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HISTORY BRIEF - HIGHLAND WADO KAI
Master Hironori Otsuka
The founder of Wado - Ryu Karate and President of The All Japan Karate - Do Federation till 1982.
Our style of martial arts is dedicated to Master Hironori Otsuka and my Sensei Masaru Shintani, in their honour and image. I hope that all black belts that come after them will fall into their footsteps as I have tried to do. For them and myself karate do became a way of life or a way to find the true meaning of our lives......Shihan Barry Lane
Hironori Otsuka and the History of Wado Kai
The information here is common knowledge, I have had it told to me by my teacher or have read it in my studies of Wado-Kai Karate. Otsuka Sensei is the FIRST GENERATION of Wado.
The Wado system is one of the most efficient styles practiced today. Using time tested movements, the system provides the speed of karate and the balance of jujitsu, creating a balanced style of defense and attack. This comprehensive system takes years in development, teaches attack only after defense from an attack has been employed.
As it exist today, the Wado system is the culmination of a life work by its founder, Sensei Hironori Otsuka. Sensei Otsuka, a former head master of the Shindo-Yoshin Jujitsu Ryu, studied karate under Master Ginchin Funakoshi. With his background in jujitsu, Sensei Otsuka was able to combine the karate and jujitsu movements into a unique style of karate. While some might have been content with this new concept, Sensei Otsuka was not. His work toward furthering the art of karate was a never ending struggle.
In 1943, he developed rules and regulation for free fighting (kumite) within the Wado system. For his outstanding contribution to karate, the Japanese government awarded him with the Fifth Order of Merit. In 1972, Sensei Otsuka received the highest award that can be given by the emperor of Japan, the Hanshi Award. With this came the honour of being ranked at the head of all martial arts systems within the All Japan Karate-Do Federation.
In 1922, the Japanese Ministry of Education invited Ginchin Funakoshi to give a karate demonstration during the 1st Sports Festival in Tokyo. It was here that Sensei Ohtsuka, then 30 years old, heard about this Okinawan form of martial art and chose to pay Funakoshi a visit. After introducing himself to Funakoshi, Ohtsuka explained his martial arts background in Atemi style jujitsu and asked to be trained by Funakoshi. From that night Otsuka practiced regularly.
Hironori Otsuka was born in Shimodate city of Baragi prefecture on June 1st, 1892, the first son of Tokujiro Ohtsuka, a medical doctor. He was training in Shindo Yoshin ryu under Sensei Nakayama. Yoshin ryu, started by Yoshitoki Akiyama, was a form which relied heavily on strikes to vital points of the body.
As a young man, Otsuka went to China to study medicine, and there he learned the vital point striking techniques. After returning to Japan, he developed a unique form of jujitsu, he sought to emulate the yielding nature of a willow tree bending its branches under the weight of the freshly fallen snow, combined with the striking atemi techniques. At 29, Ohtsuka received his Shindo Yoshin ryu certificate of mastery and within a year he encountered Funakoshi.
In a short time, Otsuka became one of Funakoshi's top disciples. In his daily training, not only was Otsuka trying to absorb what Funakoshi showed him, he was always attempting to find a way to blend his atemi style jujitsu with Funakoshi's karate. In those days, a typical Funakoshi class consisted of lecture, basics, and kata training. A large part of the class time was spent on lecturing to the students on philosophy and ethics of karate. Funakoshi did not believe in sparring practice. He felt that sparring was much too dangerous and unnecessary. He believed that if one practiced kata diligently, the kumite would naturally follow. His students earnestly trained in the fifteen katas which made up Funakoshi's curriculum.
In 1929, Otsuka slowly started introducing ippon and sanbon kumite into the curriculum. Otsuka was taking over some of the teaching responsibility and felt that the students were simply getting bored with kata. In 1929 Ohtsuka founded the karate club at Tokyo University and followed this with clubs at Rikkyu, Nihon, and Tokyo Dental College. During this period other karate men immigrated to Japan, Chojun Miyagi of Goju and Kenwa Mabuni of Shito ryu. Ohtsuka sought out these instructors and studied with both men.
