About Us

Wado Ryu was created by Hironori Otsuka (1892 – 1982) (and officially recognised in May 1934) who by that time was a jujutsu master. It merges many much older elements to make Wado Ryu one of the four main styles of karate today. The name translates to mean “the way of peace and harmony” in Japanese. 

Whereas most styles of Karate focus on powerful attacks, Wado practitioners seek to evade blows. Students learn to shift their bodies to avoid or reduce the impact of blows and strikes are incorporated as a counter-attack. 

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The 1960's saw Wado-Ryu gain popularity overseas. In 1963 Otsuka sent a three man delegation to do major demonstrations in the U.S.A and Europe comprising Tatsuo Suzuki. Toru Arakawa and Takashima Sensei.

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Eric Krappinger 

In 1977 Eric Krappinger started karate training. He originally trained with Suzuki  Sensei and a number of the original Japanese sensei who came over to the UK in the 1960's. He eventually started his own club in 1987 and formed East London Wado Kai (ELWK) in 1999. While he has now stepped down as Chief Instructor of ELWK, he stays on as our Senior Technical Advisor both to our Association and as Hanshi to the Jikan Kai Association.

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John Grantham

John began his Martial Art training at Grimsby Judo Club 1974 - 1977. In those early years he won a Bronze medal while competing at the national Under 21 level. In 1987 John started training in Wado Ryu karate with Yoshi Shinohara sensei and together with Eric sensei, trained under various high-ranking instructors Sakagami sensei, Ohgami sensei and Arakara sensei. In 2000 John joined the East London Wado Kai and by November 2018 he achieved the rank for 5th Degree black belt, Godan. In 2020 sensei Eric stepped down as Chief Instructor of the East London Wado Kai and appointed John as his successor. In 2021 he was awarded the master title of Kyoshi by the Jikan Kai Association where he serves as a technical director for karate and jujutsu kempo.