“ Violent action may be understood as the way of martial arts, but the true meaning of martial arts is to seek and attain the way of peace and harmony.”

Brief History of Wado-Ryu Karate

Wado-Ryu Karate was created by Grandmaster, Hironori OHTSUKA who was born in 1892 in Shimodate, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan. His mother's uncle, Chojiro EBASHI was a samurai warrior who kept the young OHTSUKA spellbound with tales of exciting samurai adventure.

In 1898, when only six years old, Hironori OHTSUKA began practising Ju Jitsu. By the age of 13 he was a young shave tail in the Shinto Yoshin school of Ju Jitsu studying under Yukiyoshi Tatsuoburo NAKAYAMA. Whereas most Ju Jitsu schools specialised in naga waza (throwing and ground or striking techniques), the Shinto Yoshin Ryu stressed atemi striking and kicking.

At 19 he entered the Waseda University and while majoring in business administration he started training in atemi style kempo in addition to his regular training in Shinto Yoshin Ryu.

On June 1, 1921 OHSTUKA celebrated his 29th birthday by taking over the mastership of the Shinto Yoshin Ryu from NAKAYAMA sensei upon receipt of a certificate of full proficiency in the Ju Jitsu School.

The following year OHTSUKA Sensei went to Tokyo after hearing about an Okinawan named Gitchin FUNAKOSHI who on invitation from the Crown Prince had traveled to Tokyo to perform his local martial art before the Emperor of Japan. This new art was called karate.

OHTSUKA Sensei wasted no time in introducing himself to the karate master who welcomed him warmly. This was to be the start of a long and close friendship between the two. OHTSUKA Sensei trained virtually every night at the Meishojuko Dojo and from that moment on ideas on how to adapt his atemi techniques to karate were constantly on his mind.

In 1927 OHTSUKA Sensei began working as a medical specialist treating persons injured in the martial arts. He continued his karate training and two years later he organised the first school karate club at the Tokyo University. He launched a study into a method of arranging kumite (free style fighting) into competitive matches, laying the basis for the present kumite style matches.

After 1930 OHTSUKA Sensei set up a string of karate clubs at various universities in Tokyo. In 1934 he officially inaugurated his own unique style of karate which he called karate promotion club. It was not until 1940 that OHTSUKA Sensei finally devised the name of our style, WADO-RYU, meaning ' The way of harmony'.

The atemi and nage waza techniques of Ju Jitsu have had a strong influence in the formation of the Wado Ryu Karate. As it exists today the Wado system is a culmination of a life times work by its founder. For his outstanding contribution to karate, the Japanese Government awarded OHTSUKA Sensei the fifth order of merit.

In 1972 OHTSUKA sensei received the highest award the Emperor of Japan can award, the Hanashi award. With this came the honour of being ranked at the head of all martial arts systems within the Japan Karate-Do Federation.

Sadly OHTSUKA Sensei passed away in 1982, however his techniques and his legacy live on in his successor and Current Chief Instructor of the Wado-Ryu System, Grandmaster Hironori OHTSUKA II, son of the founder.

Philosophy of Wado Ryu

A simplified interpretation of the name Wado Ryu could be taken as “following the way of peace and harmony” but there is much more to it than that.  

There is not much written material in relation to Wado Ryu that a student can study and therefore it is up to the individual students to listen carefully to what they are instructed and to train hard. It is very important to remain as part of the original organization with direct links through qualified and knowledgeable instructors if you are to fully understand Wado Ryu karate Do. Wado Ryu of Japan Australia is very fortunate to be a member of the Wado Ryu Karate Do Academy under the guidance of Sensei SHIOMITSU, 9th Dan who provides us with invaluable guidance.

During one of his training visits to Australia Sensei SHIOMITSU was asked what is the philosophy of Wado Ryu to which he replied simply “Get sweat”. He then elaborated by providing the explanation of the Wado Poem which goes like this : Ten, Chi, Jin, No Ri-Do Ni Wasuru.

The kanji TEN means the sky, heaven and the air; CHI stands for the earth, the soil and the ground; JIN represents man, mankind and human beings; Ri-Do means the reason and truth and WA stands for the sum of the whole, peace and harmony. Taken all together it is clear that man is a part of nature and everything that he does is connected to nature which he must learn to live in harmony with if he is to achieve harmony and peace.
Taken one step further then the true meaning of practicing Wado Ryu karate is to achieve a state of harmony with all things through the process of hard training in techniques which are both natural in movement and their application.

The Founder of Wado Ryu is attributed with the following writing; “When you practice Wado Ryu as a martial art, it not only means committing yourself to the way of Wado Ryu, but also committing yourself to a certain way of life, which includes hard training, overcoming obstacles in life and finding the way to lead a healthy and meaningful existence in the time you have on this planet. Through this way of life, you can reach the centre of WA and lead a life of wholeness.”

