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WADO-RYU
(Way of Peace)
Founder and Grand master- HIRONORI OHTSUKA.
Born in the lbaragi prefecture of Japan in 1892.
Began his martial arts training at the age of six, studying "Shindo Yoshinryu Ju-Jitsu" under Professor Tatsusaburo Nakayama. Declared a master of Ju-Jitsu in 1912.
Began his study of Karate-Do in 1922 under the instruction of Grand master Gichin Funakoshi. In the later 1920’s, many of Funakoshi’s students began to break away and form their own styles. Hironori Ohtsuka combined his knowledge of Japanese Ju-Jitsu and Okinawan Karate and included his philosophy of Zen Buddhism to create the unique style of Wado-Ryu.
In 1934, Mr. Ohtsuka helped create the first official "All Japan Karate-Do Federation"
In 1939, Mr. Ohtsuka became the first master to give a name to a Karate style, calling it "Way of Peace". Other masters soon followed suit giving names to Shotokan, Kyokushinkai, Goju-Ryu etc.
Sensei Ohtsuka was awarded his 10th Dan grading in 1972 by the President of the International Martial Arts Association - Mr. N. Higashikuni, the brother of the Emperor of Japan. He was the only man to be awarded the title "Meijin", which means Great Master. There are only three meijin in the world; one for Judo, one for Kendo, and one for Karate.
Upon his death in 1982, the task of promoting Wado-Ryu was handed down to his son Hironori (Jiro) Ohtsuka the second, who currently heads the Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Renmei.