Wado-ryu Karate is a traditional form of Karate that was developed in Japan by Hironori Ohtsuka. He was a student of both Shindo Yoshin-ryu jujutsu and Shotokan karate, Ohtsuka combined elements of both arts to create Wado-ryu Karate.
Ohtsuka began his martial arts training in 1915, and in the 1930s, he started to develop his own style, which he named Wado-ryu, meaning “Way of Peace.” The style emphasizes the use of circular movements and the principle of “harmonization,” which involves blending with an opponent’s attack and redirecting their energy.
Wado-ryu Karate also includes traditional katas, but they are performed with circular movements and a greater emphasis on grappling and joint-locking techniques. The style also emphasizes the importance of natural body movements and the use of leverage, rather than brute strength.
Ohtsuka continued to develop and promote the style throughout his life, and in 1939, he established the Wado-ryu Karate-do Renmei (Wado-ryu Karate Federation). After his death, his son Jiro Ohtsuka took over the leadership of the organization and worked to ensure that the teachings of the style were passed down to future generations.
Wado-ryu Karate has now become one of the major styles of Karate, practiced in many countries around the world. Despite the different interpretations, the core principles and techniques of Wado-ryu Karate remain unchanged, and practitioners can expect to learn circular movements, traditional katas, grappling, and joint-locking techniques as well as natural body movement, and the use of leverage.
In summary, Wado-ryu Karate is a traditional form of Karate that was developed in Japan by Hironori Ohtsuka, who combined elements of Shindo Yoshin-ryu jujutsu and Shotokan karate to create a new style. It emphasizes the use of circular movements and the principle of “harmonization”, and includes traditional katas with a greater emphasis on grappling and joint-locking techniques, natural body movements and the use of leverage. The style has been spread worldwide and it is one of the major styles of Karate, and Wado-ryu Karate-do Renmei (Wado-ryu Karate Federation) established by Ohtsuka, ensure the passing down of the teachings and principles of the style to future generations.