Wado Ryu karate is practiced as a martial art and not as a sport. Modern times dictate that there is a sporting element attached to the practice of karate but a true student of Wado Ryu never loses sight of the fact that sport is sport and life is life. The difficulties faced in training parallel difficulties we face in life, if we give up because something is difficult then we give up on life itself. If we succeed in the dojo then move on to face the next challenge then we will continue forward in life. Success is not simply overcoming an opponent in the dojo because we should not be training to destroy others but to develop ourselves. Wado Ryu Karate Do is designed to make better people.

Techniques of Wado Ryu Karate.

It is difficult to summarise what differentiates Wado Ryu Karate from other styles. The main difference is that in Wado Ryu karate there is no block of an attack as a means to itself, we try to hit and kick at the same time as our opponent attacks. To do this we use the principles of Nagashi Zuki, Tai Sabaki and also Nagasu, Inasu and Noru. The last three terms are important movements of Wado Ryu.

Sensei SHIOMITSU explained the last three terms as follows;  NAGSU, means like a river running, you try to swim the same way as the river, so as the punch is coming your arm moves to the same way as the punch then that is called NAGASU.  INASU is like when you make a bank at the side of the river, if you make a little bank then the water will change direction so, if you put a little friction and deflection with your arm then the punch will change direction, that is called INASU. NORU is to ride on top of your opponents strength, when you are attacked you ride on top of your opponents strength then punch, that is NORU.

Nagshi Zuki and Tai Sabaki are methods of moving your own body to minimize the amount of energy needed to deliver your attack and to ensure that you are moving out of danger from your opponents attack. These natural body movements and the concepts of NAGASU, INASU and NORU have their origins in the traditional budo approach to martial arts. Wado has as part of its origins elements of Shinto Yoshin Ryu Ju Jitsu and sword fighting techniques from Yaggyu Ryu Kenjutsu and Toda Ryu kodachi. These traditional budo style martial arts contribute greatly to the unique methods employed in the Wado Ryu system.
Grandmaster Ohtsuka likened the flowing movement and flexibility of Wado Technique to being like a “ball of air”.  He once said “ defence and offence in martial arts work with the ways of nature. One’s movements must be like a ball, uninterrupted and fluid. A ball’s movement is smooth, it does not contradict or oppose the ways of nature. Techniques in martial arts must be flexible to change and other forces like a “ball of air”. Regardless of the degree of smoothness a flow of movements must occur. A “ball of air” would move freely from other external forces, it moves in accordance to its environment. It can change its shape and form infinitely thus, its surfaces and limits change infinitely. There is shape without shape, surface without surface and limit without limit. These changes are infinite. Like outer space, it is infinitely limitless. It is like the sky. This infinity embraces all things, and makes peace. In martial arts there is no such thing as the ultimate technique. Techniques must be infinitely changeable and altered, just like the sky and space.”

In addition to the above concept of being fluid and adaptive there are three maxims to be observed;

1. Do not use unnecessary force
2. Do not make unnecessary movement
3. Do not use unnecessary techniques to achieve your effect.

Many of the physical techniques of Wado Ryu karate can be found in other styles it is the method of delivery and intent that makes the applications of these techniques a Wado Ryu technique. There are also elements of Ju Jitsu found in Wado that are not found other karate styles, joint locking and throwing techniques are fully incorporated into the Wado Ryu syllabus.

Wado-Ryu Karate in Australia
Sensei Wally Maclean, the founder of Wado-Ryu of Japan, Australia, first brought the Wado Ryu style of karate to Australia in 1967. Sensei Maclean was originally a Judo practitioner and after fifteen years of running a Judo school he decided to learn Karate. In 1964 at the age of fifty-one he first commenced his study of karate.

(Sadly, Sensei Maclean passed away on 7 September 2003, he is succeeded by our current Chief Instructor Sensei Clive Waymouth, 5th Dan.)

In 1966 Sensei Maclean traveled to Japan where he was introduced to one of the leading instructors of the Wado-Ryu style, Sensei Kazuo Sakai. The two formed a friendship and Sensei Maclean commenced his study of the Wado-Ryu style at Sensei Sakai's dojo in Yokohama. Eventually he received his Shodan grading and shortly after he returned to Melbourne where he commenced teaching Wado-Ryu Karate. All this was at a time when Sensei Maclean was in his middle fifties, usually a time when most men think of retiring from sport. Those of us who Knew Sensei Maclean however are well aware of his mental toughness and his love of Wado, which explains why he was still involved in teaching Wado up until just a few years before his death.

