Imagine how delighted I was to find out one of my students, who later turned out to be my wife, was a Wado second Dan. After exchanging a few techniques, I showed her how some of her throws & locks could be better performed, and she showed me some great blocks and Tai Sabaki. I was hooked, completely, and so a long journey began down the Wado road.

To help you understand how Wado is similar to our Jujitsu style, here is a short history of Wado

Hironori Ohtsuka was born in Ibaraji in 1892, to a Doctor of medicine, Tokuiuro Ohtsuka. His uncle was a Jujitsu teacher, and this brought him to Shindo Yoshin Ryu Jujitsu. He studied under the Grandmaster Shinzaburo Nakayama Sensei, third Grand Master of the Ryu.The style follows the ideal of the willow tree, yielding but strong, encouraging natural movement.

Attending Waseda University, Ohtsuka continued his studies of Yoshin Ryu, and also looked at other styles of Jujitsu. After seven years, during which time he studied bone setting and the vital points of the body, he joined the Kawasaki bank, and after a short time. decided he wished to be a Martial Artist full time. He stayed with the bank to honour his mother's wishes. In 1920, he became fourth Grandmaster of Shindo Yoshin Ryu. Two years later, he met Funakoshi, and in the space of a year, he had learned all the Kata Funakoshi had brought from Okinawa. He found some techniques and movements difficult to implement, so he left Funakoshi and studied with Kenwa Mabuni, founder of Shito Ryu.

When his mother died, he felt he could follow his dream, and opened a bone setting practice, which allowed him the time to practice his developing Budo. He was an instructor at Funakoshi's Dojo, and was dissatisfied by the repetition of Kata that dominated Okinawan Karate. He devised Yakosoku kumite to balance the attack needs of Budo with the Kata. in 1929, he left Funakoshi to work on his own developing style, which he called Wado.

Ohtsuka was promoted to "Renshi-go" in 1938, and his style was officially registered. In 1939. the name Wado was offered as the official name of his style, which was seen as a wonderful mix of style and commitment as performed by Ohtsuka. He was decorated by the Emperor's cousin, and his style was the one chosen to be exhibited each year at the Emperor's birthday.

Japanese Budo inspired Karate had arrived.