ANN ARBOR, Mich. - iSportsWire -- Have you ever heard of wado ryu karate-do?

How does its history influence modern karate?

Modern karate-do has its beginnings so far in the past that its earliest history is lost. What we do know is that the roots of Wado Ryu come from the martial arts traditions of China, Okinawa, and Japan. Those elements came together in the last century due to the efforts of a most amazing Japanese martial artist named Ohtsuka Hironori Sensei, or as Westerners would say it, Hironori Ohtsuka.

Karate is a term, which originally meant, "T'anghand." This is in reference to the T'ang Dynasty of China from which the Okinawans adapted many karate-do concepts. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Okinawans had developed a system of unarmed combat called Okinawa te or tode. This art was supposedly enhanced by the influence of Chinese emissaries in the 17th century, who introduced kata, or "forms," and other Chinese principles.

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Among the kata believed to have been introduced were, notably, Kushanku and Chinto, which were supposedly named after the men who introduced them. This was at a time when Okinawa had come under the control of Japan, and Okinawans were required to surrender their weapons on pain of death.

The empty-handed fighting arts may have been studied so that the Okinawans might defend themselves from their conquerors. More recent investigation reveals that the empty-handed fighting systems of Okinawa were probably developed by the Pechin class, who were responsible for law-and-order as well as for the military.

Read the full article on SMAA's website: https://www.smaa-hq.com/articles/article/wado-r...

Learn More about Martial Arts History at an International Martial Arts Association

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If you're looking for an international martial arts association dedicated to preserving the authentic Japanese arts, you're in the right place!

SMAA offers certification in authentic aikido, iaido, judo, jujutsu, and karate-do. If you're interested in becoming a member, call (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here: https://www.smaa-hq.com/contact

About Shudokan Martial Arts Association: SMAA was founded in January 1994 by a group of martial artists concerned with promoting and safeguarding Nihon budo and koryu bujutsu—the traditional martial arts and ways of Japan. SMAA is a non-profit that aims keep the spirit of traditional budo alive in the West. Anyone can become a member, even if you aren't a martial artist, and SMAA members are from multiple countries across the globe. For more information, visit https://www.smaa-hq.com/about