Wado Ryu Karate Page

The core of my own studies is a style known as Wado Ryu. It is a modern style that uses light, snappy techniques. The moves tend to be soft and flowing when compared to other styles. This page is a quick reference guide to the style of Wado Ryu and includes the following contents:

• A Brief History
• The Name of Wado Ryu
• Wado Techniques
• Wado Partnerwork Example (Off Page)
• Principles
• Kata

A Brief History
Wado Ryu karate was founded by Hironori Ohtsuka during the 1920s and 1930s.

Hironori Ohtsuka

Ohtsuka was born on 1st June 1892 in Shimodate City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. At the age of 6 years he began to study jiu Jutsu with his Grand Uncle. At the age of 13 he started to study Shindo Yoshin Ryu Jiu Jutsu under a teacher named Tatsusabaro Nakayama. Ohtsuka continued his studies whilst at Waseda University. He received the award of menkyo (licence) in 1921.

Ohtsuka heard about a new style of unarmed combat from Okinawa that had been introduced by Gichin Funakoshi. That art was known as Karate. In 1922, Ohtsuka went to visit Funakoshi in Tokyo to study karate. He received the rank of Shodan (1st dan black belt) in 1924 at the age of 31. He, along with 6 others, became some of the first Karate Dan grades in Japan.

During his time training, Ohtsuka developed the concept of pre-arranged sparring in which both participants know in advance what attacks and defences are to be carried out. The exercise could be considered to be a small two person kata for developing skills and learning certain concepts - it is half way between basics and applications.

Ohtsuka also continued his Jiu Jutsu studies, and became a Shihan (teacher grade). He also began to train with other great Karate masters such as Kenwa Mabuni (founder of Shito Ryu) and Choki Motobu.

At this time Ohtsuka experimented with incorporating all his martial art skills into a new form of Karate. Part of this experimentation was the introduction of free-fighting practice. This conflicted with Funakoshi's view of Karate and they parted company.

In 1938, Ohtsuka's new style was accepted by the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai under the name of Wado Ryu. Ohtsuka was also awarded the title of Renshi.

Development of Wado Ryu continued after the Second World War, and in 1966 Ohtsuka was awarded the Shiju Hoosho Medal from Emperor Hirohito.

Hironori Ohtsuka died in 1982, shortly before his 90th birthday. Today, Wado Ryu is practiced all over the world and is the second most popular style of Karate in Britain.

In 1998 Ohtsuka's book Wado Ryu Karate was published as a limited edition of 2000 runs. This is the master text of Wado and is an important historical source for serious study. I have copy number 0808 in my possession. No, it's not up for sale!

The Name of Wado Ryu
Wado Ryu means the "Way of Peace" style. It is a distinctly Japanese name because Ohtsuka wanted to create a purely Japanese form of Karate incorporating his jiu jutsu training (although, interestingly, he changed the names of the kata back to their Chinese or Okinawan names).

Some senior instructors thought that "Wa" referred to the then current Showa era. However, "Wa" in this context is understood to mean peace, or harmony.

Techniques
Wado is a light, fast style that uses natural movements. Stances tend to be quite high, but not upright - somewhere between Shotokan and Shukokai. All the basic moves that you would expect to see are there, inclduding kicks, punches, strikes, and counters. Here is a list of basic Wado techniques - not all techniques are listed. Note the terminology may be slightly different to what you might expect. Some of the terms come from Jiu Jutsu.

In addition to the above (which is not exhaustive), Wado Ryu also includes a number of throwing and locking techniques that are found in Aiki-Jutsu styles. At a higher level, vital point striking becomes important. These are practiced in a number of partner work drills.

The two-person drills are divided into sections. They are sanbon kumite (3-step sparring), ohyo-kumite (prearranged free fighting) and kihon kumite (basic techniques). Kihon kumite introduces the use of vital points and illustrates the main principles of wado.

Partner Work Drills
Sanbon Kumite - soto uke, uchi uke, jodan uke (x4), maegeri (x6).

Ohyo Kumite - 8 sets defence/attack. Click Here to see an example of Ohyo Kumite

Kihon Kumite - 10 sets defence/attack

*Idori Kumite - 5 defence/attack from the kneeling position

*Tanto Kumite - 8 knife defences

*Katana Kumite - 6 sword defences

Non-arranged drills can also be practiced including (naturally) jiu-kumite (free fighting), ippon-kumite (one-step with no set attack or defence) and Te Gumi or Kakie (sensitivity training - along the lines of Chi Sao or Push Hands seen in Kung Fu styles).