It was only a matter of time before Otsuka formally broke away from Funakoshi, on April 1st, 1934, he officially inaugurated a unique style of karate to the Japanese government under the name of Karate Promotion Club.
In 1940, when Butokukai requested that all martial arts organizations register themselves. Otsuka submitted the following, Style: Wado, Founder: Hironori Otsuka. Wado literally means the way of harmony. According to Eriguchi, a senior member in the Wado organization, the ancient word for jujitsu contained the character 'Wa' (harmony), so Otsuka took the wa for his jujitsu roots and added the 'Do'
One of the differences that sets Wado apart from other styles is the emphasis on deflection rather than blocking. Nagashi, or deflection, has its basis in the notion that the fundamental problem for Japanese martial arts was how to defend against the sword. The sword was the weapon of choice for the warrior class of Japan and many jujitsu type martial arts were devised to neutralize the swordsman.
The ESSENCE of Wado can be summed up in three basic concepts:
NAGASU - to deflect the oncoming attack.
INASU - to shift the body in order to remove oneself from the line of attack.
NORU - to strike the opponent before his forward momentum has come to a stop. Noru literally means to ride. If we strike an opponent after he has stopped his forward movement, then we strike him with our own strength, but if one can strike before the opponent stops moving, the damage is greater by the factor of him moving into the punch. In a sense we 'ride' his body.
Otsuka Sensei in 1943, developed rules and regulations for kumite. The Japanese government awarded him with the Fifth Order of Merit. In 1972 he received the highest award that can be given by the Emperor of Japan, the Hanshi Award. With this came the honour of being ranked at the head of all martial arts systems within the All Japan Karate Do Federation.
Otsuka Sensei - “The martial arts are as vast as the universe.”
The founder of Wado - Ryu Karate and President of The All Japan Karate - Do Federation till 1982.
Our style of martial arts is dedicated to Master Hironori Otsuka and my Sensei Masaru Shintani, in their honour and image. I hope that all black belts that come after them will fall into their footsteps as I have tried to do. For them and myself karate do became a way of life or a way to find the true meaning of our lives......Shihan Barry Lane
Hironori Otsuka and the History of Wado Kai
The information here is common knowledge, I have had it told to me by my teacher or have read it in my studies of Wado-Kai Karate. Otsuka Sensei is the FIRST GENERATION of Wado.
The Wado system is one of the most efficient styles practiced today. Using time tested movements, the system provides the speed of karate and the balance of jujitsu, creating a balanced style of defense and attack. This comprehensive system takes years in development, teaches attack only after defense from an attack has been employed.
As it exist today, the Wado system is the culmination of a life work by its founder, Sensei Hironori Otsuka. Sensei Otsuka, a former head master of the Shindo-Yoshin Jujitsu Ryu, studied karate under Master Ginchin Funakoshi. With his background in jujitsu, Sensei Otsuka was able to combine the karate and jujitsu movements into a unique style of karate. While some might have been content with this new concept, Sensei Otsuka was not. His work toward furthering the art of karate was a never ending struggle.
In 1943, he developed rules and regulation for free fighting (kumite) within the Wado system. For his outstanding contribution to karate, the Japanese government awarded him with the Fifth Order of Merit. In 1972, Sensei Otsuka received the highest award that can be given by the emperor of Japan, the Hanshi Award. With this came the honour of being ranked at the head of all martial arts systems within the All Japan Karate-Do Federation.
In 1922, the Japanese Ministry of Education invited Ginchin Funakoshi to give a karate demonstration during the 1st Sports Festival in Tokyo. It was here that Sensei Ohtsuka, then 30 years old, heard about this Okinawan form of martial art and chose to pay Funakoshi a visit. After introducing himself to Funakoshi, Ohtsuka explained his martial arts background in Atemi style jujitsu and asked to be trained by Funakoshi. From that night Otsuka practiced regularly.
