European Wadokai (FEW). As a karate historian I accepted it with

pleasure. I could trace the following history through books, programs

published at competitions, my personal diary and some other

information.

The word 'Karate' is not very old ( 'Karate' as empty hand was used

probably for the first time in 1929.), but hitting and kicking is

nothing new in the human history, not to mention about the ancient

Olympic games in Greece. In their games they had not only boxing and

wrestling, but also pancration in which even kicking was allowed.

Prehistory

The system of our modern karate has been inherited on the tiny island in

southern Japan, Okinawa. This Okinawan karate was introduced to Tokyo

in 1922 by a retired school teacher Funakoshi Gichin (1868-1957). The

system karate was accepted and adapted quite easily there, because the

system karate was not so unfamiliar to the Japanese who had a long

tradition of martial arts. Later in the history karate has spread all

over the world probably by the same reason. The idea of karate is

nothing new to the human being.

Hironori Ohtsuka (1892-1982) had trained jujutsu before he started

training karate under Gichin Funakoshi in 1922. Jujutsu and karate were

principally not different from each other in techniques.

From the view point of organization he started his own group in 1934 as

Dai Nippon Karate Shinko Club (Japanese Karate Promoting Club). This is

the background why in 1994 Wadokai in Japan organized her 60 years

anniversary World Cup in Tokyo. We have to remember that in those days

karate was not as popular as today. In 1938 the name Dai Nippon Karatedo

Shinbukai (Japanese Karate Martial Promoting Federation) was used. In

1940 for the first time the name Wadoryu was used as Wadoryu karate-jutsu

when it was registered at Butokukai demonstration in Kyoto together with

Shotokan, Shitoryu and Gojuryu.

In 1945 when the Second World War was over the name became only Wadoryu.

In 1954 it was changed to Zen Nippon Karate Renmei (All Japan Karate

Federation) though it was a Wadoryu private organization. In 1964 the

name Wadokai was established under Japan Karate Federation (JKF). Today

Wadokai in Japan is called JKF-Wadokai, which functions as the official

Wado organization in Japan and in the world.

History in Europe

1964

The first footstep of Wadoryu Karate ever made in Europe, at least which

I could trace, was the trip made by the three Karatekas in 1964. Those

three were Tatsuo Suzuki (5th dan), Hajimu Takashima (4th dan) and Toru

Arakawa (5th dan). Those three made a two months trip throughout the US

and Europe to present karate at various places. You can read how their

trip went in the book written by Takashima 1965.

1965-1973

Tatsuo Suzuki decided to come to Europe after the trip which he made

with Arakawa and Takashima in 1964. He came to London to teach karate in

1965. Tatsuo Suzuki was followed by quite a few Japanese karate

practitioners: such as Hiroo Mochizuki (France), Tetsuya Kojima

(Belgium), Teruo Kono (England-Holland-Germany), Yutaka Toyama

(England-Germany-Italy), Masafumi Shiomitsu (England - France -

Madagascar - England), Yoshihiko Iwasaki (Ireland), Toru Takamizawa

(England), Kuniaki Sakagami (Germany - England), Katsuichi Kamigaito

(Belgium) and some others. Some may have had an intention to stay in

Europe for a longer period and some for a shorter period. Personally I

came to Sweden as a guest researcher in chemistry in 1969. I was

supposed to stay in Sweden for one year. But I started a karate club at

my arrival and ended up to stay in Sweden for 30 years.

Hironori Ohtsuka (1892-1982, the founder of Wadoryu) made a trip to

Europe in 1968, 1970, 1974 and even 1976 to promote Wadoryu karate.

In 1970 (27 February) a competition was held in London under the name

of The First European Championships, (sponsored by Karate Association of

Europe) though the participants were only Wado-people.

In 1972 (28th October) a competition was held in Holland under the name

of The first European Championships , sponsored by Wadokai Nederland. As

I could trace, this is the first European Wado Cup.

We should not forget that European Karate Union (EKU - the official all

style federation) had her first European Championships already in 1966.

The first All Japan Karate Championships (all style) were held the year

after 1967.

Despite all these facts this period should be regarded as the beginning

of Wado karate in Europe, though FEW was not quite as established as an

organization.

1974-1983

European Cup has been arranged annually since 1974. Wadoryu karate has

been expanding in Europe. The number of participating countries to the

European Cups has been increasing. This period should be regarded as a

developing period of FEW.

1981 Wadoryu Renmei splitted from Wadokai in Japan.

There were some aspects about the split. But in short Wadokai has

remained to be a federation - as Japan Karate Federation Wadokai,

representing Wadoryu karate in the official federation. While Wadoryu

Renmei has chosen to be in practice a private organization, run by

Hironori Ohtsuka's son Jiro. The split was quite unfortunate, because

everybody had to make a choice which one to follow without having enough

information, very often depending on what kind of human relations a

person had. It seems like even in Europe federation-type people stayed

in Wadokai while private-type people went to Wadoryu as a result. But

FEW has not felt a strong influence at this moment yet.

1984-1988

The constitution of FEW was revised. There was a need to establish an

acceptable regulation for a democratic organization. But FEW was not

covering the whole Wado world in Europe. It was still quite limited to

the personal contacts.

In 1986 the following persons were elected as committee members:

1989-1992

1989 World Cup, London, England (26, 27 August)

FEW sponsored this World Cup in London, but this World Cup became an

epoch for a change for FEW. Directly after the World Cup Masafumi

Shiomitsu who had been representing Wadoryu (under the name of Wado

Academy) resigned from his post, and Tatsuo Suzuki left Wadoryu Renmei

and even FEW, and started his own private organization (International

Wadoryu Federation). I must say that this was an unstable period of FEW,

but it was quite important for new FEW for all Wadokai practitioners.

European Cup 1990 was supposed to be arranged in Dublin, Ireland. But

Ireland could not carry out. At the committee meeting ever held within

FEW, it was decided that the competition would be held in Gothenburg.

This caused a new era for FEW.

1993-

As a result of 1990 reformation FEW has been splitted into two. Let us

call our FEW, FEW-G (G for our president Mr. Gai) and the other FEW-K (K

for Mr. Kono). In the past 10 years FEW were partly Wadokai and partly

Wadoryu Renmei depending on what kind of relation they had. FEW-G has

decided that FEW-G should consist only of Wadokai affiliated member

countries. In the meantime FEW-K has some Wadokai members and some

Wadoryu. This should be called a new era for FEW (FEW-G). It has become

quite obvious that our FEW-G has chosen a right direction in cooperation

with the official organizations JKF (Wadokai), EKU and WKF.

Shingo Ohgami,
General Secretary