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Hironori Otsuka

Hironori Ōtsuka
Born (1892-06-01)June 1, 1892
Shimodate, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
Died January 29, 1982(1982-01-29) (aged 89)
Japan
Other names Hironori Ohtsuka
Residence Masaru_Shintani
Style Wadō-ryū Karate
Teacher(s) Gichin Funakoshi, Kenwa Mabuni, Chōki Motobu
Rank 10th dan karate
Notable students Masaru Shintani Tatsuo Suzuki
Website Official site

Hironori Ōtsuka (大塚 博紀 Ōtsuka Hironori?, June 1, 1892 – January 29, 1982) was a Japanese master of karate who created the Wadō-ryū style of karate. He was the first Grand Master of Wadō-ryū karate, and received high awards within Japan for his contributions to karate.

Ōtsuka was born on June 1, 1892, in Shimodate City, Ibaraki, Japan. He was one of four children to Tokujiro Ōtsuka, a medical doctor. At the age of 5 years, he began training in the martial art of jujutsu under his great-uncle, Chojiro Ebashi (a samurai). Ōtsuka's father took over his martial arts education in 1897. At the age of 13, Ōtsuka became the student of Shinzaburo Nakayama in Shindō Yōshin-ryū jujutsu.

In 1911, while studying business administration at Waseda University in Tokyo, Ōtsuka trained in various jujutsu schools in the area. Before his studies were complete, his father died and he was unable to continue studying; he commenced work as a clerk at the Kawasaki Bank. Although he wished to become a full-time instructor, he did not pursue this course at this point out of respect for his mother's wishes.

On June 1, 1921, Ōtsuka received the menkyo kaiden (certificate of mastery and license to teach) in Shindō Yōshin-ryū jujutsu, and became the fourth master of that school. Jujutsu was not to become his primary art, however; in 1922, Ōtsuka began training in Shotokan karate under Gichin Funakoshi, who was a new arrival in Japan. In 1927, he also established a medical practice and specialized in treating martial arts training injuries.


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