A New Club - a New Beginning

Our History

Sensei's Kevin Bates and Dave Parry both started their Wado-Ryu training under the late Sensei Roy Partridge 5th Dan.

Kevin started in 1968 as a 12 year old and Dave in 1981 at the age of 22 (prior to this, Dave had been studying other various martial arts since the age of 13).

Sensei Roy Partridge probably ran one of the oldest clubs in the country, until his untimely passing in 2000.

The club opened in the early 1950's and was originally run by a Polish man called Jan Bujak, in 1958, Roy Partridge took over the club.

Sensei Roy Partridge started training at the age of 17 years studying Judo for about 9 years, under Japanese Sensei Kenshiro-Abbe 8th Dan in Judo. Kenshiro-Abbe was also a 4th Dan in Aikido and 4th Dan in Shotokan Karate.

Sensei Roy Partridge unfortunately had to retire from Judo and competition due to knee cartilage problems.

He then studied Aikido for a short while, be he kept hearing about something called karate, which is when he enrolled at West Bromwich training with Jan Bujak and Eddie Daniels.

Jan Bujak left for South Africa and Roy took over, Sensei Roy took his gradings with Sensei Suzuki, Iakawa and Go Adachi.

Sensei Roy Partridge took his 1st Dan under the old BKA panel of the late Sensei Takamizawa, Pete Spanton, Ticky Donavan, John Smith and D. Connors.

A few years later, he took his 2nd Dan under the same panel. Sensei Roy Partridge joined the Tera Group of the late Sensei Toru Takamizawa (who was Sensei Partridge's Chief Wado-Ryu Instructor) even taking private lessons to advance his study further. As time went by, Sensei Partridge decided to leave Tera and form his own group, known as the A.K.K. (Amateur Karate Kai).

Sensei Takamizawa told Roy it was okay, in Japanese they call it SHU-HA-RI, which means to "move on" or to "move away". He said it was quite natural evolution of the experienced martial artist. After all, as children grow up and mature they leave home and start their own affairs and lives.

After many years of hard training Sensei Toru believes it is quite natural for the student to move on and evolve.

Sensei Kevin Bates and Sensei Dave Parry have decided to move on and evolve, hence their own club which they have decided to base in Wednesbury called the "SHU-HA-RI WADO-RYU KARATE CLUB", the teaching will be based on Sensei Toru Takamizawa and Sensei Roy Partridge teachings with additions from Sensei Kevin Bates and Sensei Dave Parry from their combined 70 years experience.

SHU-HA-RI explains our growth in the martial arts, Kevin and Dave being at the "RI" stage "preserving the style and adding to it". This is a new stage in our evolution, to get close to the truth about ourselves, be better martial artists, better people and also to live in harmony with nature and all around us.

We are happy you have chosen to take your first step with us - now let us walk the path to enlightenment together and grow in every aspect of our lives.

Our Aims

Wednesbury Karate Club will adopt the same aims as Kazoku Kai International and these are that we shall develop karate along traditional lines, preserving the old kata and their traditional bunkai applications, offering a friendly companionship to all like-minded karate kai whatever their race, gender or style.

Wednesbury Karate Club shall promote an interest in and keep an open mind to martial artists of all styles and backgrounds within these aims.

Wednesbury Karate Club shall promote karate as a means of self defence and personal fitness, recording and updating the history of its development through kata and teachings.

Wednesbury Karate Club shall provide a safe training environment for anyone wishing to learn the art and history of karate.

The Wednesbury Karate Club Badge

SHUHARI

This is what appears on all our certificates, diplomas, gi's, official stationery, etc.

Firstly, the mountain symbolises what we have to climb in order to reach our goals, not just in the martial arts, but in life itself. It shows we are sure and steadfast in our aims to attain our goals in life. The green surrounding two thirds of the mountain, signifies peace and harmony on our journey. We should all ultimately strive for peace within ourselves, with our fellow human beings and we should, if we are to survive, live in peace and harmony with nature.

The brown baron waste two thirds up the mountain, signifies "the way is not always straightforward" and peaceful and that sometimes you will need to "fight" or "strive" harder to get where you want to be.

The white snow cap of the mountain shows purity of heart, mind and spirit that we strive so hard to attain and that which we can, if we are prepared to persevere.

The rising sun behind the mountain symoblises the enlightenment which we seek and everlasting peace.

