Wado Ryu Karate was founded by Hironori Ohtsuka (1892-1982) in 1934. In 1892 Ohtsuma Sensei was born in Shimodate city, Ibaragi Prefecture, Japan. Ohtsuka Sensei began taking JuJutsu lessons from a relative at a young age. In 1897 he joined a school and studied Shindo Yoshin Ryu JuJutsu under Shinzaburo Nakayama Sensei. During his training with Nakayama Sensei, Ohtsuka gained an appreciation for natural flowing movements and how they could be used defeat opponents leveraging their own attacks. These lessons would later inspire Wado Ryu Karate.

Ohtsuka Sensei studied other styles of JuJitsu too and he used those opportunities to develop new and innovative techniques and improve his knowledge of vital points. Around 1917 he began his relationship with the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba. In 1920 Hironori Ohtsuka became the fourth grandmaster of Shindo Yoshin Ryu JuJitsu. 

The Beginnings of Wado Ryu Karate

At a sports festival in Tokyo in 1922 Ohstsuka Sensei witnessed a demonstration of an art called Karate by Gichin Funakoshi. Hinonori Ohtsuka was very impressed with Okinawan Karate and Funakoshi Sensei agreed to train him in the style. This one demonstration is the beginning of the history of Wado Ryu Karate.  Ohtsuka Sensei quickly learned all of the Katas from Funakoshi Sensei but found many of the techniques difficult to implement and understand. After several years of studying Karate and trying to understand the underlying concepts, Ohtsuka saw a need to add more attacks and incorporate fluid movements. 

Wado Ryu Karate was founded 1934, and in 1935 it became an accepted martial art. However at this time it was considered an extension of Judo. Finally in 1938 Wado Ryu Karate became its own recognized style in Japan.

Quite quickly Wado Ryu gained popularity. It was taught at universities and dojos across Japan. Ohtsuka Sensei also gained popularity and in 1944 became Japan's Chief Karate Instructor.

Despite it'spopularity in Japan, up until th 1960's Wado Ryu remained an art only practiced within the country. A team of three highly skilled instructors, Mr. Arakawa, Mr. Takashima and Mr. Tatsuo Suzuki  left the islands to demonstrate and teach Wado Ryu Karate to martial artists all over the world. Thanks to their efforts by the 1970's Wado Ryu Karate was well-established in Europe and the Americas. Today Wado Ryu Karate is an extremely popular style with practioners all over the globe.