The Wado Karate Federation (WKF) was founded as an association based in the Bristol, South West of the UK, dedicated to the practice of traditional Wado karate. The WKF is headed by Sensei George Grimes, 8th Dan Kyoshi (pictured right). Click here to read an interview with Sensei Grimes.

What is Karate?

Karate-Do "the way of the empty hand" is a martial art originated in Okinawa. Karate-Do has its roots in Chinese martial arts introduced into Okinawa during feudal times.

Karate-Do was brought to the attention of the Japanese public at the start of the twentieth century by the Okinawan master Gichin Funakoshi (pictured left). The art gained popularity and was exported to the West from Japan. The style practised within the WKF is Wado.

What is Wado Ryu?

"Wado" means "the way of peace and harmony" - "Ryu" means "school". Wado Ryu was devised by Hironori Ohtsuka (pictured right), the first Grandmaster. Hironori Ohtsuka was already a master of Jiu-jitsu when he began to study Karate with Gichin Funakoshi and Choki Motobu. Wado Ryu was a development of Okinawan Karate in combination with Jui-jitsu.