History of Karate and Wado Kai
Karate-do, the way of the empty hand, was developed by the people of Okinawa to defend against Japenese invaders.
The tiny island of Okinawa was originally divided into three kingdoms but was united in the 15th century by a king who then banned all weapons. His aim was to prevent the building of armies that might overthrow the throne.
One hundred and fifty years later the Japenese invaded Okinawa. The had little trouble subduing the weaponless island. The invaders extended the arms ban to include even farm tools with a blade. This final restriction left the islanders literally empty-handed.
Over the next 100 years the Okinawans developed a secret fighting system in which their hands and feet became deadly weapons. With this skill they were able to face and defeat heavily armed Japanese samurai warriors. Eventually Okinawa merged politically with Japan and Karate training was practiced openly.
Ginshin Funakoshi, an Okinawan karate master with a specialized style, demonstrated and taught his art in Japan at the Emperor's request. Almost immediately, the study of karate became very popular in Japan. From there, it soon spread around the world.
Wado-Kai karate was developed by one of Funakoshi's senior students named Hironori Ohtsuka.
Wado-Kai, meaning 'the way to peace and harmony' is one of the five major styles in karate. It is a fast and fluid style emphasizing body shifting to evade an attack. Blocking movements are often transformed instantly into attacks.
Karate-do, for Ohtsuka, was primarily a spiritual discipline. "Violent action may be understood as the way of martial arts, but the true meaning of martial arts is to seek and attain the way of peace and harmony".
The aim of Wado-Kai karate is to develop a mind that is tranquil yet alive, able to react intuitively and without hesitation to any situation.
As skill and knowledge are acquired through training and concentration of effort, the student of Wado-Kai develops inner strength and calmness of character as well as the virtues of self control, respect for others and true humility.
