About Us
"Way of Peace and Harmony"
Wado-Ryu Is your path to a better life
When the people of Smyrna come to O'Riley Karate Centers, LLC to learn Wado-Ryu, they don’t just receive color belts, but a staff that is dedicated to helping them improve themselves.
Dedicated to Teaching our students the Art of Wado-Ryu Karate-do
Learning any martial art can only be the memorizing of techniques! However at O'Riley Karate Centers, LLC we focus on teaching our students much more than just the movements. Wado-Ryu Karate is, in many respects, a way of life. We do not mean that certain individuals earn a living from being in matches or teaching. Wado-Ryu is a way of life because it practices the mind, body, and spirit as one. When you practice a strike, a throw, or ant technique, the goal is to understand your body and inner self and be one with the movement. Eventually the goal is to be completely in control of the moment as well as yourself and and be able to bring out that amount of centerdness when you need it in and situation... All the stresses in your life become much more manageable when you know how to find your center and understand that you have the mental and spiritual tools you need to overcome the potential event.
Martial arts instruction in Wado-Ryu karate in Smyrna, TN
Our head instructor, Sensei Steven W. O'Riley holds the rank of Nanadan, (7th degree Black Belt) with Instructors Certification from Japan, Gijitsu-Shido-In. All of our instructors are all Internationally Certified in in Japan, USA, and WORLD WIDE in their rank and personally taught and overseen by Sensei O'Riley himself, who also teaches 1 to 4 classes each day in either of our two locations every day. We currently have over 21 Black Belts training weekly with no less than (7) years of experience.
We are very proud of the instruction we offer the students of Antioch and we welcome you to try out our program with a (4) or (8) week trial course to see why O'Riley Karate Centers is the right choice for martial arts practitioners. All classes will challenge your inner self and are geared for your success.
Call or Text Sensei O'Riley For an Appointment.
Office: (615) 310-3722
What is Wado-Ryu?
Founded by Hironori Ohtsuka, Wado-Ryu is recognized as the first truly Japanese style of Karate, as opposed to other styles of karate which were introduced to Japan from Okinawa around 1922. Known as the way of peace, Wado-Ryu developed entirely on the mainland of Japan as Karate and Jujutsu Kempo.
Ohtsuka Sensei adopted the good points of several styles including Shotokan Karate, Shinto-Yoshin-Ryu, Yagyu-Shinkage-Ryu of long swordsmanship techniques, and Toda Ryu of short sword techniques. He borrowed the best aspects from each discipline to create his own style, which emphasized natural movements that flowed like water.
For even more information on the history and practice of Wado-Ryu Karate, refer to the website of the US Eastern Wado Federation. O'Riley Karate Center dojos are a part of this organization dedicated to the promotion of Wado-Ryu karate.
Belt levels and rank
Wado-Ryu karate has belt colors that are earned at different levels of experience. Below first degree black belt, or shodan, are the kyu grades. Students begin as a white belt. Black belt, or dan, levels start once a student has worked through the kyu grades. Shodan is first degree black belt, and the first true ranks a practioner holds.
White Belt
Japanese Term
Mu-Kyu
Kata & Description
The first belt a student receives is a white belt.
Gold Belt
Japanese Term
Hachi-Kyu
Kata & Description
The first grade a student holds. The kata is kihon no kata or the basic kata.
ORANGE Belt
Japanese Term
Sichi-Kyu
Kata & Description
The kata for this rank is pinan nidan.
Blue Belt
Japanese Term
Roku-Kyu
Kata & Description
Pinan shodan must be demonstrated before achieving this rank. Blue belt is considered to be an intermediate level.
Purple Belt
Japanese Term
Go-Kyu
Kata & Description
A student is tested on pinan sandan for this kyu rank.
Green Belt
Japanese Term
Yon-Kyu
Kata & Description
Green belts' kata is pinan yondan.
Brown Belt
1 Stripe
Japanese Term
San-Kyu
Kata & Description
Brown belt is the final step before black belt, and has three levels, indicated by white stripes on the tip of belt. Pinan godan is the kata.
Brown Belt
2 Stripe
Japanese Term
Ni-Kyu
Kata & Description
With two stripes, the kata is kushanku.
Brown Belt
3 Stripe
Japanese Term
Ik-Kyu
Kata & Description
To earn the third stripe, the kata is naihanchi. The next belt after this one is shodan, or first degree black belt.
For more information about classes, please call us at (615) 310-3722
Smyrna Karate, Martial Arts and Self Defense
Visit Us
12976 Old Nashville Highway
Smyrna, TN 37167
2444 Morris Gentry Boulevard
Antioch TN 37013