Hironori Otsuka was born in Shimodate city of Baragi prefecture on June 1st, 1892, the first son of Tokujiro Ohtsuka, a medical doctor. He was training in Shindo Yoshin ryu under Sensei Nakayama. Yoshin ryu, started by Yoshitoki Akiyama, was a form which relied heavily on strikes to vital points of the body.
As a young man, Otsuka went to China to study medicine, and there he learned the vital point striking techniques. After returning to Japan, he developed a unique form of jujitsu, he sought to emulate the yielding nature of a willow tree bending its branches under the weight of the freshly fallen snow, combined with the striking atemi techniques. At 29, Ohtsuka received his Shindo Yoshin ryu certificate of mastery and within a year he encountered Funakoshi.
In a short time, Otsuka became one of Funakoshi's top disciples. In his daily training, not only was Otsuka trying to absorb what Funakoshi showed him, he was always attempting to find a way to blend his atemi style jujitsu with Funakoshi's karate. In those days, a typical Funakoshi class consisted of lecture, basics, and kata training. A large part of the class time was spent on lecturing to the students on philosophy and ethics of karate. Funakoshi did not believe in sparring practice. He felt that sparring was much too dangerous and unnecessary. He believed that if one practiced kata diligently, the kumite would naturally follow. His students earnestly trained in the fifteen katas which made up Funakoshi's curriculum.
In 1929, Otsuka slowly started introducing ippon and sanbon kumite into the curriculum. Otsuka was taking over some of the teaching responsibility and felt that the students were simply getting bored with kata. In 1929 Ohtsuka founded the karate club at Tokyo University and followed this with clubs at Rikkyu, Nihon, and Tokyo Dental College. During this period other karate men immigrated to Japan, Chojun Miyagi of Goju and Kenwa Mabuni of Shito ryu. Ohtsuka sought out these instructors and studied with both men.
It was only a matter of time before Otsuka formally broke away from Funakoshi, on April 1st, 1934, he officially inaugurated a unique style of karate to the Japanese government under the name of Karate Promotion Club.
In 1940, when Butokukai requested that all martial arts organizations register themselves. Otsuka submitted the following, Style: Wado, Founder: Hironori Otsuka. Wado literally means the way of harmony. According to Eriguchi, a senior member in the Wado organization, the ancient word for jujitsu contained the character 'Wa' (harmony), so Otsuka took the wa for his jujitsu roots and added the 'Do'
One of the differences that sets Wado apart from other styles is the emphasis on deflection rather than blocking. Nagashi, or deflection, has its basis in the notion that the fundamental problem for Japanese martial arts was how to defend against the sword. The sword was the weapon of choice for the warrior class of Japan and many jujitsu type martial arts were devised to neutralize the swordsman.
The ESSENCE of Wado can be summed up in three basic concepts:
NAGASU - to deflect the oncoming attack.
INASU - to shift the body in order to remove oneself from the line of attack.
NORU - to strike the opponent before his forward momentum has come to a stop. Noru literally means to ride. If we strike an opponent after he has stopped his forward movement, then we strike him with our own strength, but if one can strike before the opponent stops moving, the damage is greater by the factor of him moving into the punch. In a sense we 'ride' his body.
Otsuka Sensei in 1943, developed rules and regulations for kumite. The Japanese government awarded him with the Fifth Order of Merit. In 1972 he received the highest award that can be given by the Emperor of Japan, the Hanshi Award. With this came the honour of being ranked at the head of all martial arts systems within the All Japan Karate Do Federation.
Otsuka Sensei - “The martial arts are as vast as the universe.”
