All About Wado Ryu Karate Wado Ryu Karate is a form of karate practice that literally means the

harmonious style or the harmonious way. This in no way means that it is a pacifist style. Rather it means that the philosophy behind the practice of this form of karate is that yielding sometimes works better than use of brute strength. Wado Ryu Karate was founded by the Grand Master ironori !htsuka and is a blend of !kinawa Karate and "apanese "u#utsu. There are three primary organi$ations that teach Wado Ryu Karate today% 1. The Japan Karate-do Federation The &ederation has a separate unit called Wado Kai' which caters to those interested in learning the Wado Ryu karate style. This unit has o(er )'*** branches within "apan' and se(eral outside the island. The organi$ation also conducts annual national championships' which are immensely popular among the islanders. 2. The Wado Ryu Karatedo Renmei This organi$ation was formed by the Grand Master !htsuka in )+,). is son' popularly known as ironori !htsuka --' "iro !htsuka took o(er operations from his father a few months after the Grand Master retired. 3. The Wado Kokusai Karatedo Renmei The man who established this organi$ation was Tatsuo .u$uki who tutored under ironori !htsuka. When .ensei .u$uki started to feel disillusioned with the functioning of Wado Kai once !htsukas son took o(er' he decided to teach Wado Ryu karate separately' in keeping with the original techni/ues of the Grand Master. Today' the organi$ation has a presence in 0urope' 1sia and the 2nited .tates. The three principles o Wado Ryu Karate Maai 3 This refers to the distance between the opponents while fighting. This has a significant influence on the mind and spirit of the practitioners. This in(ol(es ha(ing correct distance to e4ecute a maneu(er successfully. The optimum distance is when half a step is enough to attack or to defend the opponent. This change continuously while in a duel and must be maintained continuously by taking into account the opponents techni/ues as well. 5anshin 3 -t literally refers to the mind. -t re/uires that practitioners keep a calm and clear mind in order to see and sense all dangers in the en(ironment or the opponent and act accordingly. The techni/ues of fighting should come naturally while focusing on the principle of 5anshin. Taisabaki 3 -t literally refers to body management. 1ll techni/ues must be e4ecuted with minimum or no wastage of body mo(ements. -t usually in(ol(es shifting the

hips' which is essential to all Wado mo(ements. Techni/ues that come naturally should flow smoothly with no mo(ements that are not re/uired. Karate !ith a di erence Wado Ryu Karate is different from the other ma#or karate styles because its philosophy does not belie(e in the use of makiwara in order to toughen up the different parts of the body for the purpose of striking. There is an absence of the elements of sparring that are so important in other styles. Taisabaki' which is body shifting' is practiced by the practitioners in a duel to a(oid full contact and deflect without force' also creating enough time to prepare a counterattack. Kata or set o techni"ues 1ll schools of karate ha(e their own sets of techni/ues or forms called kata' which chart out mo(ements practiced in indi(idual systems. The same is true for Wado Ryu. The Grand Master' in a book authored on Wado Ryu' specified only nine official forms. The number (aries from one organi$ation to the other' but is mostly limited to )6. Wado Ryu follows belt orders for different rankings like other schools of karate. The lowest le(el is at ninth or tenth kyu and mo(es up to first dan. The tenth dan is the highest le(el. The le(els between one and ten are signified by black belts. #ene its o practicin$ Wado Ryu Karate The practice of this form of karate re/uires time' effort and the understanding of the underlying principles. Man' woman or child' anyone can benefit from learning Wado Ryu karate. The benefits include% Rigorous physical training leads to o(erall fitness. 04ercises the mind as well through the practice of concentration' focus and 5anshin. 1cti(ates the core of the body and increases power' physical' mental and spiritual. Regular practice' especially of kata leads to a better coordination and sync between the brain and the body. -ts practice tests and pushes physical and mental limitations and the resultant success leads to a boost in confidence. -t is not only about physical combat but also about training the mind to be more aware.