Wado Ryu Karate is the oldest karate style in the world.
It was developed in the 19th century by the Japanese martial arts master Wado Jigoro. Today, it continues to be popular among adults and teens.
So, what is wado ryu karate? Wado Ryu Karate is a style of karate developed by Kanryo Higashionna in the 19th century.
It combines karate techniques with elements of Japanese Kendo. Karate is a martial art that emphasizes self-control and discipline.
It’s mostly practiced by men in Japan, but women also train in Wado ryu karate. Wado ryu karate teaches students to be respectful to others and improves their focus and concentration.
Students must learn many techniques, including punches, kicks, blocks, and strikes. They must also practice swimming and breathing exercises.
Wado ryu karate is easy to learn and fun to practice.
What Exactly Is Wado Ryu Karate?
Wado Ryu Karate is an old Japanese martial art that started in Okinawa in the 1800s.
The Wadoryu system, on the other hand, doesn’t just rely on physical combat skills. Instead, it puts more emphasis on technique than on brute strength or speed.
Other karate schools, on the other hand, emphasize hitting, while in Wadoryu emphasis is placed on not hitting the opponent at all or on avoiding confrontation when possible.
It also includes shorter natural stances than are found in other styles of Karate, allowing one to move more quickly and quietly.
Brief History of Wado Ryu Karate
Karate is a martial art that originated in Japan. Once called karateka, it’s derived from two words: kara, meaning empty and hand. Both words are translated to mean “empty hands” in English.
Karate is a self-defense system that teaches how to kick, punch, strike, block, and throw. It is based on the traditional values of respect, loyalty, discipline, humility, self-control, and courtesy.
Karate is a form of martial arts that started in feudal Japan. At that time, Japan was cut off from the rest of the world and needed a way to protect its borders from foreign invaders.
Karate combines kata (forms), kihon (basics), kumite (sparring), and kobudō (weapons), all of which can be used by an individual for personal protection or for training in competition.
Wado Ryu Karate is a branch of karate that emphasizes the principles of harmony between body, mind, and spirit.
Wado Ryu’s roots can be traced back to the 18th century, when Matabei Ueshiba (grandson of the founder of Aikido) studied under Kanryo Higashionna, the Old Master of Goju Ryu, and achieved the rank of 8th dan in 1921.
Wado Ryu karate is also the oldest style of karate that still exists today. Practitioners of Wado Ryu karate claim that karate is a “way of life” and that the essence of karate lies in its philosophy rather than its techniques.
Wado Ryu Karate is characterized by its emphasis on spiritual development through meditation, mental training, and ki development.
The spiritual element is also reflected in Wado Ryu’s emphasis on harmony, balance, and humility. Practitioners of Wado Ryu also believe that karate should not be practiced as a sport.
Wado Ryu karate is known for its weapon forms, which include the sai and the bo, as well as for its solo forms, which include the katana and the kusarigama.
Founder of Wado Ryu Karate
Hironori Otsuka established his own style of martial arts in Okinawa as a tribute to his teacher, Kanryo Higashionna.
Tatsusaburo Nakayama introduced him to mainland Japan after World War II.
He then became the Chief Instructor of the style upon the death of Nakayama in 1962.
He founded his own karate style, Wado-Ryu, after breaking away from the Shotokan organization.
His style was influenced by Okinawan karate, which focuses on not fighting back and uses circular movements.
He discovered that Okinawan fighters used both hands and feet to fight.
So he decided to combine both styles and came up with a new technique: the tensho-waza, or thrust palm strikes, which later became famous as the “punch” or “fist” strike in American terms.
As a consequence of merging different fighting styles together, he also introduced the Sanchin Kata and the Seisan Kata, which would later become the staple of any beginner-level class.
Wado Ryu Belt Order
The rank of shodan (first degree black belt) was once the highest in the art of karate and denotes someone with a high level of proficiency in karate.
Advancement from one rank to the next requires three levels of evaluation: the teacher’s evaluation, the student’s evaluation, and certification by the Wado Ryu headquarters in Japan.
