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What is Wado-Ryu Karate?
Wado-Ryu Karate is a Japanese martial art founded by Hironori
Ohtsuka Sensei in 1934. Ohtsuka Sensei developed Wado-Ryu after studying the Samurai
martial art of Jiu-jitsu, and Shotokan (another style of Karate). This combination,
according to Ohstuka Sensei, is a softer, more natural means of self-protection.
The full name of the style is Wado-Ryu Karate-Do. The term Wado-Ryu
means "way of peace" or "way of harmony", indicating Ohtsuka Sensei's
original intention to use training in Wado-Ryu as a means of solving problems in a
non-violent way. Karate-Do means "way of the empty hand", as Karate is,
for the most part, studied without the use of weapons.
Wado-Ryu Karate In England
The United Kingdom, in particular, became gripped with the spread of Karate. After a
Wado-Ryu Karate demonstration at a Kendo club in London, the Japanese Karate Federation
was asked by the British student who had seen the demonstrations to send a Karate
instructor to the UK. In 1964 Mr Tanabe was sent to the UK as an official delegate of the
Japanese Karate Federation, where he founded the All Britain Karate Association. This was
the first Wado-Ryu Karate organisation to be established in Europe. Mr Tatsuo Suzuki soon
followed, when he moved to London to teach Wado-Ryu Karate.
In May 1965, Mr T. Kono travelled to the UK to join Mr Tatsuo Suzuki, and later that
year Mr Masafumi Shiomitsu arrived. Meanwhile, Mr T.
Kono moved to the Netherlands to spread karate to the European mainland. In 1966, Messrs
T. Takamizawa and Hayakawa transferred to the UK to help Mr Tatsuo Suzuki and Mr Masafumi
Shiomitsu meet the growing demand for quality Wado-Ryu Karate. In 1968 Mr K. Sakagami,
followed by Mr Kobayashi in 1969, also arrived in the UK, whilst Mr. S. Suzuki travelled
to Ireland; furthermore, Mr Maeda arrived in the UK.
 Left
to right - M. Shiomitsu Hanshi, Tanabe Sensei, Tatsuo Suzuki Hanshi, K. Sakagami Sensei,
S. Suzuki Sensei and F. Sugasawa Sensei. |
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Although a number of these Wado-Ryu Karate instructors have returned to Japan, and
others have replaced them, the first wave of Japanese instructors pioneered Wado-Ryu
karate in the UK, and they have left an indelible impression upon the current practice of
the art. This dedicated team of Japanese Sensei built the strong foundations of
contemporary Wado-Ryu karate in the UK; their contribution can never be forgotten.
As in all aspects of life, politics has played a major role in the development of
Wado-Ryu Karate in Britain. The All Britain Karate Association remained the principal
Karate organisation until 1970. However, in 1970 Mr Tatsuo Suzuki decided to leave the
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. After a short period of time most of the other Japanese
instructors joined the United Kingdom Karate-Do Federation, with the exception of Mr T.
Takamizawa, who formed his own Karate organisation. Mr Masafumi Shiomitsu chose to
transfer his teaching from the UK to France and then Madagascar. Nevertheless, Mr Masafumi
Shiomitsu returned to the UK in 1976, and joined the United Kingdom Karate-Do Wado-Kai.
Until 1989, the United Kingdom Karate-Do Federation, and its successor the United
Kingdom Karate-Do Wado-Kai, continued to be the primary Wado-Ryu Karate organisation in
the UK. However, in 1989 Mr. Masafumi Shiomitsu expressed dissatisfaction with the
direction taken by Wado Karate in the UK. Hence, he chose to leave the United Kingdom
Karate-Do Wado-Kai in order to form 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. However, after a short period of time,
Mr K. Sakagami decided to leave the Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy and formed his own
organisation known as the Wado-Ryu Aiwakai Karate Federation. 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 Federation, and its 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, 9th Dan.
- The Wado-Ryu Aiwakai Karate Federation, led by K. Sakagami Sensei 7th Dan,
which is affiliated to the Japan Karate Federation Wado-Kai, H.Q. Japan.
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