiji, as he was himself a Meiji old boy.
Sugasawa Sensei enthusiasm and physical prowess soon gained him the position of Meiji Karate Club Captain, an achievement his is still proud of to this day.
Sensei came to the UK in July 1978 and joined the group of resident Japanese Instructors responsible for spreading traditional Wado-ryu Karate throughout the country. He initially taught in the East London area, but soon established contacts with clubs in all parts of the UK.
Teruo-Kono 8th Dan
Hachidan President, Federation of European Wado Kai
Teruo Kono was born 1934 in Yokohama and studied architecture. After working in several building firms in Japan he went to England and later to Germany, where he is a managing director of several export firms.
Between 1956 and 1960 he was the top point fighter in Japan. Additionally, he was also Coach of the famous Nichidai University and various other university clubs in Japan and in Europe. Kono Sensei has been the National Coach of Central Japan, England, Holland, Yugoslavia, Germany.
Kono Sensei came to England, then Holland, and finally Germany during the mid 1960s. He became the Head Instructor of Wado-ryu in Germany, as well as President of the Wado-ryu Instructor Organisation.
In 1986, Kono Sensei was named the Chairman of the Federation of European Wado Kai. Kono Sensei held the rank of 8th Dan (Hachidan) in both Wado-ryu Karate-do and Shinto Yoshinryu Jiujitsu.
Personal History
- 1956 to 1960 Best fighter of Japan
- 1958 to 1964 Coach of many University Karate Clubs in Japan
- 1963 to 1964 National Coach of Japan
- 1965 National Coach of England
- 1966 to 1970 National Coach of Holland
- 1967 to 1975 Coach of Karate Clubs and Universities in Belgium and Yugoslavia
- 1970 to 1971 National Coach in Yugoslavia
- 1973 to 1983 National Coach of Wado Germany
- Until 1978 Technical Advisor to the Coach of the National Team in the DKV
- 1983 Coach of the Wado-ryu group in the DKV as well as Advisor of the DKV
- 1995 Awarded the title of Hanshi by JKF-WadoKai
April 22, 2000 Kono Sensei died aged 66 from acute pneumonia.
Suzuki-Tatsuo 8th Dan Hanshi (1928-)
Principle Instructor of the Wado International Karate-do Federation (Wado Kokusai Karate-do Renmei).
Suzuki-Tatsuo was born in Yokohama, Japan on the 27th April 1928.
At 10 years old the family moved to Ushigome, Tokyo. At 13 they moved to Hamamatsu, his father's original home town.
His first style of Karate was Shito-ryu, at his high school. He started training at the Yokohama YMCA Wado-ryu Karate Club at the age of 17 under a student of Hironori-Ohtsuka, known as Kimura. Kimura was reputed to be the best student of Ohtsuka-Hironori at that time. Suzuki-Tatsuo trained regularly with Ohtsuka-Hironori, as he visited the YMCA regularly.
Suzuki-Tatsuo was awarded 5th Dan in 1951 for outstanding courage and ability.
In 1965 he was awarded 7th Dan, the highest grade ever awarded, by the Zen Nippon Karate Renmei (all Japan Karate Federation).
In 1975 he was awarded 8th Dan by the All-Japan Karate-do Organisations (Wadokai) and the title of 'Hanshi', which was awarded to him by a member of the Emperor Higashikuni family.
In 1963, with the assistance of Arakawa-Toru and Takashima-Hajime, Suzuki-Tatsuo introduced Wado-ryu Karate to the UK, Europe and the USA.
In 1965 he returned to England where he set up his European Headquarters.
Amongst his titles he holds: 2nd Dan in Tenshin-Koryu Bo-jutsu and 1st Dan in Judo. He has also studied Zen doctrine with the high priests, Genpo-Yamamoto and Soyen-Nakagawa.
website: www.wikf.com
