30th Anniversary of Affiliation with Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy
40th Norwegian Summer Camp
2019Halden, Norway
Participation in the Wado Academy Norwegian Summer Camp
Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Renmei(International Federation of Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Organizations)

Yoshimitsu Oshida / Deputy Chief Director

PrefaceI would firstly like to extend my heart-felt gratitude to the Third Generation Grandmaster Hironori
Otsuka, Oistein Riber Sensei, and Wado Academy for providing me with this precious opportunity toattend the 40th Wado Academy Norwegian Summer Camp. The Norwegian Summer Camp was heldfrom Thursday, June 27, 2019 to Saturday, June 29, 2019. Third Generation Grandmaster Hironori
Otsuka taught at the course alongside Arthur Meek Sensei 7th Dan Renshi of Wado Academy. I wasalso asked to instruct at the course. We divided all sessions into groups which were taught by eachone of us in rotation. This course was my first experience teaching outside Japan so I must admit that
I was quite nervous initially. I would like to take this opportunity to share my experiences andthoughts during this summer camp.
Some insight into the Norwegian branch of Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy
Head Instructor: Oistein Riber Sensei
Branch: Around 16 Dojos with over 1,000 members
This marks Oistein Sensei’s 40th Summer Camp in Norway. Perfect attendance!

Day 1
Third Generation Grandmaster was set to teach from the first day of the camp. Alas, mechanicaltrouble delayed his KLM flight by one whole day, leaving only Arthur Sensei and myself to instruct on
this occasion. There were around 70 participants (both kids and adults) on the first day, ranging fromwhite belts all the way up to high Dan grades. Arthur Sensei and I split participants into two groups,and both took one group each. I did inquire to Oistein Sensei and Arthur Sensei about what theywanted me to teach, however, they conveniently left that completely up to me...not an easy task, Itell you! Since that was the case then, I made my decision to go over Kihon (basics) we usually instructat Honbu Dojo and Tsukiji Dojo in Tokyo, with a focus on correct Kihon movement and connection ofthe whole body.

Practice of Wado Academy syllabus as witnessed in Kyu and Dan gradings
Day 1 of the Summer Camp ended on a high note. We returned to the hotel and met up withGrandmaster who managed to fly in from France without any further incident. On Day 2 of the camp
we divided everyone into 3 groups, with Grandmaster taking one group and Arthur Sensei and myself
also one group each as per the previous day. We then rotated between groups so that everyone at
the camp got to train with each one of us.
I made sure to confirm what Grandmaster and Arthur Sensei were teaching so that when I changed
to their group, I would ensure that I covered different content to what they had already instructed.

This format of teaching at seminars really tested an instructor’s ability to generate content ad-hoc.
Both Second and Third Generation Grandmasters have frequently spoken about the high level ofinstruction and training syllabus required in seminars taught outside of Japan. However, this was thevery first time for me to witness this international standard with my very own eyes. For the first timein my life I felt how difficult it must have always been for our Grandmasters to instruct in yearly largescale global seminars outside Japan.

Kyu and Dan gradings
Kyu grading was held at the end of the second day and Dan grading at the end of the third and final
day of the summer camp. It was a privilege to be one of the Dan grading judges on the panel thistime. Dan grading really tested the stamina of each examinee to the fullest. The grading wascomposed of all basics starting with Jun-Tsuki, Gyaku-Tsuki, Jun and Gyaku-Tsuki with Keri, with aplethora of additions including Tobikomi-Tsuki/Tobikomi Nagashi-Tsuki and many original Ohyo-Waza(application techniques) with some containing up to 57 moves! But wait, there is more! Kata, KihonKumite, Kumite-Gata, and Jiyu-Kumite. Of course, there was some undulation in the quality ofperformance of each technique, however, the syllabus was so much richer in content and far stricter
than what we have in Japan. Not to mention the fact that the grading itself took at least triple theamount of time to complete when compared with our domestic grading syllabus.

When comparing the grading syllabus and the standard of the grading itself, I think there is definitely
a way we can benefit from further cultural exchange between Europe and Japan so that we can bothlearn from, and influence one another in order to raise the overall global standard of Wado-Ryu
technique by reaching a sturdy middle ground.
Globalization in Wado-Ryu
I am uncertain whether I should use the expression “globalization” in this case, however, it is clearthat Wado-Ryu technique is truly a global entity. The experience of teaching overseas, carefully
observing Grandmaster’s instruction in this seminar, and interacting with Arthur Sensei, Oistein
Sensei, and other Norwegian Senseis has reassured me that Wado-Ryu technique has been carefullypassed down to each generation of leadership. What I have seen is that basic technique is left intact
and true to its origin, disregarding the physical location where it is practiced. Each Sensei in thatparticular region has managed to carry over the authenticity of Wado-Ryu technique and enrich its
execution with their own unique method of body movement, via their own ingenuity and life-longpursuit of Budo. Third Generation Grandmaster has further endowed this with his concrete definitionof core and muscle utilization, giving all devout practitioners something tangible they are able topursue, no matter what their nationality or physical location may be. Perhaps, then, “globalization”
is applicable in this instance after all!
Leaving Japanese soil
It has been a while since any Japanese-stationed instructor has had the chance to witness the worldof Wado-Ryu outside Japan and to also be able to instruct at any global seminar. This was truly a
blessing for me and an eye-opening experience, as I expressed this to Grandmaster several times.
One thing that really resounded with me was that instructors and students outside of Japan truly‘crave’ direct tutelage from our Grandmaster. When I compare this thirst for learning Wado-Ryu withthe current situation in Japan, I feel that Japanese students have lost their appetite for pursuingauthentic Wado-Ryu technique. This may be due to the fact that they are no longer ‘hungry’,colloquially speaking, as they have been feasting on direct tutelage from the Grandmasterdomestically for years now at Honbu Dojo monthly trainings and countless seminars throughout
Japan. This may be the biggest difference in enthusiasm towards training when looking at both endsof the spectrum with these cultures. As much as this experience was a blessing, it has also left mewith some crucial food-for-thought when it comes to reinforcing our Renmei efforts here in Japan in
my role as Secretary General. Some things that are already on my ‘to-do’ list are revisiting
opportunities to bring back camps for Japanese seminars and selecting certain Japanese Shihan-class
instructors to go abroad and instruct.
Karate is going to debut in 2020 Tokyo Olympics for the very first time. We have high hopes for Annika
Saelid of Wado Academy Norway who has already taken home a gold medal in the Under 18 Female
Kumite division in last year’s Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Japan National Tournament and further went onto win gold in the 3rd Youth Olympic Games! As we enter the year 2021, we will host the next WadoRyu Karate-Do International Tournament here in Tokyo and use these fair winds to help us
demonstrate and reinforce true and authentic Wado-Ryu for all those around the globe.
I would like to conclude my report by once again expressing my sincerest gratitude to Third
Generation Grandmaster for giving me this priceless opportunity and also to Marko Bursac of Honbu
Dojo for accompanying me on this trip and providing his linguistic support. I end this humble reportwith an oath to tirelessly continue perfecting my Wado-Ryu technique.
###