Sensei Maclean was one of the founding members of the Australian Karate Federation when it was originally known as F.A.K.O. He was a life member of that organisation. Since bringing the Wado style to Australia Sensei Maclean returned to Japan many times and encouraged his senior students to do likewise. He constantly tried to improve the standard within his dojos and to adhere as close as possible to the correct method of practice and instruction as intended by the Grand Master Hironori Ohtsuka.

In 1991 Wado-Ryu of Japan, Australia became a member of the Wado-Ryu Karate Do Academy which is headed by Sensei M.Shiomitsu 8th Dan. Sensei Shiomitsu is invited yearly to come to Australia to teach the instructors and members of Wado-Ryu of Japan, Australia. This insures that the highest standards are set and that the true techniques of Wado-Ryu are being taught and practiced throughout all our dojo's.

Our organisation, Wado Ryu of Japan, Australia, is comprised of a Chief Instructor and five Branch Heads each of whom had trained with Sensei Maclean for in excess of twenty years. The Chief Instructor is Clive WAYMOUTH 5th Dan and the Branch Heads are; Neil EAST 4th Dan, Russell GEORGE 3rd Dan, Robin HOLMES 3rd Dan, Kevin LOVEDAY 3rd  Dan and Brian CROSS 3rd Dan. Information about the club can be found at the following web site www.wadoryuaustralia.com

dojo list
Chief instructor: wantirna Dojo
Sensei WAYMOUTH
5th Dan

PH: (03) 97580561

Instructor Profile – Masafumi SHIOMITSU – 9th Dan Hanshi
Head of the WADO RYU KARATE DO ACADEMY

Sensei Masafumi SHIOMITSU is a long time member of the Wado Ryu style of karate. He was one of the leading pioneers of the style within the United Kingdom when karate first became popular in the western world. He established the Wado Ryu Karate Do Academy in 1989 and since then has traveled the world extensively providing expert instruction in this unique style of karate to all who wish to study it with an open mind and a martial art mind set.

Sensei SHIOMITSU is one of only eleven Japanese instructors officially recognised by the Wado Ryu Karate Do Renmei as being authorised to instruct Wado Ryu karate overseas. Within the Wado Ryu Karate Do Renmei he holds the position of chairman in charge of overseas (All Europe) as well as technical councillor.

In his younger days as a student at Nihon University he was notorious for his ferocious attitude towards karate competition and was particularly feared for his dynamic and technically excellent kicking techniques. He was regarded as one of the very best practitioners at the school at that time and has now progressed to be regarded as one of the very best instructors of the style anywhere in the world today.

Born in 1940 in the Kagoshima area on the Southern island of Japan Sensei SHIOMITSU was probably destined to become a leading martial artist. Kagoshima is very traditional area and is famous for its Samurai traditions and this history became part of the character of  Sensei as he grew up. Because of this history Sensei has always studied his karate as a martial art, not a sport.  At the age of 15 he first started to practice karate, at the time studying the Shorin Ryu style of karate which was prevalent in the Kagoshima area. At the age of 18 he moved to Tokyo to attend university and it was at this time that he first started to study the Wado Ryu style.

At the Tokyo university dojo Sensei studied directly under the founder of Wado Ryu karate, Grandmaster Otsuka. There were three main coaches at that time, Tanabe Sensei and two brothers named Arakawa.

Training at that time was notorious for its fierce kumite practice which often saw students engage in fighting resulting in serious injury.

Sensei SHIOMITSU makes a regular visit to Australia every year around  July or August to conduct his annual training program for Wado Ryu of Japan, Australia and to conduct Dan Grading examinations. His program is intensive, challenging but always enjoyable.

The following sequence of photographs is an example of one of the many techniques of Wado Ryu that form part of the partnered practice repatoire. The opponents face off at an appropriate distance and the attacker initiates the sequence by moving to an attack position. Once the attack is commenced the defense is performed in a smooth continuous motion resulting in the attack being neutralized.
1.

Attacker steps forward and attempts front kick to the midsection. Defender steps back and using body shift moves into shiko dachi stance as they deflect the attacking leg

2.

As the attacker follows up with a lead hand punch defender attacks the punching arm from underneath.

 3.

Defender  using a body twisting movement breaks the balance of the attacker and prepares to deliver a right hand haito technique.

4.

Defender now moves forward into attack maintaining control of the attackers right arm and delivering right forearm attack across attackers neck.

5.

Defender continues with the circular movement and takes attacker to the ground again maintaining control of the attackers right arm.

6.

(reverse angle) Maintaining control of the attackers arm by holding it in an arm bar position and simultaneously deliver an ippon ken strike to the vital point under the attackers armpit. Maintain control of the attacker by forcing his shoulder forward and controlling his head with your knee.

NB all actions should be performed in a continuous flowing motion.