Master Hironori Otsuka
Shodai Karate-do Meijin Judan
(First Generation Karate-do Master of the Tenth Dan)
"The karateka should always hold true three vital elements -- the heart, spirit and physical strength."
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Master Otsuka
Master Hironori Otsuka was born June 1, 1892, in Shimodate, Japan, where his father, Dr. Tokujiro Otsuka, operated a clinic.
As a boy, he listened to a samurai warrior, his mother's uncle, tell thrilling stories of samurai exploits. This may well have been where the first seeds were sown that would later be some of the guiding principles and philosophies of Wado karate.
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Master Otsuka began martial arts training at five-years of age under his great uncle Chojiro Ibashi (Shintani & Reid, 1998) and by age thirteen was formally studying shindo yoshinryu jujutsu, a traditional Japanese martial art from which modern judo was derived, under Yokiyoshi Tatsusaburo Nakayama. Whereas most schools at that time stressed throwing or grappling techniques, this school stressed atemi (striking and kicking techniques).
His martial arts training continued even when, in 1911, he entered Waseda University to study business administration. It was during this period that Master Otsuka began studying atemi-style Toshin-Kenpo while he continued his studies in shindo yoshinryu. When his father died in 1913 he was forced to quit school and return to Shimodate to work in a bank.
Family portrait -- Master Otsuka standing on left
Founder of Wado Kai Karate (1892-1982)
By 1921, at the relatively young age of 29, he was awarded the coveted menkyo-kaiden, designating him the successor as master of this style. A year later, he began karate training under Gichin Funakoshi, the man who introduced karate to Japan from Okinawa.
Master Otsuka had heard of Funakoshi's visit to Japan and journeyed to Tokyo to witness the demonstration. Later, when Funakoshi decided to stay in Japan and teach karate at the Meishojuku Gymnasium, Master Otsuka asked to stay and study with him. In 1927, he left the bank at Shimodate, and became a medical specialist treating martial arts injuries in order to devote more time to the martial arts.
Master Otsuka outside Sensei Shintani residence
In 1929, he started the first karate club at Tokyo University. The next five years would see him establish clubs in many other universities as one of Funakoshi's most senior students. During this time, Master Otsuka also had the opportunity to study with other prominent karate stylists of the time, including Kenwa Mabuni of the shito-ryu style, and Choki Motobu, who was known for his emphasis on kumite and the Naihanchi kata.
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However, Master Otsuka eventually began disagreeing with Master Funakoshi over developmental issues, particularly Master Otsuka's desire to develop free sparring drills. Funakoshi denounced this as an impurity in karate training, with a potential for great injury due to the deadly nature of some karate techniques.
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In the early 1930s, Master Otsuka parted company with Funakoshi, and traveled to Okinawa to learn more karate from the masters who had instructed Funakoshi. It was his belief that Funakoshi had over-simplified and over-modified several karate techniques and katas in the interests of teaching large groups of beginners.
Master Otsuka combined knowledge of Funakoshi's karate with his new knowledge of Okinawan karate, and added several of his own adaptations from Japanese bushido (the way of the warrior) martial arts to form Wado karate. Master Otsuka eventually opened his own dojo as the Dai Nippon Karate Shinko club in 1934.
According to records published by Shintani & Reid (1998), the name changed to Dai Nippon Karate-do Shinbu-Kai, then to Ko-Shu Wado-Ryu Karate Jutsu, which was subsequently shortened to Wado-Ryu Karate Jutsu, followed finally by Wado Ryu.
​Master Otsuka registered Wado karate in 1940 at Butokukai, Kyoto. It has become one the four major styles of Japanese karate, the others being: Shotokan, Shito, and Goju.
In the same year, Master Otsuka organized the All Japanese Karate-do Federation, Wado-Kai, which serves as the worldwide sanctioning body for Wado karate and its affiliates. As early as 1934, he had developed rules and regulations for competitive free sparring to be incorporated into his system, the first karate style to do so.
These rules have been wholly or partially adopted by virtually all modern martial arts competitions.
In 1966, Master Otsuka received the Kun-Go-To, or "The Fifth Order of Merit of the Sacred Treasure" from the Emperor of Japan. He was also bestowed with the Soko Kyokujitsu-Sho medal for outstanding contributions to the development and promotion of karate.
In 1972, he received the Shodai Karate-do Meijin Judan or "First Generation Karate-do Master of the Tenth Dan". He was designated the head of all martial arts systems within the All Japan Karate-do Federation.
Master Otsuka passed away on January 29, 1982, after which Wado karate separated into several organizations based upon differences in leadership and teaching concepts.