The shodan ranking requires three black belt tests (shodann-ni-dan). The first test is the Kihon Kata (basics) examination.
The examiner watches the student show the bare-knuckle fist form, kicks, self-defense moves, and different blocks.
This is followed by the kumite (sparring) examination.
The examiner watches the student fight another person while judging how well the student blocks, punches, kicks, and strikes.
The final test is the kata examination.
The examiner watches the student perform the Seisan Kata (three-step stance), Sanchin Kata (three-section stance), and the Hangetsu Kata (white crane) Kata.
Once the student passes the three black Belt tests (shodann-ni-dan), they demonstrate their black belt to the entire dojo and are awarded the black belt certificate.
The ranks below shodan are colored belts, which denote progress in the learning process but do not indicate the level of skill and proficiency a student has acquired.
The ranking system in Wado Ryu is based on the seniority of the student, so older students get higher ranks and have more authority than newer students.
Wado Ryu Karate Techniques
Wado Ryu Karate Katas
Wado Ryu Karate is a traditional Japanese martial art.
There are 10 katas that Wado Ryu Karate students must learn and master before they can be considered true masters of the martial art. Katas are sequences of moves that demonstrate techniques for self-defense and sparring.
By mastering the katas, Wado Ryu Karate students learn how to properly defend themselves.
Each kata is named after an animal and is preceded by a black belt test that students must pass in order to master that particular kata.
Wado Ryu Karate Stances
Wado Ryu Karate is a Japanese martial art famous for its use of stances called kamae.
A karate stance is a position in which you stand with your heels together and your toes pointing outwards. Karate stances have specific names depending on the direction your feet are facing.
Karate stances are very important in Wado Ryu karate because they help you maneuver quickly and avoid incoming attacks.
Wado Ryu Karate Kicks
Wado Ryu Karate is a traditional Japanese martial art.
It’s known for its unique kicking techniques, which involve using the legs and feet to deliver powerful blows to the torso and face.
The techniques used in Wado Ryu Karate include roundhouse kicks, side kicks, upward kicks, and jumping kicks, among others.
All of these kicks can help you fight effectively against an opponent. For example, a jumping kick can knock your opponent off balance and give you time to attack.
A side kick can temporarily disable your opponent’s leg, enabling you to strike with full force. These kicks can also be useful in non-combat situations, such as self-defense.
Wado Ryu Karate Punches
Wado Ryu Karate is a traditional Japanese martial art.
It’s famous for its punching techniques, which can be learned by anyone. Here’s a quick overview of Wado Ryu Karate punches.
First, the fist should be relaxed for maximum power. Next, the fist should be raised to eye level in order to maximize reach.
Finally, the thumb and pinky should be curled inward for maximum power. When punching, the technique should be fully extended for maximum impact.
Wado Ryu Karate Kumite
Wado Ryu Karate is a traditional Japanese martial art that emphasizes self-defense over competition.
Wado Ryu Karate is divided into three styles: kata, kihon, and kumite. Kata are traditional dance-like movements and are practiced for self-defense purposes.
Kihon is the technical part of karate. It includes stances, kicks, blocks, punches, and other moves.
Kumite is the competitive aspect of karate and is practiced through sparring matches.
Overall, Wado Ryu Karate is an incredibly effective martial art that can both defend you and teach you discipline.
Is Wado Ryu Karate Useful for Self-defense in a Fight?
Yes, it can aid in self-defense in fights in two ways: fighting technique and strategy.
It can be a great workout as well as a way to learn how to fight because it includes exercises to strengthen joints and muscles.
In a real fight, the two things together can give you a big advantage over an attacker.
Also Read: Okinawan Karate Styles, Origin, and Differences
Final Words
Wado Ryu Karate is an effective martial art that can help you learn to defend yourself in a variety of situations.
Unlike others, it focuses on defensive techniques that stop attacks from happening instead of how to respond to them after they have happened.
It will undoubtedly take time to perfect the techniques and master them completely.
