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, Mr. Shomitsu 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 (Peter) Suzuki Sensei. He was a very hard and tough Sensei but was much loved and respected by his Irish students. The same year the Federation all Ireland Karate-Do Wado Kai (F.I.K.W.) was formed this changed to A.I.K.W. 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 to go to Germany and then Mr. Iwasaki settled in Dublin. Over the years he helped grow A.I.K.W. into a highly prestigious body of traditional Wado Karate, with the help of Mr. Shomitsu Sensei andMr. Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei..

But in 1989 there were political problems in Europe, which also affected Ireland. Mr. Iwasaki and Mr. Shomitsu formed a closer association with Sensei Ohtsuka's son Jiro and they formed the Wado Academy.

Mr. Iwasaki insisted that A.I.K.W. join the Wado Academy, which the majority of members did not agree with and an General meeting was held and after quite a heated debate A.I.K.W. decided NOT to join the Wado Academy, but contacted Sensei Suzuki who had resigned from European Wado Kai and was setting up The Wado International Karate-do Federation. He agreed that he would support A.I.K.W. and they could have one year to decide if they wanted to stay with Wado Kai or join WIKF. The Northern Ireland members of A.I.K.W. joined WIKF directly.

In the summer of 1990 a week long course was held in Dublin with Sensei Suzuki and the largest Dan grade ever held by the A.I.K.W. was conducted and it was agreed that A.I.K.W. would become full members of WIKF. The following year 1991 Ireland hosted the First European WIKF Championship and introduced the weight category for the first time in European Wado Championships.

Unfortunately in 1992 some members of the A.I.K.W. executive Committee wanted to remain in Wado Kai and this they achieved by vote. Wado Kai Japan was contacted to seek direct membership with them; this was achieved and in doing so Ireland became the first country not having a Japanese instructor to receive full recognition from Japan Wado Kai. At this time the senior Instructors in A.I.K.W. were Derek Desmond 4 th Dan, Michael Guilfoyle 4 th Dan and Robert McGrath 2 nd Dan.

Robert McGrath was not happy with leaving Sensei Suzuki and the direction A.I.K.W. was taking and in 1992 resigned from A.I.K.W. He joined the Northern Ireland WIKF group and began training in the Newry Club under John Shires Sensei. With the help of John Shires he passed his 3 rd Dan grading in 1993 and was asked by Suzuki Sensei to try and set up a WIKF federation in the Republic of Ireland. So in 1993 Mr. Robert McGrath Sensei officially formed the Wado International Karate-Do Federation in Ireland. Other members of AIKW who were unsatisfied resigned and joined WIKF in Ireland.

The WIKF in Ireland is now one of the largest Wado Group in Ireland. It held the WIKF European Championship again in 2002 and enjoys running a Spring Karate Training course every year with Mr. Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei. Many of it's members have won Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at World and European WIKF events.