* These drills appear to have come from Jiu Jutsu. They are highly ritualised exercises. However, the seated defences illustrate some very interesting techniques that can be adapted to close quarters whilst standing. The knife defences are particularly ritualised, consisting of junzuki-type thrusts with the knife. This is, of course, unrealistic, and the defences appear to be highly dangerous if you try them against a determined attack.

However, the techniques DO have a purpose (apart from how not to attack with a knife). They illustrate important concepts basic to the fighting arts (timing, distancing, entering, etc). They are worth preserving for their historical interest - just remember these sequences are more ART than MARTIAL. However, I must admit here that I am no expert in these matters. Perhaps my outlook will change when I have a greater insight into these exercises.

Principles
It is the philosophy of each style that gives it it's own flavour. Wado is all about maximum effect from minimum effort. The three most important elements are Nagasu, Inasu, and Noru. There are others too.

• Nagasu. The principle of deflecting an attack without using hard sledgehammer blocking.Wado exponents deflect rather than meet force with force head-on.
• Inasu. Combining movement with using simultaneous attack and defence. Go with the flow...
• Noru. Timing one's counter so that it hits as the opponent's momentum is at its climax. Combine defence and attack in a single flowing movement rather than ichi-ni stop-go rhythms. Compare with the Wing Chun concurrent techniqes.
• Zanshin. This is common to all fighting arts. It means "awareness" - of one's opponent and environment. The best defence is to not be around when trouble kicks off. Achieve this by being alert. When fighting, be aware of your opponent's stance, movement, and reactions. It is important not to be consiously "fixed" on the opponent. It is enough just to "know".
• Maai. The ability to judge distances. This allows the defence to be timed correctly, and so be successful. Another vital element in all fighting arts.
• Irimi. Entering techniques. This is where you close down the gap between you and your opponent. You get "inside" the opponent as the opponent attacks. Examples of this principle include the final four movements of Pinan Nidan (the variation where you slide into shiko dachi and execute nukite chudan), and nagashi zuki technique where you slide forward whilst avoiding an on-coming punch to deliver your own. The throwing technique in Ohyo Kumite Sanbom is another fine example

Kata
Kata are pre-arranged movements performed solo. They are the "dictionaries" of martial arts, whereas basics and pre-arranged work are the letters and grammar. All of these elements must be combined to create applications - self defence, fighting, and vital point striking.

This is a list of kata practiced in Wado Ryu. In his book Ohtsuka stated that he only needed to practice the first nine kata since they contained the entire essence of Wado. Some schools may practice the kata in a different order to that listed here. Note that Wado tends to use the earlier Chinese/Okinawan terminology. The Shotokan equivalents are listed in parentheses. There are also differences in the ways the kata are performed between the two styles.

• Pinan Shodan (Heian Nidan)*
• Pinan Nidan (Heian Shodan)*
• Pinan Sandan (Heian Sandan)*
• Pinan Yodan (Heian Yondan)*
• Pinan Godan (Heian Godan)*
• Kushanku (Kanku Dai)*
• Naihanchi (Tekki Shodan)*
• Seishan (Hangetsu)*
• Chinto (Gankaku)*
• Bassai (Bassai Dai)
• Jion
• Jitte
• Rohai (Meikyo)
• Niseishi (Nijushiho)
• Wanshu (Enpi)
• Suparimpei (no longer officially on the syllabus)
• Unsu (no longer officially on the syllabus)

* These are the most important kata. It could be argued that these kata are wado ryu. They certainly represent the core of the style. You should be familiar with these kata once you reach 1st or 2nd Dan. I suspect these comments could be made about suparimpei. I don't know why this kata was dropped, but there is no harm in learning it (or any other).

I have also received information that Unsu was also practiced at one point, but I have no more details than that. Thanks to Dave Taylor for the information.

There is nothing to stop you from practicing other kata. After all it is all karate. Just as cheese and onion and ready salted are different flavoured crisps, at the end of the day they are all crisps. (What?! Get on with it!!)

For example, I am now able to practice a version of Sanchin and I have seen Wado practitioners performing Tensho.

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