Wado Ryu History in Ireland
A History of Wado Karate-do in Ireland
This is a short history of Wado Karate in Ireland from its first introduction in 1966 to the formation of Wado Kokusai Suzuki-ha Karate-do Ireland.
Tatsuo Suzuki Hanshi, then Chief Instructor of European Wado Kai, officially introduced Wado Karate into Ireland with a demonstration on the television program The Late Late Show in 1966.
Suzuki Sensei, along with other Japanese instructors including Mr. Fuji, Mr. Shomitsu, and Mr. Arakawa, travelled back and forth from England to teach in Dublin.
The first Irishman to receive his nidan (2nd Dan) was Mr. Jim Pritchard, who played a significant role in establishing Wado Karate in Ireland.
In 1967, Mr. Pritchard introduced Wado Karate into Northern Ireland, and Mr. Shizuo (Peter) Suzuki Sensei became the first resident Japanese instructor in Dublin. He was tough but highly respected by his students.
That same year, the Federation All Ireland Karate-Do Wado Kai (FIKW) was formed, later renamed AIKW in the early 1970s.
In 1970, Mr. Yoshihiko Iwasaki Sensei arrived as the second Japanese instructor and began teaching in Cork City.
Sensei Jim Pritchard
Suzuki Sensei & Iwasaki Sensei
When Mr. Suzuki left Ireland in 1971, he passed AIKW leadership to Mr. Iwasaki, who helped grow it into a highly respected Wado organization with help from Mr. Shomitsu Sensei.
Senior Irish instructors at that time were Sensei Derek Desmond and Sensei Michael Guilfoyle, both 2nd Dans who began training in 1967–68.
The Formation of WIKF in Ireland
In 1989, political challenges in Europe affected Wado groups, including Ireland. Mr. Iwasaki and Mr. Shomitsu aligned with Jiro Ohtsuka, forming the Wado Academy.
Mr. Iwasaki wanted AIKW to join the Wado Academy, but most members disagreed. After a heated general meeting, AIKW chose not to join and instead contacted Suzuki Sensei, who had left European Wado Kai and was forming the Wado International Karate-Do Federation (WIKF).
Suzuki Sensei agreed to support AIKW and gave them one year to decide between Wado Kai and WIKF. Northern Ireland AIKW members joined WIKF directly.
In summer 1990, Suzuki Sensei taught a week-long course in Dublin and conducted the largest Dan grading in AIKW history. It was agreed that AIKW would join WIKF fully.
In 1991, Ireland hosted the first European WIKF Championship, introducing weight categories to European Wado competitions.
In 1992, some AIKW executive members voted to remain with Wado Kai, which Japan accepted — making Ireland the first country recognized by Japan Wado Kai without a Japanese instructor.
At that time, AIKW senior instructors were:
- Derek Desmond (4th Dan)
- Michael Guilfoyle (4th Dan)
- Robert McGrath (2nd Dan)
Robert McGrath & WIKF Ireland
Unhappy with AIKW’s new direction, Robert McGrath resigned in 1992 and joined WIKF Northern Ireland, training under Sensei John Shires in Newry.
With Shires’ help, he earned his 3rd Dan in 1993 and was asked by Suzuki Sensei to establish a WIKF Federation in the Republic of Ireland.
So in 1993, Robert McGrath officially founded WIKF Ireland. Other AIKW members joined, including:
- Mr. Sean O’Brien (Clondalkin Club)
- Mr. Eamon House
In 1998, Mr. Philip Smith (2nd Dan) also joined with his Drogheda Club.
In 2007, Mr. Sean O’Brien left WIKF to form his own federation.
Under Sensei McGrath’s leadership, WIKF Ireland became one of the largest Wado groups in Ireland, hosting the 2002 WIKF European Championship and an annual Spring Training Course with Suzuki Sensei until 2009.
Losses & New Beginnings
In 2010, Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei was unable to travel to Ireland. Hiroji Fukazawa Sensei (8th Dan) agreed to lead the spring course but tragically fell ill and passed away in June 2010.
In July 2011, Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei passed away — a huge loss to the Wado world.
That spring, Sensei Jon Wicks, WIKF Chief Instructor, came to Ireland to teach and grade students.
However, changes in direction among WIKF Ireland clubs made it difficult for Sensei McGrath to continue his original promise to Suzuki Sensei. Thus, a new group was formed by senior WIKF karateka:
Wado Kokusai Karate-do Ireland (WKKI)
Wado Kokusai Suzuki-Ha Ireland
Sensei Philip Kear (8th Dan) visited Ireland for the first time in August 2014. He is the eldest student of Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei, having trained full-time in 1969 at Nichi Dai University Dojo and graded under Hironori Ohtsuka Meijin (10th Dan).
On April 25, 2015, WKKI became a founding member of:
Wado Kokusai Suzuki-Ha Europe
On May 1, 2015, the group changed its name to:
Wado Kokusai Suzuki-Ha Karate-do Ireland
Keeping the initials WKKI.
Today, this federation — under the guidance of Sensei Philip Kear (8th Dan) — continues to honor Suzuki Sensei’s dream:
To teach Wado Karate as passed down from Hironori Ohtsuka, the founder of traditional Wado-Ryu.