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Wado-ryu

The way of harmony.

A Japanese karate style founded by Hironori Otsuka in 1934, joining karate with jujutsu: evasion, body shifting and redirecting the attack instead of blocking it head on.

Fact file

Country
Japan
Founder / origin
Hironori Otsuka
Year / period
1930s
Type
Striking
Style of
Karate
Sources: Wado Kokusai / Japan Karate Federation Wado-kai · Japan Karate Federation (JKF) — four major styles

History

Wado-ryu, "the way of harmony", was created by Hironori Otsuka, a master of Shindo Yoshin-ryu jujutsu who also trained with Gichin Funakoshi. He combined karate with jujutsu body movement and registered the style in 1938.

Wado-ryu prefers evasion, timing and moving the body off the line of attack (tai sabaki) to blocking force with force.

Otsuka received the full licence (menkyo kaiden) of Shindo Yoshin-ryu in 1921 and in 1972 was among the first karate masters honoured with the title Meijin. After his death the style divided into Wado-kai, Wado-ryu Renmei (led by his son Jiro) and Wado Kokusai, but all keep the same kata: Pinan, Kushanku, Naihanchi, Seishan, Chinto, Bassai and others.