This month in 1982 saw the death of Wado Ryu founder and grand master Hironori Ohtsuka. Over 90 years his dedication to martial arts and to the development of Wado Ryu karate was phonomenal. All though the vast majority of todays wado karaeteka never actually trained with him we still draw inspiration from those that have and have past their knowledge down through generations of karateka. Below is a link to some footage of Grand Master Ohtsuka performing katahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbOxEVrne8U
Master Ohtsuka was born on 1st June 1892 and was later was introduced to martial arts by his uncle who was a Jujitsu instructor. Then in 1897 Ohtsuka started to study Shindo Yoshin Ryu Jujitsu under the leadership of Shinzaburo Nakayama Sensei who was 3rd grand master of this style. This style was synonemous with the nature and grace of movement and the versatility and flexilbility of force without damage. These elements play a major part in todays Wado karate, where techniques can use your opponents body and direction to play as much a part of defeating your enemy as your own.
Ohtsuka carried on this study whilst at University as well as study of other styles of Jujitsu. He developed the techniques of his existing style and combined them with others he lernt. As a result of his hard work and dedication on 1st June 1920 Ohtsuka was awarded the highest degree in Shindo Yoshin Ryu Jujitsu, allowing hime to suceed his masters position and become the 4th Grand Master of the style.
Then in 1922 at a sports festival in Tokyo Ohtsuka witnessed a demonstartion in Okinawan karate by Gichin Funakoshi Sensei. Ohtsuka was impressed by what he saw and visited Funakoshi many times to discuss techniques and other aspects of karate. Funakoshi was impressed by Ohtsukas enthusiasm and detemination to understand Karate and agreed to teach him all he knew. Within the space of a year Ohtsuka studied all the kata that Funakoshi had brought from Okinawa, but Ohtsuka found some moves and techniques difficult to understand and apply, which led him to practice kata with Mabuni Sensei (the founder of Shito Ryu Karate).
By 1925 Ohtsuka was chief instructor of Shindo Yoshin Ryu Jujitsu and was Funakoshi's assistant instructor at his dojo. By 1929 Ohtsuka started to feel that attack and defence was, in the true spirit of Budo, missing from Okinawan karate, which mainly concetrated on kata up until then. So to this end Ohtsuka had been debeloping Yakusoko Kumite to compensate for this. He thought that there was a need for a more fluid type of karate, so he decided to leave Funakoshi and concentrate on founding and developing his new style 'Wado Ryu'.
In 1934 not only was Ohtsuka's son born but also Wado Ryu was officially recognised as an independant style. Over the years Wado Ryu has grown from strength to strength, 1944 Ohtsuka was appointed Japans Chief Karate Instructor.
In the 1963 at the request of Master Ohtsuka a team of 3 of his top students went to America and Europe to spread Wado Ryu, which became recognised world wide for its merits.
In 1972 Ohtsuka Sensei was awarded a title never before awarded to a karate master, the president of the International martial arts federation, who was amember of the royal familt, presented Ohtsuka with the title "Meijin" - the first excellent martial arts instructor in Karate (10th Dan) it was the greatest title possible to be bestowed on him.
In Jan 1982 Grand Master Hironori Ohtsuka passed away, but his spirit and teachings go on in all who follow his path and the way of Wado Ryu.
OSU
I'm sure you will agree that the Grand Masters dedication to martial arts is inspiriational. Below is another link to Ohtsuka performinf Tanto Dori, enjoy.
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