Wado-Ryu Karate

Wado-Ryu Karate-Do is a Japanese style of martial arts, included in the Japanese Karate Federation (JKF) and World Karate Federation’s (WKF) list of four main styles (the additional three being: Shotokan, Goju-Ryu, and Shito-Ryu). It is considered to be the first truly Japanese style of karate, being based on a combination of Shotokan Karate from Okinawa and Japanese Shindo Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu. Wado-Ryu is known for its fluidity, grappling techniques, and circular motions.

Wado-Ryu, when broken down, can translate to: Wa – Peace or Harmony, Do – Way or Path, and Ryu – School or Style. So Wado-Ryu can be roughly translated as “The School of the Way of Harmony”.

There are currently three organizations that teach the art Wado-Ryu globally. They are as follows and in order of founding:

Japan Karate-Do Federation Wadokai (generally referred to as “Wadokai”)

Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Renmei (generally referred to as simply “Wado-Ryu”)

Wado Kokusai Karatedo Renmei, also known as Wado International Karat-Do Federation (generally referred to as “WIKF”)