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Origins
and development of Wado Ryu Karatedo
In
considering the origins and development of Wado
Ryu Karatedo. It is necessary to examine the
martial art influences of the styles founder,
Hironori Ohtsuka Sensei. Through identifying
and considering the main martial arts that influenced
Ohtsuka. The author will be able to consider
how the style of Wado originated and developed.
Ohtsuka’s earliest martial arts influences where
at the age of 6 years, when he began to study
Jiu Jutsu with his Grand Uncle Chojiro Obeahs.
At the age of 13, Ohtsuka progressed to studying
Shindo Yoshin Ryu Ju Jutsu. Ohtsuka continued
his studies in Shindo Yoshin ryu whilst at Waseda
University.
Shindo
Yoshin Ryu training stresses atemi striking
and kicking combined with other bujutsu arts.
This may have provided a common ground between
the classical Japanese bujutsu and Okinawan
karate which Ohtsuka later studied. Shindo Yoshin
Ryu includes many principles, such as Nagasu
and Tai Sabaki. Nagasu is the ability to deflect
an attack without using harsh blocks. The application
of Nagasu allows for the similar movements,
to be applied to defences from kicks, punches
or weapons.
The
influence of Nagasu can be seen in Wado, through
its different Nagashi techniques. Wado uses
Nagashi as a block, liked in sanbon kumite number
1 and as a strike as in Kihon 7.
When Nagasu is applied in Wado, it is often
combined with penetrating into an opponents
side (irimi). Irimi is another principle adopted
from Ohtsukas training in Jiu Jitsu. Likewise,
Shindo Yoshin Ryu uses high narrow stances,
allowing a practitioner to employ Tai sabaki
or body shifting. The early training in Tai
Sabaki, Nagasu and Irimi techniques is likely
to have been the basis for the development of
Kihon Kumite in Wado.
In
1922, Hironori Ohtsuka discovered Okinawan karate
and trained diligently under Funakoshi. It is
here where Ohtsuka started adapting his atemi
techniques to his Karate. This is illustrated
when he appeared in Funakoshi’s book ‘Karatedo
Kyohan’. Furthermore, as Ohtsuka was brought
up with the close contact of Jiu Jitsu pair
work and sparring from Jiu Jitsu. Whilst still
with Funakoshi, he introduced yakusoku kumite
or ‘prearranged sparring’ to their karate. Whilst
training with Funakoshi, Ohtsuka Sensei continued
to develop his skills in bone setting (Seikotsu)
and orthopedic medicine. The knowledge of how
to repair a broken body, complimented Ohtsukas
knowledge of how to damage the body. Thus, medical
training may have further influenced the development
of atemi points within Wado, such as the atemi
strike to the armpit in Kihon 4.
As
Karate in Japan slowly grew bigger, Jiu Jitsu
began to lose its popularity. As a result, Ohtsuka
began to focus his martial training on Karate.
Ohtsuka studied with other Okinawan Karate masters,
as in Kenwa Mabuni (the founder of Shito-Ryu
Karate). The development of Wado, is demonstrated
through its Katas, which where introduced to
Ohtsuka by the Okinawans named above. Ohtsuka
also trained with Choki Motobu (Okinawan Kempo
Master), renowned for street fighting in order
to test his technique. Through this master,
Ohtsuka began the study of jiu-kumite (free
fighting) for competitive purposes, laying the
foundation for today's karate kumite tournaments.
Ohtsukas
Japanese instructors included Morihei Ueshiba,
the founder of Aikido. Like Shindo Yoshin Ryu,
Aikido is a direct descendant of classical Aikijutsu.
The spiritual principles of Aikido, blending
and redirecting an opponent’s ki, not meeting
it with force, are likely to have further influenced
Ohtsuka’s technical development. Similar principles
can be seen in techniques from Aikido and Wado,
such as Kihon 5. This partner work uses irimi
and nagashi, to lock an opponent with Kote Gaeshi
(turning hand) and Wan Kansetsu (Back of the
arm lock). The author considers that aikido
may have been a missing link for Ohtsuka, which
further inspired his quest for knowledge and
led to the awakening of Wado.
In
May 1934 when he was 43, Ohtsuka started his
own school called the Dai Nippon Karate Shinko
Club. Here was the centre of Ohtsuka's teaching
for his new system of Wado-Ryu Karate-Jutsu
and Wado-Ryu-Jujutsu Kempo, merging Okinawan
Karate with traditional Japanese Jiu Jutsu.
When the Budo-kai requested a name for each
style and school, in 1940, Ohtsuka's martial
art was officially named the Wado-Kai and later
Wado-Ryu.
Ohtsuka
trained hard and sought to develop an efficient
practical martial art by the study of many different
arts throughout his life. In the end, an important
dimension for him was spiritual. Ohtsuka stressed
the concept of ten-chi-jin, ri-do (heaven -
earth - man, principal way). Thus, the origins
and development of Wado Ryu are perhaps best
summarized by the thoughts of the great man
himself:
‘The
true purpose of budo is the search for
truth. In karate, three elements are important
- physical strength, spirit and heart.
The end of do (the way), cannot be achieved
in a few years, rather it is a lifelong
search. Perhaps you could say the aim
is to make us good Human Beings.’
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