Hironori Ohtsuka - Jujitsu grand master
Hanshi Ohtsuka was a grand master at Shindo Kyoshin Ryu Jujitsu before he entered karate teaching !! Masaru Shintani carried on this style and taught it through his own karate teaching called Wado Kai.
Masaru Shintani and the History of Canadian Wado Kai
Hanshi Masaru Shintani studied karate for over 50 years. He also held ranks in Jujitsu, Judo, Aikido, Kendo and Shindo.
While competing and eventually winning the championship in the large All Japan Karate Do Federation tournaments in Tokyo Sensei Shintani met and began to train under Hanshi Ohtsuka. During the 1970’s Hanshi Ohtsuka placed Masaru Shintani in sole charge of the teaching of Wado Kai in North America.
The Wado Kai system was founded in Canada by my teacher and friend Masaru Shintani. He was the founder and President of the Shintani Karate Federation of North America and Founder and President of the Shintani Shindo Federation of North America.
Hanshi Shintani reached the level of 9th Dan Black Belt in the Wado Kai system and held the highest rank in Japanese Karate in North America.
Masaru Shintani was born in 1927 in Vancouver, Canada. His family included four sisters and a brother. His mother Tsuruye Matsumoto immigrated to Canada in 1918.
Pure Japanese, she came from the Matsumoto clan, who's father was a samurai. A clan that all Japan knows about. Hanshi Shintani's grand father was a true samurai and this is the foundation of what his mother stood for. She instilled into him the purity of the person that samurai stands for.
Hanshi Masaru Shintani trained with his Canadian instructor, Kitigawa Sensei in the 1940's. Shintani Sensei claims that karate of today should be more like the early training and not what it has developed into. Pulling for the opponent, winning with scores, but winning with all the savageness that karate could possible give you, and yet clean. The higher the rank the more the precision, the pin point of explosion but still the pin point of technique. When he sparred with some of the students under Kitigawa Sensei it was fierce. Every time you were on the floor it was life and death. Knowing it was good for him he thanked his teacher many times for the experience.
Between the ages of twenty five to thirty five Hanshi Shintani thought that his teacher's ways were very brutal and yet after the 2nd world war, after the war time camps, he stayed humble because of his mother's teaching. Through the brutality it taught him good lessons of survival. Sensei learned many lessons in the war time camps under Kitigawa. He learned to protect and preserve his life.
In 1956 Hanshi Shintani returned to Japan to visit his teacher Kitigawa Sensei who had returned home because of medical reasons. Here Hanshi Shintani met the founder of the Wado-Ryu system Hanshi Hironori Ohtsuka and became a member of this unique style of karate. He looked at Hanshi Ohtsuka as a father he never had and their relationship became very strong.
Hanshi Shintani goal was to live the life the way Ohtsuka did and to faithfully carry on his teachers work and dedicate himself to the true traditions of Wado-Kai. He has mirrored the image of the Wado system as Ohtsuka would have wanted him to. This tradition has been imbedded into his own students, such as myself, who will pass on the true sincerity of Wado-Kai. His system can be summarized into five words, "Character", "Effort", "Sincerity" "Etiquette", and "Self Control".
Hanshi Masaru Shintani: 1927 - 2000. His teaching and friendship will be carried on by many devoted black belts and students.
While competing and eventually winning the championship in the large All Japan Karate Do Federation tournaments in Tokyo Sensei Shintani met and began to train under Hanshi Ohtsuka. During the 1970’s Hanshi Ohtsuka placed Masaru Shintani in sole charge of the teaching of Wado Kai in North America.
The Wado Kai system was founded in Canada by my teacher and friend Masaru Shintani. He was the founder and President of the Shintani Karate Federation of North America and Founder and President of the Shintani Shindo Federation of North America.
Hanshi Shintani reached the level of 9th Dan Black Belt in the Wado Kai system and held the highest rank in Japanese Karate in North America.
Masaru Shintani was born in 1927 in Vancouver, Canada. His family included four sisters and a brother. His mother Tsuruye Matsumoto immigrated to Canada in 1918.
