BIOGRAPHIES
Hironori
Ohtsuka
Master Hironori Ohtsuka was born June 1, 1892 in Shimodate City,
Ibaraji, Japan where his father, Dr. Tokujiro Ohtsuka, operated a
clinic. As a boy he listened to a samurai warrior, his mother's uncle,
Chojiro Ebashi, tell thrilling stories of samurai exploits. This may
well have been where the first seeds were sown that would later be
some of the guiding principles and philosophies of Wado-Ryu karate.
In 1898, when he was six years old, Ohtsuka sensei began to study
jujutsu under his maternal grand-uncle, and at 13 started his formal
training in Shindo Yoshin Ryu jujutsu under Yokiyoshi Tatsusaburo
Nakayama. Whereas most schools at that time stressed throwing or grappling
techniques, this school stressed atemi (striking and kicking techniques).
His martial arts training continued even when, in 1911, he entered
Waseda University to study business administration. It was during
this period that master Ohtsuka began studying atemi-style Kempo,
while he continued his studies in Shinto Yoshin Ryu. When his father
died in 1913, he was forced to quit school and return to Shimodate
to work at Kawasaki Bank.
Eight years later, after much dedicated study, he overtook the mastership
of Shinto Yoshin Ryu jujutsu from Master Nakayama after being presented
with a "Certificate of Full Proficiency" in that art (Menkyo
Kaiden). This was on June 1, 1921, his 29th birthday, and was an outstanding
accomplishment for a man so young. Master Ohtsuka had also spent much
time traveling to different dojos to study and train in various other
styles of jujutsu and kempo, absorbing valuable information wherever
he could find it.
1922 was to be a pivotal year for Ohtsuka-san the karate-ka. Master
Ohtsuka was aware of karate, and had hoped to be able to go to Okinawa
to study this art. It was in this year that crown Prince Hirohito
invited the Okinawan karate master, Gichin Funakoshi, to visit Japan
and demonstrate his martial art. Master Ohtsuka heard of this visit
and journeyed to Tokyo to witness the demonstration. Later, when Funakoshi-san
decided to stay in Japan and teach karate at the Meishojuku Gymnasium,
Master Ohtsuka visited with him at the "Meisei Juku" (home
for Okinawan students) and spent many hours discussing their ideas
about the martial arts. At this time Funakoshi agreed to accept Ohtsuka
as a student of his karate. Master Ohtsuka immediately saw the advantages
of combining the karate of Funakoshi, especially
the kata, with the techniques and principles of Shinto Yoshin Ryu
jujutsu. Because of his martial arts skill, Master Ohtsuka was able
to grasp the principles of karate very quickly, and in 1926 Master
Ohtsuka was one of the first Japanese to receive a shodan (black belt)
in karate. In 1927 he left the bank at Shimodate, and became a medical
specialist treating martial arts injuries in order to devote more
time to the martial arts.
Now undistracted, Master Ohtsuka sorted through the variety of styles
and techniques, rejecting the trivial, retaining the significant,
refining the essential, combining the strengths of many, while using
the warrior's code as his basic philosophy. In order to expand his
knowledge, especially of kata, he travelled to study kata with such
known authorities as Choki Motobu, Kenwa Mabuni and others.
Constantly learning, teaching, building - never content with the
status quo. He was among the first of studying ways of organizing
the kumite techniques of the dojo (at that time taught in a manner
that frequently resulted in injury) into controlled methods of free-style
fighting that could be used in competitive matches. He was also the
first to develop kumite kata for karate which would become a major
innovation adopted by many styles. Unfortunately, the inclusion of
jiyu kumite (free sparring) and jujutsu techniques in his instruction
was not accepted by Gichin Funakoshi, and the two parted ways.
In 1929, Master Ohtsuka started the first karate club at Tokyo University,
and the next five years would see him establish clubs in many other
universities. It was in the fall of 1934 that Master Ohtsuka officially
introduced his own style of karate. At first he called it "The
Karate Promotion Club," but when the butokakai (a government
body for martial arts) requested in 1940 that all members submit the
name of their founder and the official name of their style, Master
Ohtsuka devised the name "Wado" or "The Way of Harmony."
The man Hironori Ohtsuka was as unique and full of vitality as the
style of karate he founded. Even an above average man in his seventies
or eighties would probably have been content to rest and let others
continue his work, but Master 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, 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 unbelievably crowded streets of Tokyo, so that
he could practice smoothly weaving and twisting without letting anyone
touch him. Ohtsuka was a very moral man, and always showed great concern
for his students. Many of his students, now senior instructors, called
him a gentle man and considered him a father figure. Ohtsuka Sensei's
belief in karatedo as a powerful means for spiritual and moral improvement
is reflected in his poetry and writing on the subject.
Master Ohtsuka's abilities and dedication brought him fame and honor,
bestowed from many quarters. As well as founding Wado-Ryu Karatedo
Renmei, he was vice-Chairman of the All-Japan Karate-do Federation,
a founding member of the Kokusai Budoin (International Martial Arts
Federation), and Director of the Japan Classical Martial Arts Promotion
Society. In 1966 the Emperor Hirohito honored him with Shiju Hoosho
Medal (Fifth Order of Merit, Cordon of the Rising Sun) for his contributions
to karate, and he was the only karateka to receive this award. In
1972, Master Ohtsuka was the first karateka ever honored by the royal
family with the title of Meijin and Jyu-dan (10th dan).
Master Ohtsuka died January 29, 1982, in Tokyo, Japan at the age
of 89. A fitting epitaph for him could surely be a statement made
by him that - "the difference between the possible and the impossible
is one's will," for surely to this giant of a Budoka, nothing
could seem impossible.
