Wado Ryu

Wado Ryu (和道流) is one of the four major styles of Japanese karate and was founded by Hironori Ohtsuka (1892–1982). Unlike Shotokan and other Okinawan-derived systems, Wado Ryu is distinctly Japanese in origin, blending karate with Japanese jujutsu to form a unique and efficient martial art.

Ohtsuka was a master of traditional Japanese jujutsu, specifically Shindo Yoshin Ryu, before ever studying karate. His martial training began at an early age, and he received full menkyo kaiden (master license) in Shindo Yoshin Ryu by his early twenties. In the 1920s, he began studying Okinawan karate under Gichin Funakoshi, and later trained with other prominent karate pioneers like Kenwa Mabuni and Choki Motobu.

Ohtsuka saw the potential to combine the striking elements of karate with the movement, throws, locks, and evasion techniques of Japanese jujutsu. He believed that karate should not be purely about blocking and countering force with force. Instead, he introduced concepts like tai sabaki (body shifting), nage waza (throws), and kuzushi (off-balancing) into karate practice.

By the early 1930s, he had developed a distinct system that differed significantly from Okinawan karate. In 1934, he officially founded his own style and called it Wado Ryu, meaning “School of the Way of Harmony.”

Philosophy and Characteristics

Wado Ryu emphasises:

Avoidance over confrontation – using movement to evade attacks rather than meeting force with force.

Efficient, minimal motion – small, tight movements that conserve energy and maximise speed.

Blending with the opponent – drawing from jujutsu principles to redirect or neutralise attacks rather than resist them.

A balance of kihon (basics), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring).

Wado Ryu retains many traditional karate kata but includes unique kihon kumite and paired jujutsu drills not found in other styles.

In 1938, Wado Ryu became officially recognised by the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, Japan’s leading martial arts authority at the time. This legitimised Wado Ryu as an official ryu-ha (style) within Japanese Budo.

Throughout the 1950s and 60s, Ohtsuka and his top students began spreading Wado Ryu across Japan and later to Europe and the Americas. It quickly gained popularity for its smooth, flowing techniques and practical self-defence applications.

In 1967, Ohtsuka was awarded the title of Meijin 10th Dan by the Japan Karate Federation, becoming the first karate master to receive that honour.