Pure Japanese, she came from the Matsumoto clan, who's father was a samurai. A clan that all Japan knows about. Hanshi Shintani's grand father was a true samurai and this is the foundation of what his mother stood for. She instilled into him the purity of the person that samurai stands for.
Hanshi Masaru Shintani trained with his Canadian instructor, Kitigawa Sensei in the 1940's. Shintani Sensei claims that karate of today should be more like the early training and not what it has developed into. Pulling for the opponent, winning with scores, but winning with all the savageness that karate could possible give you, and yet clean. The higher the rank the more the precision, the pin point of explosion but still the pin point of technique. When he sparred with some of the students under Kitigawa Sensei it was fierce. Every time you were on the floor it was life and death. Knowing it was good for him he thanked his teacher many times for the experience.
Between the ages of twenty five to thirty five Hanshi Shintani thought that his teacher's ways were very brutal and yet after the 2nd world war, after the war time camps, he stayed humble because of his mother's teaching. Through the brutality it taught him good lessons of survival. Sensei learned many lessons in the war time camps under Kitigawa. He learned to protect and preserve his life.
In 1956 Hanshi Shintani returned to Japan to visit his teacher Kitigawa Sensei who had returned home because of medical reasons. Here Hanshi Shintani met the founder of the Wado-Ryu system Hanshi Hironori Ohtsuka and became a member of this unique style of karate. He looked at Hanshi Ohtsuka as a father he never had and their relationship became very strong.
Hanshi Shintani goal was to live the life the way Ohtsuka did and to faithfully carry on his teachers work and dedicate himself to the true traditions of Wado-Kai. He has mirrored the image of the Wado system as Ohtsuka would have wanted him to. This tradition has been imbedded into his own students, such as myself, who will pass on the true sincerity of Wado-Kai. His system can be summarized into five words, "Character", "Effort", "Sincerity" "Etiquette", and "Self Control".
Hanshi Masaru Shintani: 1927 - 2000. His teaching and friendship will be carried on by many devoted black belts and students.
hanshi Barry Lane and the History of Highland Wado Kai
The Highland Wado Kai Karate - Jujitsu Organization of Canada over the years and through Shihan Lane has been in affiliation with Wado Kai Canada, the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Association of North America and The Wadp Kai All Japan Karate Do Federation. In 1999 Shihan Lane was promoted to the rank of Shichidan or 7th degree black belt in Wado Kai Karate & Shindo Ryu. The head instructor for these organizations in the Wado system in Canada was Masaru Shintani 9th degree black belt. This certification was given through: The World Congress of the Shintani Karate Federation Wado Kai.
In 2011 Shihan Lane was promoted to his 8th Dan (Hachidan) through the Wado Kai Karate - Jujitsu Organization of Canada & The North American Wado Kai Karate Association.
Over the years Highland Mixied Martial Arts has been in affiliation with many tournament organizations for competition. Members of the C.K.O. - Canadian Karate Organization affiliated with the W.K.O. - World Karate Organization. - CanAm - SOKA Southern Ontario Karate Association - P.M.A. Professional Martial Arts Alliance - W.K.A World Karate - Kick Boxing Association. Highland has been actively involved with many of the Open Karate Championships and Organization in Canada and USA over the years.
Headquarters for The Highland Wado Kai Karate - Jujitsu Organization of Canada is located in Dundas, Ontario. The head instructor for Highland Wado Kai Karate is Shihan Barry Lane 8th Dan black belt. Shihan Lane is also the President and founder of Highland Wado Kai Karate - Jujitsu - Kick Boxing Organization of Canada. Other instructors involved actively in the organization are Kyoshi Glenn MacKay (Vice President and 6th Dan) , Sensei Lindsay Higgins 5th Dan, Sensei Chris Odendahl 4th Dan, Sensei Lynn Vogan 4th Dan, Sensei Gregg Spooner 4th Dan, Sensei Allan Jukes 4th Dan, Sensei Ran Mesterman 3rd Dan, Sensei Mark Godfrey 2nd Dan and Dundas Dojo Manager.
