The four earliest Karate styles developed in Japan are Shotokan, Wado-ryu, Shito-ryu and Goju-ryu. [1] The first three styles find their origins in the Shuri region of Okinawa whilst Goju-ryu finds its origins in the Naha province.
The table below compares styles of many different styles of karate. Some of the distinguishing features are listed, such as lineage, general form of stances and number of kata. However, the differences attributed to "style" are often a reflection of the disposition and preference of the teaching instructor (i.e. there are softer and harder schools of each style, some schools focus little on kata while others emphasise it, some will add or remove certain kata, etc.).
Other factors, not reflected in the table, are the differences in philosophy. For example, Goju-ryu and its derivative or similar styles, would engage an opponent at a much closer distance than say Shotokan, Wado-ryu, Shito-ryu or other Shuri-te based styles. Other styles would employ more kicks or open-handed techniques. Some would focus on eliminating an opponent with a single devastating punch whilst others prefer to employ multiple techniques. In sparring, certain schools would allow kicks to the groin and others will prohibit attacks to the face. Some styles would advocate body evasion in the face of an attack whilst others would choose to stop a punch with an arm-breaking block. These differences are numerous and will vary from style to style, school to school, perhaps even instructor to instructor.
Contents |
| Origin | Derived from | Hard/soft | Stances | Representative kata | # of kata | Weapons | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chitō-ryū | Japan and Okinawa | Shōrei-ryū, Shōrin-ryū | 60 percent hard, 40 percent soft techniques | deep (beginner), natural (advanced) | |||
| Gōjū-ryū | Okinawa | Chinese Nanpa Shorin-ken | both | deep/natural | Sanchin, Tensho, Gekisai Dai, Seipai, Saifa | 12 | |
| Gosoku-ryū | Japan and USA | Gōjū-ryū, Shotokan | 50 percent hard, 50 percent soft techniques | deep (beginner), natural (advanced) | Gosoku, Rikyu, Denko Getsu, Tamashi | 46 including weapons kata | |
| Isshin-ryū | Okinawa | Gōjū-ryū, Shōrin-ryū, Kobudō | both, primarily hard | natural | Sunsu | 14 | |
| Kokondō | Japan, Okinawa, & USA | Kyokushin, Isshin-ryū, Jujutsu | balanced hard & soft; balanced linear & circular | deep (beginner), natural (advanced) | Konsho, Konni, Konsan, Bassai, Henka 1-6, Kanku | 40+, including weapons & kihon kata | |
| Kyokushinkai | Japan | Shotokan, Gōjū-ryū | hard, circular movements derived from gōjū, as you become more advance the style has softer techniques. | natural | 5 Pinan, Kanku, Tensho, Garyu | 23 (+ ura) | |
| Seidō juku | USA | Gōjū-ryū, Kyokushinkai | both | deep/natural | Seido, Pinan | 25 + Ura and Kobudō weapons | |
| Shindō jinen-ryū | Japan (and Okinawa) | primarily Shuri-te like Shitō-ryū, but also Naha-te and Tomari-te | both | deep/natural | Shimpa, Taisabaki 1-3, Sunakake no Kon | More than 60 counting all kobudo kata | See Shinken Taira, Ryukyu Kobudo |
| Shitō-ryū | Japan and Okinawa | Shōrin-ryū, Naha-te, Shotokan | both | deep/natural | Pinan, Bassai Dai, Seienchin, Saifa, Rōhai, Nipaipo | 43 | |
| Shōrin-ryū | Okinawa | Shuri-te, Tomari-te, Chinese martial arts | both, primarily soft | natural | Pinan, Naihanchi, Fukyu | 21 | |
| Shotokan | Japan and Okinawa | Shōrei-ryū, Shōrin-ryū | Primarily hard techniques as well as soft techniques and some circular movements | deep (beginner), natural (advanced) | 5 Heian, Jion, Kanku Dai, Bassai Dai, Sochin etc. | 26 + additional | |
| Shuri-ryū | USA | Shuri-te, Hsing-yi | both | deep/natural | Wunsu, O-Naihanchi, Sanchin | 15 | |
| Uechi-ryū | Okinawa | Pangai-noon Kung Fu | half hard, half soft | mainly natural | Sanchin, Seisan, Sanseirui | 8 | |
| Wado-ryū | Japan | Yoshin-ryu Jujitsu and Shotokan | both, primarily soft | mainly natural | Pinan, Kushanku, Seishan, Chintō | 15 (one hidden) | |
| Yōshūkai | Japan and Okinawa | Chitō-ryū | 60 percent hard, 40 percent soft techniques | deep (beginner), natural (advanced) | |||
| Ryūei-ryū | Okinawa | Fuzhou, China | Naha Te | natural | Anan, Paiku, Heiku, Pachu, Ohan, Paiho, Niseishi | about 16 |
Karate-do Kyohan, written by Gichin Funakoshi translated by Tsutomu Oshima
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