Shihan Hironori Ohtsuka founded Wadoryu Karatedo in 1938. He previously organized the Greater Japan Karatedo Promoting Club, Dai Nippon Karatedo Shinkoh Club, in 1934 and in 1938 registered his style, Wadoryu, at the Butokukai in Kyoto. That same year, other major styles of karate enrolled their names: Shotokanryu, Gojuryu, Shitoryu, among others.
The Wadoryu organization went through a series of name changes. The name changed from Shinshu Wadoryu Karate Jitsu to Wadoryu Karate All Japan Karate Federation to All Japan Karatedo Federation, Wadokai, and presently to JKF Wadokai Karatedo Federation.
The JKF Wadokai Karatedo Federation has its headquarters in Tokyo. The Federation is the largest karate group in Japan and represents one of the four major styles of karate throughout the world. Recently, Wadokai has produced outstanding competitors representing Japan in international competitions. Among them are the champions of the World Karate Federation (Wuko-WKF).
In 1981, the parent organization split into two groups: the Wadoryu Karatedo Federation, headed by the founder’s second son, Jiro Ohtsuka – Hironori Ohtsuka II, and the All Japan Karatedo Federation, Wadokai, the original group. Wadokai is a member of the Japan Karatedo Federation (JKF) and the World Karatedo Federation (WKF). Wadokai officially presents Wadoryu Karatedo to the JKF and the WKF.
HIRONORI OHTSUKA, FOUNDER OF WADORYU
Hironori Ohtsuka was born on April 1, 1892 in Shimoda-shi, Ibaragi-ken, Japan. At the age of five, he began studying jujutsu under his great-uncle, Chojiro Ebashi. At the age of 14, Ohtsuka Sensei started studying Yoshinryu jujutsu under Tatsusaburo Nakayama whose style emphasized natural, flowing movements. This ultimately affected his style of karate. In June 1920, at the age of 28, Nakayama bestowed upon master Ohtsuka the Shindo Yoshinryu Jujutsu Yonsei Menkyo Kaiden, Fourth Grand Master of Yoshinryu Jujutsu, the successor of Nakayama’s style of jujutsu.
At the martial arts festival in 1922, he encountered karate and met master Gichin Funakoshi, considered the father of modern karatedo and founder of Shotokanryu. Shihan Ohtsuka began training with Funakoshi Sensei to learn this Okinawan martial art. He achieved the rank of godan. Later, he studied kata under Kenwa Mabuni and jiyu kumite from Choki Motobu. Ohtsuka’s goal was to incorporate all aspects of his martial arts training into a single system that would be consistent with his jujutsu background.
In 1934, Ohtsuka Shihan headed the Dai Nippon Karate Shinko Club, the Great Japan Karate Promoting Club, and later in 1938 registered his style of karatedo with the Butokukai in order to be able to teach it to the public. Butokukai granted him the rank of kyoshi or junior master in 1942. In 1968, he was awarded Juhosho kun gotoh, the Sacred Decoration 5th Class, by Emperor Hirohito, Showa Tennoh. In 1972, Ohtsuka Shihan was also granted the highest honor ever bestowed upon any karatedo practitioner, the title of Meijin, 10th Degree Grand Master, by the Higashi Kuni no Miya, the younger brother of the emperor.
On January 19, 1982, at the age of 89, Ohtsuka Shihan peacefully passed away. The entire world of martial arts, especially karate practitioners, will always remember him for his enormous contribution and devotion to karatedo.
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Shihan Hironori Ohtsuka founded Wadoryu Karatedo in 1938. He previously organized the Greater Japan Karatedo Promoting Club, Dai Nippon Karatedo Shinkoh Club, in 1934 and in 1938 registered his style, Wadoryu, at the Butokukai in Kyoto. That same year, other major styles of karate enrolled their names: Shotokanryu, Gojuryu, Shitoryu, among others.
The Wadoryu organization went through a series of name changes. The name changed from Shinshu Wadoryu Karate Jitsu to Wadoryu Karate All Japan Karate Federation to All Japan Karatedo Federation, Wadokai, and presently to JKF Wadokai Karatedo Federation.
The JKF Wadokai Karatedo Federation has its headquarters in Tokyo. The Federation is the largest karate group in Japan and represents one of the four major styles of karate throughout the world. Recently, Wadokai has produced outstanding competitors representing Japan in international competitions. Among them are the champions of the World Karate Federation (Wuko-WKF).
In 1981, the parent organization split into two groups: the Wadoryu Karatedo Federation, headed by the founder’s second son, Jiro Ohtsuka – Hironori Ohtsuka II, and the All Japan Karatedo Federation, Wadokai, the original group. Wadokai is a member of the Japan Karatedo Federation (JKF) and the World Karatedo Federation (WKF). Wadokai officially presents Wadoryu Karatedo to the JKF and the WKF.