The Highland Wado Kai Karate - Jujitsu was founded by Shihan Barry Lane who presently holds a 8th degree black belt. Shihan Lane has 46 years of accumulated experience in the Martial Arts and holds black belt degrees in other styles of karate and weaponry. He graduated to his black belt after two years of rigorous training in the Shito Ryu system and also that same year to his black belt in the Wado Ryu Organization. Shihan Lane had the privilege to meet Hanshi Othsuka twice in his lifetime. An honour to see Hanshi and something he will never forget. Shihan Lane has trained under instructors such as Hanshi Masaru Shintani, Master Rick Joslin, Master Allen Howell, Sensei Bill Holland (Shito Ryu). Master George Kawasaki (Judo) Master John Howell (Judo & Jujitsu) Master Kebuoshi (Kendo, Judo & Aikido) Sensei Lane was active both in karate tournament competition and kick boxing and was also a member of the 1974 and 1975 Wado Kai light weight team champions. At the present time Shihan Lane is a Canadian National Coach, Referee & Trainer for the Canadian National Karate & Kick Boxing Team. This Canadian team is a member of the WKA (world karate & kick boxing association).
wado kai -The spirit of the way of peace
Wado Kai meaning the spirit of the way of peace or harmony. Karate, kara meaning empty and te meaning hands. The Wado Kai system consist of techniques of blocking, punching, striking or kicking. The modern art of karate was developed out of a more thorough organization and rationalization of these techniques. We divide the system today into three branches, a physical art, as sport, and as self defense. All three are based on these fundamental techniques mentioned above. Wado Kai karate in Shihan Lane's system is very popular for its high stances, short distance power and small circle techniques. As a physical art, karate is almost without equal. Since it is highly dynamic and makes balanced use of a large number of body muscles, it provides excellent all around exercise and develops Co-ordination and agility. Many girls and women have taken up karate, since in addition to its usefulness as self defense it is especially good for maintaining muscle tone and weight control. It is widely practiced by both children and older people as a means of keeping in top physical shape.
The Highland Karate Organization emphasizes its character building aspects, in which comes respect for ones opponent or sportsmanship. The maxims which they teach to their students can be summarized in the following five words, 'character', 'effort', 'sincerity', 'etiquette', and 'self control'.
Shihan Lane over the years has developed his own style of karate which involves Judo, Jujitsu, Aikido, Self Defence, Kick Boxing and Wado Kai karate techniques.
After the death of Sensei Shintani in 2000 the Wado Kai system in Canada seemed to have split into several branches with high ranking dan belts professing to be the new president of Wado for Canada. Some of these high ranking belts with my old records and directory's were several dan belts behind myself and several other senior black belts over the years in gradings. Confused and with great remorse felt that with the passing of Sensei Shintani also came a sad ending to an organized Wado Kai in Canada.
Shihan Lane looks toward Master Rick Joslin as the main senior ranking Wado Kai instructor. Master Rick Joslin has established himself over the years without question and is held in very high esteem by many martial artist all over the world. Being a 4 time Canadian Heavy Weight Champion and developing a unique style of martial arts his title and reputation goes without question. I look forward to and would be honoured in receiving my next ranking from Master Rick Joslin.
Wado Kai Affiliations:
Joslin's Mixed Martial Arts
YMCA Wado Kai
Liberty's Wado Kai
JR's Wado Kai
Martin's Wado Kai
North East Wado Kai
Caledonia Wado Kai
Hanshi Lane : Breaking record for Highland Wado Kai Karate
Shihan Lane holds the concrete breaking record since 1994 established and recorded in Dundas, Ontario, Canada. The break was a 24" concrete break.
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