Suzuki Tatsuo Hanshi 1928-2011

[sojobo]

Hello,

As many of you may already know, on Tuesday of this week, Suzuki sensei 8th dan passed away.

He was without doubt one of the most important figures in world Karate (not just Wado) and his contribution to the art was outstanding.

In 1964 a contingent of three instructors embarked on a tour of Europe and the US to showcase Wado-ryu to the western world.

Along with Toru Arakawa and Hajime Takashima - Suzuki sensei visited London to demonstrate their Karate at the Shinto-ryu kendo club. After the tour, they returned to Japan however Suzuki sensei came back a year later in 1965. He subsequently lived in London for the rest of his life.

His contribution to the propagation of Wado ryu (and Karate as a whole) is difficult to truly appreciate - particularly when you bear in mind that when he arrived in the UK as a young man he spoke no English. There were also huge cultural differences that had to be overcome.

In order to successfully teach and spread Wado in England, and subsequently the rest of Europe (with the language and cultural barriers he faced) he used his knowledge and skill to transmit the information needed to understand the workings of the art.

One of the biggest challenges that most Karate-ka face is how to bridge the gap between Kata/Kihon and Jiyu Kumite. This is hard enough to teach and understand in your own language let alone a completely foreign one.

Suzuki managed this by creating a set of paired exercises he called "Ohyo kumite". This and a structured syllabus proved so successful that they remain to the day, a core part of most Wado groups training throughout the UK and Europe.

Whether or not you trained directly with him, chances are that if you practice Wado in the UK you are doing so because of Suzuki sensei.

Sojobo

[sensei8]

To the entire student body of Wado Ryu, and to any martial artist that was touched in some special way by Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei, please accept my sincerest condolences during this most sad time!! To his friends, family and his wife Eleni; my heart is with you, and you will be in my prayers. Words cannot alone express how sorry I am to have heard this news!!

Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei was a great karate-ka; he will be greatly missed by the entire martial arts world!!

[Dobbersky]

To the entire student body of Wado Ryu, and to any martial artist that was touched in some special way by Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei, please accept my sincerest condolences during this most sad time!! To his friends, family and his wife Eleni; my heart is with you, and you will be in my prayers. Words cannot alone express how sorry I am to have heard this news!!

Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei was a great karate-ka; he will be greatly missed by the entire martial arts world!!

I could not have said it any better myself

As a previous Wado Ryu Karateka

OSU

[Jeffrey]

To the entire student body of Wado Ryu, and to any martial artist that was touched in some special way by Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei, please accept my sincerest condolences during this most sad time!! To his friends, family and his wife Eleni; my heart is with you, and you will be in my prayers. Words cannot alone express how sorry I am to have heard this news!!

Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei was a great karate-ka; he will be greatly missed by the entire martial arts world!!

Yes Sensei8 well said. My condolences to the family and students.

[SlowHands]

my sympathy and condolences to both Suzuki Sensei's family, both inside and outside the dojo.

[DWx]

Condolences to Suzuki Sensei's family and friends and to all his students

[Jay]

My Condolences to the entire wado ryu family as well as anyone else he impacted upon, may he rest in peace.

[bushido_man96]

I offer my condolences as well.