Lineage | Worcester Ohku Kai

Hironori Ohtsuka was born on June 1st 1892 in Shimodate City, Ibaraki Prefecture in Japan. He was one of 4 children, his father was a medical doctor and also a martial artist.

He started training in martial arts of at the age of 5 years old with his uncle, who was a Samurai, learning jujutsu which consists of locks and throws and is a forerunner of modern day judo. By the age of 13 he was studying Shindo- Yoshin Ryu under Shinzaburo Nakayama, a style which emphasises graceful and easy movement, which is also a trait of today's Wado Ryu.

On June 1st 1921 he was awarded the highest certificate of mastery (menkyo kaiden) in Shindo- Yoshin Ryu.

In 1922 he began training Shotokan karate under Gichin Funakoshi, who is widely regarded as the modern father of karate.

In 1927 he established a medical practice becoming a 'bone setter' and he specialised in dealing with martial art injuries

By 1928 Hironori Ohtsuka was an assistant instructor to Funakoshi. He was also training with Kenwa Mabuni (founder of Shito-Ryu karate) and Choki Motobo. Motobu was a famous fighter from Okinawa, who is thought to have perfected the kata Naifanchi to the extent he was near unbeatable.

Ohtsuka and Funakoshi parted ways in the early 1930's possibly due to their differing views on sparring, Funakoshi believing it was unnecessary while Ohtsuka believed it was a fundamental part of training.

in 1934 Ohtsuka started his own school of karate called Dai Nippon Karate Shinko Kai in Tokyo. It blended Shindo-Yoshin Ryu jujutsu and Shotokan karate and would later become Wado Ryu Karate.

Wado Ryu was officially recognised in 1940 along with the other main styles Shotokan, Goju-Ryu and Shito-Ryu.

In 1942 he began training Hanshi Tatsuo Suzuki who would become his greatest student.

Wado Ryu began growing and in 1964 was spreading across Europe and the USA as his students toured giving karate demonstrations.

In 1966 he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, 5th class by the Emperor for promotion of Japanese Culture and then awarded the Soko Kyokujitsu-Sho medal for his contributions to karate.

He wrote two books on karate, one on kata and one on kumite.

In 1972 he was the first karateka to be awarded the title Shodai Karate-do Meijin Judan, 10th Dan Grand-master by the International Martial Arts Federation.

He continued to teach into the 1980's and finally passed on January 29th, 1982.

Hanshi Tatsuo Suzuki

Master Suzuki founder of the first Wado Federation in England. Hanshi Tatsuo Suzuki 8th Dan, was born in Yokohama in 1928 and became interested in Karate at the age of 14 and within six years of beginning his study of Karate, Professor Suzuki was awarded his 3rd Dan at the age of 19. In 1951 at the age of 24 he was awarded the then highest grade in Wado-Ryu, 5th Dan for his outstanding courage and ability. At 45 he was awarded his 8th Dan and also in the same year was given the title of Hanshi (Master) by the International Budo Federation and was presented with a special silver cup by Higashi Kuni no Miya, the uncle of the late Emperor of Japan. From 1942 to 1956 he received direct instruction from the founder of Wado Ryu, Hironori Ohtsuka Sensei at the Wado Ryu Headquarters. Thereafter, as Ohtsuka Sensei's most senior student, he traveled with Ohtsuka Sensei both domestically and internationally performing demonstrations and teaching at the Headquarters and in such places as Hawaii. From 1956 to 1964 Master Suzuki founded the first Wado Federation in England and from his base in London he spread Wado Ryu throughout Europe. Overcoming many difficulties, he brought senior students from Japan, taught them how to be instructors and sent them to various European countries. Within just a few years Wado Ryu became the most popular style in Europe. In 1991 Master Suzuki took over from Ohtsuka Sensei in protecting the essence of Wado Ryu and established the Wado International Karate-Do Federation (WIKF). In addition to his accomplishments in Karate, Professor Suzuki is a 2nd Dan in Tenshin Koryu Bo-Jitsu (stick fighting) and a 1st Dan in Judo. He has also studied Zen doctrine with the high priests, the late Genpo Yamamoto and Soyen Nakagawa. Suzuki Sensei is also a member of the International Budo Academy (IBA) as an Associate Professor and has been award the title Doctor of Philosophy for his life long work and commitment to teaching Wado Ryu Karate.

Shihan Peter Suzuki

Shihan Peter Suzuki was located in Dublin Ireland, where he soon established clubs within Southern Ireland, Suzuki Shihan then travelled to Germany and on his return to Ireland, decided to move to Birmingham, England in the early 70’s where he assisted T. Takamizawa in the Temple Karate Club in Birmingham.
Shortly after Suzuki Shihan then opened his own club, the Suzuki Karate school based in Meriden Street in Digbeth.
Within a year of opening, Peter’s club soon became famous for its teaching of traditional Wado Ryu, Due to the size of his club which peaked at 300 students, this enabled Peter to teach true Wado Ryu, the Japanese way, the way it is meant to be taught. The club created many of the top instructors in the country today.
In his hey day, Suzuki Shihan was famous for his fighting skills and his technical ability, the club was renowned for its etiquette and koroko (heart) within its students at all grades.
In the late 1980’s Peter retired from Karate due to ill health

In 2008 Shihan Peter Suzuki came out of retirement to oversee the training at the Ohku Kai. We are the only school in the world which were able to do so with great thanks to Shihan Dave Honey.

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