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 Master Hironori
Otsuka, the Founder of Wado-Ryu
Karate-do, was born in Shimodate,
Ibaragi Prefecture. The second of four children,
Otsuka would listen to his mother's uncle, a Samurai
Warrior, tell his exciting tales, and
was prompted to study the martial arts.
At the age of six,
Otsuka entered the school of Shizaburo
Nakayama -- master of Shinto Yoshin
Ryu. At 29, he had completed all the
lessons, took the license of highest degree of
the school, and succeeded his master's position.
In July of 1922, Master
Otsuka began studying Okinawan Tode
(karate). During his studies he adapted the atemi
techniques he had learned in jujitsu,
modified the karate techniques, and created a
karate style of his own .In May of 1934, at the
age of 43, Otsuka founded Wado-Ryu Karate-Jutsu
and Wado-Ryu-Jujutsu kenpo,
merging Okinawan karate into traditional
jujutsu schools.
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According to Master
Otsuka, Wado-Ryu is primarily a
spiritual discipline. For him, "ten-chi-jin,
ri-do" (heaven - earth - man,
principal way) is a harmonious union to be
respected and sought through austere discipline
and untiring dedication.
Through his writings,
Hironori Otsuka has taught that the way of
martial arts must not be mere fighting technique,
but the way of "peace and harmony,"
not violence. Undefeated will power, a healthy
body and high intelligence must be cultivated to
realize this ideal of peace and harmony required
in the present-day world. |
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Personal
History of Hironori Otsuka
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June1, 1892 Born in
Shimodate, Ibaragi Prefecture.April 1, 1897 (six
years old) Entered the school of Shinzaburo
Nakayama, Master of ShintoYoshin Ryu.
June 1, 1920 (29 years)
Attained the highest degree of the school,
thereby succeeding his master's position.This
made Otsuka the fourth master of Shinto Yoshin
Ryu. The founder was Ishijima, whose father, Matsuoka, was a subject
of the Tokugawa shogunate and learned jujutsu in
the martial arts school of the shogunate.
Matsuoka established his own school in Asakusa,
Edo (present day Tokyo). After promotion to the
governor of the shogunate possession in Ueno
Village, Hitachi Country (Ibaragi Prefecture),
Matsuoka was famous as a skillful oriental
orthopedist and an instructor of martial arts.
After Ishijima came Master Inose, and then Master
Nakayama.
July 1922 Began to study
Okinawan Tode (Karate).
May 1934 (43 years)
Founded Wado-Ryu Karate-Jutsu and
Wado-Ryu Jujutsu Kenpo, merging
the superb features of Okinawan Karate into the
traditional stream of jujutsu schools along with
elements of his own creation.The ideal of Wado-Ryu
Jujutsu Kenpo is "peace
and harmony." Hironori Otsuka
has taught us in his poetry that the way of
martial arts must not be mere fighting technique
but the way of peace and harmony. The goal of the
practice of this style is to bring about peace
and harmony, which is more difficult to attain
than the victory by violence is. We must
cultivate undefeated will power and a healthy
body as well as high intelligence in order to
realize our ideal of the peace and harmony which
is required by the present-day world.
November 20, 1981
Abdicated the position of Grand Master
and nominated Jiro Otsuka, his eldest son,
as the second Grand Master - Hironori Otsuka
II.
January 29,
1982 Died at 90 years old.
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Titles and
Decorations Earned by Master Otsuka
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April 29, 1966: The
Emperor gave Otsuka the rank of Kun-Go-To and
decorated him with Soko-Kyokujitsu-Sho Medal, for
his efforts in spreading karate-do.
October 9, 1972:
The International Martial Arts Federation,
Kokusai Budo In, headed by Higashikuni, certified
Otsuka as the first Excellent Martial
Artist of 10 Dan in Karate-do, which
is the same status as that of Kyuzo Mifune in
Judo and Hakuko Nakayama in Kendo. |
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