An Open LetterFrom Grandmaster Hironori Ohtsuka II

"At present, there are only 12 Wado Ryu Sensei teaching Wado Ryu outside of Japan, holding the rank of 7th Dan or above, and who are recognized by the International Federation of Wado Ryu Karatedo Renmei.

Each of these twelve studied technical skills and the philosophy of Wado Ryu in Japan, departing  with the ideal of making known the art of Wado Ryu to the rest of the world -- guiding all people to be valuable for society through training in the philosophy and art of Wado Ryu.

The fruits of their labors have been realized over the course of the past 40 years. Wado Ryu is growing greatly and has become one of the largest karate organizations in the world, with an international family of talented and devoted members.

Cecil T. Patterson is one of those twelve. After he studied Wado Ryu in Japan, he returned to his home country, and established the first Wado Ryu dojo in the United States, earning recognition as a most responsible Sensei, overseeing the United States Eastern Wado Ryu Karate Federation. Even with that recognition, he continued over the years to further his education and understanding of Wado Ryu; from my father, Hironori Ohtsuka Meijin, and in these later years, from myself.

In 1988, the International Federation of Wado Ryu Karatedo Renmei awarded Cecil T. Patterson the Ohtsuka Award -- as a man of merit, and for his great contribution toward Wado Ryu."

Grandmaster Hironori Ohtsuka II

Translated By Kazutaka Ohtsuka

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