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The founder of Wado ryu, Hironori Otsuka, was born on 1 June 1892 in Shimodate, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. In 1898, Otsuka began practicing koryu jujutsu under Chojiro Ebashi. From 1905 - 1921, he studied Shindo Yoshin-ryu jujutsu under Tatsusaburo Nakayama. In 1922, he met Gichin Funakoshi and began to train under him. In 1924, Otsuka became one of the first students promoted to black belt in karate by Funakoshi. To broaden his knowledge of Karate, Otsuka also studied with other prominent masters such as Kenwa Mabuni of Shito ryu and Motobu Choki. In 1929, Otsuka organized the first school karate club at Tokyo University. Eiichi Eriguchi coined the term 'Wado ryu' in 1934.

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In 1938, Otsuka registered his style of karate with the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai under the name of "Shinshu Wadoryu Karate Jujutsu."Soon after, however, this was shortened to Wado ryu" (和道流). In 1938, the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai awarded Otsuka the rank of Renshi Go, followed in 1942 by the rank of Kyoshi Go. It was around this time that Tatsuo Suzuki, founder of the WIKF, began training in Wado ryu. In 1944, Otsuka was appointed Japan's Chief Karate Instructor. In 1946, Otsuka awarded Tatsuo Suzuki the rank of 2nd dan.

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Around 1950, Jiro Otsuka (the founder's second son) began training in Wado ryu while in his adolescent years. In 1951, Otsuka awarded Tatsuo Suzuki the rank of 5th dan, the highest rank awarded in Wado ryu at that time. In 1952, the Wado ryu headquarters (honbu) was established at the Meiji University dojo in Tokyo. In 1954, its name was changed to Zen Nippon Karate Renmei (All Japan Karate Federation). In 1955, Otsuka published "Karatejutsu no Kenkyu," a book expounding his style of karate. In 1963, he dispatched Suzuki, along with Toru Arakawa and Hajimu Takashima, to spread Wado ryu around the world.

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In 1972, the President of Kokusai Budo Renmei, a member of the Japanese royal family, awarded Otsuka the title of Meijin. In 1975, Suzuki received his 8th dan, the highest grade ever given (at the time) by the Federation of All Japan Karate do Organizations, and was named Hanshi Go by the uncle of Emperor Higashikuni.

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In 1980, as the result of a conflict between Otsuka and the Wadokai organization over personal withdrawals from the organization's bank accounts, he stepped down as head of the Wadokai. Eiichi Eriguchi took over his place within that organization. On 1 April 1981, Otsuka founded the "Wado ryu Karate do Renmei." (Renmei means "group" or "federation.") After only a few months, he retired as head of this organization. His son, Jiro Otsuka, took his place. On 29 January 1982, Hironori Otsuka died, and in 1983, Jiro Otsuka succeeded him as grandmaster of Wado ryu. The younger Otsuka changed his name to "Hironori Otsuka II" in honor of his late father. In 1989, Tatsuo Suzuki founded the third major Wado ryu organization, "Wado Kokusai" (Wado International Karate do Federation: WIKF - Kokusai means "international").

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