Anyone who is familiar with the Wado Ryu Karate will certainly know the great legend Hironori Ohtsuka (pictured right); the legendary karate Master was the creator of this unique branch of karate. This great legend left us in the year 1982, but he is still revered by the practitioners of karate along with the all time greats. Born in the year 1982 Ohtsuka had a doctor for his father. The great teacher was primarily introduced to the martial arts because of his uncle, who was a famous samurai warrior named Chojiro Ebashi. Thus began this great Masters training in Jujitsu. As soon as he reached the age of thirteen, he was enrolled into the prestigious Shintoyoshin School of Jujitsu and he started his formal training under the Master Tatsusaburo Nakayama.
The Jujitsu school, in which Ohtsuka got enrolled along with 35 other students, specialized in striking and kicking techniques, this would help him later on when he developed Wado Ryu Karate. When he was nineteen years old, Master Ohtsuka entered the University to study Business Administration. Simultaneously he continued his endeavor to practice Jujitsu in various other schools spread throughout Japan. The Master concentrated on studying the positive side of Jujutsu and how one can use it as a lifestyle to attain a higher state of mind. Throughout his life he would continue in his journey to uncover the unknown secrets of the martial arts. Even today martial artists draw inspiration from the life and works of this Master.
The year was 1992, when Master Ohtsuka arrived at the Tokyo Sports festival, it was here that he came in contact with the style of karate practiced and preached by the great Gichin Funakoshi. Gichin Funakoshi would later come to be known as the “Father of The Modern Karate”. Master Ohtsuka was deeply touched by this new form of Karate and decided that he must met with the legend Funakoshi in person. Master Funakoshi was touched by the determination and the passion that Ohtsuka had for the martial arts and taught him everything he had known about it. Soon, Master Ohtsuka went on and started medical practice to treat martial artists who got injured during practice.
At this period of his life, the great Master Ohtsuka became at the dojo of Master Funakoshi. He also became Chief Instructor for the Shindo Yoshin Ryu Jujitsu only at the mere age of 30, which is a feat in itself. Master Ohtsuka became a bona fide member of the Japan Martial Arts Federation. During this time of his life, the Master was trying to observe and practice the kata technique, where the martial artists must fight with imaginary opponent. The Master felt that the Kata technique was missing the practicality that was required in a real combat situation, so he experimented upon different other martial arts like Judo, Aikido etc. he then blended the useful and the most practical techniques in the Okinawa Karate.
The Master Ohtsuka strongly felt the urge to develop a more fluid and combat effective style of karate that would give the martial artists a combative edge over their opponent even those within the soul. Finally, he left the dojo of Master Funakoshi and went on to develop his own martial arts style that would make him a legend throughout the world. In the year 1934, Wado Ryu Karate had been officially recognized as a distinct form of Karate with its unique set of moves and philosophy, and thus once medical practitioner, now became a tagged martial artist.
The unique style of Master Ohtsuka Wado Ryu Karate got registered with Japan Martial Arts Federation. The Federation was very impressed by the unique demonstration of martial art skills by the Sensei (teacher) and they awarded him the “Renshi-go” or a highly placed instructor. As the years passed, newer dojos were opened throughout the country and karate moves were being taught seriously at the universities as well. Master Ohtsuka became nationally recognized Karate personality. In the year 1944, he was appointed as Japan’s Chief Karate-Instructor, this was a big achievement for the Master but he did not stop there, he still had to take Wado Ryu Karate to the whole world. In year 1960, one 3-man team was sent to Europe and America to spread the word about the new style of Karate and from then on there was no looking backwards. The Wado Ryu Karate won many accolades whenever it went.
The Master was honored with the title “Kun Goto Suokuo Kyoku jujitsu Shuo” by the emperor Hirohito in the year 1966. Six years later in the year 1972, the historic award by the name of “Meijin” or First greatest Martial Artist of Karate 10th Dan was given to the Master.
The great Master kept on teaching Wado Ryu Karate till the 1980s. The great teacher, Ohtsuka, passed away in the year 1982; even during his last years he was the perfect martial artist and lived by the code of honor that he preached his pupils. All over the world, he is still remembered along with the best Karate practitioners that ever walked on this earth.