The long winding road is our "path" up the mountain of life, wide at the bottom which signifies our absorbsion of the physical, mental and spiritual knowledge on a large scale. Then as the "path" ascends higher it narrows, which signifies a refining of all we have absorbed physically, mentally and spiritually.

The Japanese writing on the left are our 3 stages of enlightenment, SHU-HA-RI.

The writing on the right is our style, WADO-RYU KARATE. We have used the Japanese writing in our badge/logo to show our link and respect for karate masters both past and present.

What is Wado-Ryu Karate?

Wado-Ryu

Wado-Ryu Karate is a Japanese martial art founded by Hironori Ohtsuka Sensei in 1934.

Ohtsuka Sensei developed Wado-Ryu after studying the Samurai martial art of jiu-jitsu and shotokan (another style of karate) this combination according to Ohtsuka Sensei, is a softer, more natural means of self protection.

The full name of the style is "Wado-Ryu Karate-Do".

The term Wado-Ryu means "way of peace" or "way of harmony", indicating Ohtsuka Sensei's original intention to use training in Wado-Ryu as a means of solving problems in a non-violent way.

Karate-Do means "way of the empty hand", as karate is, for the most part, studied without the use of weapons.

The Founder Hironori Ohtsuka

Hironori Ohtsuka was born on 1 June 1892 in Shimodate City, Ibaragi, Japan.

He started his study of the martial arts on 1 April 1897 at the age of 5 where he studied Shindo Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu under the supervision of his father.

At 13 years of age he studied further in Jujutsu under Shinzaburo Nakayama Sensei, the third Grand Master of this style of Jujutsu. Unlike other Jujutsu schools of the time, Shindo Yoshin Ryu specialised in kicking and punching techniques in addition to throwing, twisting and locking techniques.

While at Waseda University from 1910-1917, he studied different styles of Jujitsu concentrating on their positive aspects. In doing so he learned a great deal about the bodies vital points for both attacking and healing purposes.

In 1922, Ohtsuka Sensei attended a sports festival in Tokyo, where he encountered karate for the first time being taught by Gichin Funakoshi, a karate instructor from Okinawa and a man widely held as the "Father of Modern Karate".

Ohtsuka Sensei was so impressed by Gichin Funakoshi's karate he began to study under him. By the age of 30, Ohtsuka Sensei was the Chief Instructor of Shindo Yoshin Ryu Jujitsu and Assistant Instructor at Funakoshi Sensei's Dojo. Ohtsuka Sensei studied other styles including Judo, Kendo and Aikido. He blended their practical uses which led to the birth of kumite (fighting) in karate.

Ohtsuka Sensei realised there was a need for a more dynamic and fluid type of karate, so he decided to leave Gichin Funakoshi to concentrate on developing his own style - Wado.

In 1934, Wado Ryu Karate was officially recognised as an independent style of karate.

In 1938, Ohtsuka Sensei was awarded the rank of "Renshi-go".

In 1944, Ohtsuka Sensei was appointed Japan's Chief Instructor.

From 1945 to the early 1960's Wado-Ryu remained on the 3 small islands of Japan.

In 1963, a 3 man team left Japan to demonstrate Wado-Ryu to America and Europe. The team composed of Arakama Sensei, Takashima Sensei and Suzuki Sensei, Wado-Ryu soon became recognised around the world.

In 1966 Ohtsuka Sensei was awarded the title "Kun Goto Suokuo Kyoku Jujitsu Shuo" by the late Emperor Horohito, for his dedication led to the further historic award of "Meijin" or "The first Excellent Martial Artist in Karate 10th Dan" in 1972.

This was the first time that this award had been given to a practitioner of karate and was the same status as Kyuzo Mifune in Judo and Hakuko Nakayama in Kendo.

Ohtsuka Sensei continued to teach and lead the world of Wado-Ryu Karate into the 1980's, then on January 29th 1982 he passed away peacefully.

Ohtsuka Sensei will always be remembered for his enormous contribution and individual devotion to Wado-Ryu Karate. His son, Jiro Ohtsuka, took his father's name and became the second Grand Master of Wado-Ryu in 1982.

There are presently over 1,000 branch dojos throughout the world, with a membership of over 40,000 which are under his supervision.

OHTSUKA SENSEI (MEIJIN) 10th DAN

1 JUNE 1892 - 29 JANUARY 1982