Wadoryu is one of the major styles of karate, alongside Shitoryu, Gojuryu and Shotokanryu. Each of these schools have their own particular characteristics which makes them unique. In the case of Wadoryu, we place an emphasis on speed, timing and body movement. So for example, rather than directly blocking an attack, we try to move and counter simultaneously.
This school originally had a a strong influence from jujutsu (Yoshinryu) and kendo (Yagyuryu) which has a bearing on how techniques are performed and the tactics used. Rather than relying on strength and confronting the opponent attack head-on, it it teaches to constantly shift the centerline away from the opponent’s attack, making it an extremely rational technique making use of the opponents energy to defeat them.
Wadoryu is practised all over the world, with branch members affiliated directly to the headquarters in Japan – JKF Wadokai . Manchester JKF Wadokai has been an official branch member since 2011 and has hosted various seminars by senior teachers visiting from Japan. We’ve held seminars with the UK’s senior Wadoryu karate teacher Sakagami sensei and we were the first club in Europe to host the former Chair of the JKF Wadokai Technical Committee, Shimura sensei 8 Dan. Maintaining contact with the headquarters is important to us as a club as we want to ensure we are constantly improving our knowledge and understanding of how to practice correctly. To this end we have also hosted Katsube sensei 7th Dan and Uchida sensei 7th Dan at our club and we’ve enjoyed visits to our dojo from other karate friends we’ve met training in Japan.
