▪▪OUR PROGRAMS of STUDY ▪
WADORYU KARATE
Our principal
course of study is traditional, or classical Wadoryu Karatedo.
Unlike other forms of traditional Okinawan karatedo, Wadoryu is a
purely Japanese art, created by the late Master, Hironori Ohtsuka, as a
synthesis of the ancient art of Shindo Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu, and Shotokan
Karate. Wadoryu is one of the world's main karate styles. On the
surface it looks very similar to other main styles, however, there are
some important differences.
In fact
it may be argued that Wadoryu is a Jujutsu style rather than Okinawan
Karate. When first registered with the Japanese Butokukai in 1939 the
style was called 'Shinshu Wadoryu Karate-Jutsu', a name which reflects
the hybrid nature of Wado. Wadoryu's founder Hironori Ohtsuka was
already a renowned grandmaster in Shindo Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu when he
first met the Okinawan karate master Funakoshi. After having received
tutelage of not only Funakoshi but other masters, including Kenwa Mabuni,
Choki Motobu, and Aikido founder, Morihei Ueshiba, he set off to merge
Shindo Yoshin Ryu with Okinawan Karate.
The result of
Ohtsuka's efforts is Wadoryu. While its techniques may be very much
karate in looks, most of the underlying principles have been derived
from Shindo Yoshin Ryu. A block in Wado may look much like a block in
Shotokan, they are nevertheless performed from a completely different
perspective. A Shotokan practitioner is likely to force an incoming fist
out of the line of attack. A Wado expert, on the other hand, will rather
move himself out of the line of attack while taking up a position that
will gain him an advantage over the opponent. Both ways will look almost
similar to the untrained eye, but couldn't be further apart when
considering the tactics behind it. Key in Wadoryu is the principle of 'taisabaki',
often wrongly referred to as 'evasion'. The Japanese term 'taisabaki'
can be translated as 'body-management' and refers to body manipulation
so as to move the defender as well as the attacker out of harm's way.
The way to achieve this is to 'move along' rather than to 'move
against'. Or harmony rather than strength.
Perhaps the
nature of Wado is better understood when considering its Jujutsu
origins. In 17th century Japan
a young physician departed on a journey to China. His name
was Yoshitoki Akiyama. During his stay in China he learned Chinese
healing methods as well as Chinese fighting techniques. After a while
Akiyama returned to Japan
and retreated in a monastery where he devoted himself to meditation.
During those days he also practiced and perfected his technique. One
snowy day during winter, Akiyama sat gazing at a willow tree. It
suddenly occurred to him that the willow tree, unlike some other trees,
didn't have any broken branches, despite the heavy snow. The willow
branches simply yield and allow the snow to fall off. Sturdier trees
with unyielding branches suffer much heavier from the elements of
nature. After this revelation he developed 303 techniques which became
known as 'Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu' or 'Willow Heart Style'. Yoshin Ryu later
evolved into Wadoryu but the fundamental yielding principles have still
been preserved.
The term Wadoryu
can be broken into three parts: 'Wa', 'Do' and 'Ryu'. 'Wa' can be read
to mean harmony, or peace. However, it can also be read to
mean Japan, or Japanese. 'Do' is the Japanese
pronunciation for the ancient Chinese word, Dao, or Tao;
denoting the concept of Way, or path. 'Ryu' can be read to
mean style, current, or school [of]. Wa or harmony shouldn't be interpreted as pacifism in any way.
It is merely the acknowledgement that yielding is sometimes more
effective than brute strength.
▪To learn more about Wadoryu and Master Ohtsuka, visit
USEasternWado.com
