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 Sensei 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, Otsuka Sensei 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 Sensei founded Wado-Ryu Karate-Jutsu and Wado-Ryu-Jujutsu kenpo, merging Okinawan karate into traditional jujutsu schools. According to Otsuka Sensei, 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.
(From the program of the 25th Anniversary Wa no Kizuna Tournament.)
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06-01-1892 |
Born in Shimodate, Ibaragi Prefecture. |
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04-01-1897 |
(6 years old) Entered the school of Shinzaburo Nakayama, Master of Shinto Yoshin Ryu. |
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06-01-1920 |
(29 years old) 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. |
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07-1922 |
Began to study Okinawan Tode (Karate). |
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05-1934 |
(43 years old) 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. |
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11-20-1981 |
Abdicated the position of Grand Master and nominated Jiro Otsuka, his eldest son, as the second Grand Master - Hironori Otsuka II. |
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01-29-1982 |
Died at 90 years old. |
This section lists some of Otsuka Sensei's encounters with other notable martial artists. It was researched and written by Shingo Ohgami, 7th Dan.
Otsuka was 22 years younger than Nakayama.
Nakayama was a Kendo instructor at Shimotsuma middle school bewteen 1907-1931.
Otsuka was born in Shimodate and became a student at Shimotsuma middle school between 1905-1910.
The distance between Shimodate and Shimotsuma is about 15 km. I can not identify yet whether Otsuka went to school in Shimotsuma from his home in Shimodate, or he rented a room in Shimotsuma.
I have not seen any documents saying that Otsuka trained Kendo, though Nakayama was a Kendo instructor.
Japanese government decided that the middle schools could have Kendo in their curriculum from 1910.
Shimotsuma middle school could have been one of the early schools which introduced Kendo?
Funakoshi is 24 years older than Otsuka. Funakoshi came to Tokyo in May 1922. Otsuka started training for Funakoshi in September. (Otsuka was 30 years old.)
Otsuka Jiro was born.
Funakoshi came to Tokyo in 1922. He went back to his home in Okinawa only once about a month (December 1941-January 1942).
According to my research Otsuka never went to Okinawa.
Otsuka was only 3 years younger than Mabuni.
Mabuni came to Tokyo 1928 and stayed there about 10 months (He may have stayed at Konishi Kosukes house?)
Mabuni and Otsuka were close in age. They became friends? And trained together?
Motobu was as old as Nakayama. 22 years older tha Motobu.
Motobu went to Ohsaka 1922. Motobu came to Tokyo in 1932? Went back to Okinawa 1941.
There was plenty of time of exchange between Motobu and Otsuka.
Konishi and Otsuka were almost in the same age. Konishi trained Kendo and Jujutsu before he started training Karate for Funakoshi – 29 years old.
Konishi mentions that Otsuka brought Funakoshi to Konishi’s dojo 1924? (Karatedo-Sozosha)
They trained Karate together at Funakoshi dojo.
Ueshiba moved to Tokyo in 1927. Ueshiba opened Kobukan dojo in Tokyo in 1931. Timewise there was a possibility of contacts between Ueshiba and Otsuka. But I have not seen any document saying that Otsuka trained Aikido for Ueshiba.
Konishi mentions that he became a student of Ueshiba and trained Aikido and was imspired by Ueshiba when he changed Pinan Katas. (Karatedo-Sozosha).