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Funakoshi thought that the introduction of Japanese
jujutsu and free fighting into the Okinawan Shuri type karate was wrong, Ohtsuka disagreed and was now beginning to realise the limitations of Funakoshi`s experience and
knowledge, in brief, he was being held back by what he believed was Funakoshi`s outmoded viewpoint and beliefs.
Ohtsuka began to train with Kenwa Mabuni and Choki
Motobu. He wanted to learn as much as possible from the masters who had instructed Funakoshi. It was his belief that Funakoshi had over simplified and modified (changed)
several karate techniques and katas in the interests of teaching large groups of beginners.
Ohtsuka combined his new knowledge of karate with
several of his own adaptations from his original jujutsu and Japanese Bushido (Way of the Warrior) to form Wado karate. He also discarded techniques which were
ineffective. He introduced different kinds of body shifting techniques, a more upright stance for mobility, and reliance on evasion and counter techniques. Its emphasis
was on skill and technique, as opposed to brute force or strength, and the traditional Okinawan Tode techniques gave an all round effectiveness and efficiency to Wado Ryu
unique in Japanese karate. Jujutsu joint locks and attacks, as well as throwing routines were also introduced into this system.
Ohtsuka is also credited with the introduction of the
first rules and regulations for competition free fighting to be incorporated into his system, the first karate style to do so, the other's followed.
Ohtsuka's Wado Ryu is a lightning fast and agile,
manoeuvrable style. As well as founding the Wado Ryu Karatedo Renmei Federation, he was a founding member of the Kokusai Budoin (International Martial Arts Federation) and
Director of the Japan Classical Martial Arts Promotion Society.
In 1967 the Emperor of Japan awarded Ohtsuka the Fifth
Order of Merit (the Shiju Hoosho Medal) for his outstanding contributions to karate. He was the first karate master to receive this distinguished award.
In 1972, he was the recipient of the Hanshi Award, an
even greater honour. Ohtsuka was again the first karateka ever honoured by the Japanese Royal family with the title of Meijin.
Along with this award came the honour of being ranked
at the head of all martial arts systems within the All Japan Karate-do Federation (Judan or 10th degree Black Belt).
Shortly before his death Ohtsuka was recognised as the
oldest practising karateka in the world. Ohtsuka said "The difference between the possible and the impossible is one's will," and he always emphasized that the
karateka should always hold true, three vital elements - the heart, mind and spirit.
Even an above average man in his eighties would
probably have been content to rest and let others continue his work, but Ohtsuka was not. Never believing that he or the martial arts in general had learned all that there
was to know, he continued to practice. Putting on his gi (training uniform), he would train every day for twenty minutes on just one technique, and continue this for a
full month. Those who have studied with him remarked how he enjoyed walking on the crowded streets of Tokyo, so that he could practice smoothly weaving and twisting
(Taisabaki waza) without letting anyone touch him.
Hironori Ohtsuka practised karate daily until his death on January 29th. 1982.
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