WADO KARATE-DO IN IRELAND

This is a short history of Wado Karate in Ireland from it first
introduction in1966 to the formation of the Wado International
Karate-do Federation in 1993.

Sensei Tatsuo Suzuki Hanshi the then Chief Instructor of European Wado kai officially introduced Wado Karate into Ireland with a
demonstration on the television program The Late Late Show
back in 1966.

Sensei Suzuki with the help of other Japanese Instructors Mr. Fuji
and Mr. Arakawa went back and forward from England to teach in Dublin. The first Irishman to receive his nidan ( first dan black belt) was Mr. Jim Pritchard, who played a very big part in establishing
Wado Karate in Ireland.

In 1967 Mr. Pritchard Sensei introduced Wado Karate into Northern Ireland and the first resident Japanese Instructor arrived in Dublin
Mr. Shizuo Suzuki Sensei.He was a very hard and tough Sensei
but was much loved and respected by his students. The same year the Federation all Ireland Karate-Do Wado Kai (FIKW) was formed this changed to AIKW in the early 70's.

In 1970 the second Japanese instructor arrived in Ireland
Mr. Yoshihiko Iwasaki Sensei, he first went to Cork city in the south of Ireland. Shizuki Suzuki Sensei handed the AIKW over to Mr. Iwasaki when he left Ireland in 1971 and then Mr. Iwasaki settled in
Dublin. Over the years he helped grow AIKW into a highly
prestigious body of traditional Wado Karate.

In 1989 Mr. Iwasaki left to form the Wado Academy of Ireland. AIKW
stayed with Wado Kai Japan headed by Mr. Derek Desmond Sensei
But supporting Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei with his formation of Wado
International Karate-do Federation.

In 1993 the Wado International Karate-Do Federation in Ireland was officially formed by Mr. Robert McGrath Sensei.