KARATE DO
Literally translated karate is Japanese for Empty Hand, indicating that it is a martial arts that does not require the use of any weapon other than the parts of the body, but, it also means that the karate ka should strive to empty his/her mind of any aggression or anger.
Karate Do is a Japanese art of self defense which originated from china, practiced in Okinawa and was later on developed in mainland Japan.
During the early times, the Kanji character used for Karate was 唐手 read as way of the China hands (can also be read as T'ang Soo in some Okinawan dialects and also the Korean language). Okinawan high school students led by their karate teacher, Ginchin Funakoshi, demonstrated karate in front of the Emperor during one of his visits in Okinawa. It was said that the Emperor was so amazed by the beauty of karate that the Japanese Ministry of Education and Sports requested Okinawa high school sports association to do a demonstration of karate at the all Japan martial arts festival that will be held in mainland Japan. Mr. Funakoshi was then sent to introduce this art to the mainland Japanese. Jigoro Kano, founder of Judo, requested that Mr. Funakoshi should extend his stay in mainland Japan to do further demonstration and also to teach karate in some Universities and Japanese martial arts school as well. During those times, Japanese people are very nationalistic and will not accept anything foreign especially Chinese, So master Funakoshi changed the old kara (唐)to a kara(空) character which means empty, to disassociate it with china. Thus the word "Empty Hand" began.
WADO KARATE DO
Hironori Otsuka, Master Instructor of the Shindo Yoshin Ryu Jujitsu, was fascinated with karate and immediately became Master Funakoshi's student. Master Otsuka, being a natural martial artist, learned this system in a short span and became master Funakoshi's assistant in his task to propagate karate in the whole of Japan.
Master Otsuka had a slight difference with Master Funakoshi when it comes to some points of karate training. Master Funakoshi limits his training to kata because He thinks that it is too risky to incorporate the practice of Kumite. Master Otsuka believes that like kendo and judo, control can be applied in karate when practicing kumite. Master Otsuka also sought lessons from karate masters Choki Motobu and Mabuni Kanei who were already running their own dojo in central Japan. Later on, Master Otsuka decided to further his studies by himself and incorporated the Shindo yoshin ryu Jujitsu with karate and later on developed a new art called Wado Ryu.
At first, Master Otsuka used different names for his school but later on Japan Karate Do Wado Kai was officially used. When the All Japan Karate Do Federations was formed by the Japanese government, Nippon Karate Do Renmei Wado Kai (JKF Wado Kai), became the official name of the Wado Society.
In a meeting involving Eichi Eriguchi(JKF Wado Kai),Master Otsuka and Tatsuo Suzuki Hanshi, it was made clear that Master Otsuka wanted Tatsuo Suzuki Hanshi to be His successor in the leadership of Wado but Master Suzuki declined and instead suggested Master Otsuka's son Jiro, to be the next leader. The officials of the JKF Wado Kai disagreed on Jiro's appointment and insisted that leadership should be done in a proper electoral procedure and not by appointment. Master Otsuka had no choice but to resign his position as president of Wado Kai and later on formed a private organization called Wado Ryu Karate Do Renmei for his son Jiro to lead. Suzuki Hanshi, decided to be a part of Master Otsuka's Wado Ryu Renmei but at the same time tried to reunite the Wado organizations on several occasions only to have them resume their bickering as soon as he left Japan.
Under Jiro Otsuka's leadership, Suzuki Hanshi noticed that there were many inconsistencies with the Kata and Techniques which later made him to make a decision and in 1991 Suzuki Hanshi parted ways with Wado Ryu Renmei and the Wado Kokusai Karate Do Renmei was born.
To this date, due to the political problems within the large Wado groups, many independent Wado Organizations with the aim of teaching a clean
and un-politicized Wado have flourished.
HISTORY OF WADO
The founder of Wado ryu, Hironori Otsuka, was born on 1 June 1892 in Shimodate, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. In 1898, Otsuka began practicing koryu jujutsu under Chojiro Ebashi. From 1905–1921, he studied Shindo Yoshin ryu jujutsu under Tatsusaburo Nakayama. In 1922, he met Ginchin Funakoshi and began to train under him. In 1924, Otsuka became one of the first students promoted to black belt in karate by Funakoshi. To broaden his knowledge of Karate, Otsuka also studied with other prominent masters such as Kenwa Mabuni of Shito ryu and Motobu Choki. In 1929, Otsuka organized the first school karate club at Tokyo University.
In 1938, Otsuka registered his style of karate with the Dai Nippon ButokuKai under the name of "Shinshu Wado ryu Karate Jujutsu." Soon after, this was shortened to "Wado ryu" (和道流). In 1938, the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai awarded Otsuka the title Renshi and in 1942, the title of Kyoshi.
In 1952, the Wado ryu headquarters (honbu) was established at the Meiji University dojo in Tokyo. In 1954, its name was changed to Zen Nippon Karate Renmei (All Japan Karate Federation).
In 1964, the Japan Karate Do Federation (JKF) was established as a general organization for all karate styles. Wado ryu joined this organization as a major group.
In 1966, Otsuka was awarded Kun Goto Soukuo Kyokujujutsu (comparable to a knighthood) by Emperor Hirohito for his dedication to the introduction and teaching
of karate. On 5 June 1967, the name to "Japan Karate Do Wado Kai" was officially used.
In 1972, the President of Kokusai Budo Renmei, a member of the Japanese royal family, awarded Otsuka the Shodai Karate Do Meijin Judan (first generation karate master 10th Dan); this was the first time this honor had been bestowed on a karate practitioner.