The table contains a comparison of karate styles. Some of the distinguishing features are listed, such as lineage, general form of stances, the balance of hard and soft techniques, and the number and names of kata forms.
The four major karate styles developed in Japan, especially in Okinawa are Shorin-ryu, Wado-ryu, Shito-ryu, and Goju-ryu; many other styles of Karate are derived from these four.[1] The first three of these styles find their origins in the Shorin-Ryu style from Shuri, Okinawa, while Goju-ryu finds its origins in Naha. Shuri karate is rather different from Naha karate, drawing on different predecessor influences. Shito-ryu can be regarded as a blend of Shuri and Naha traditions as its kata incorporate both Shuri and Naha kata.[2]
The formal application within the four major karate styles are as follows:
Some later styles of karate have been derived from blending techniques from the four main branches, while others have added techniques from other martial arts. For example Kyokushin, which is an extremely hard style derived from Shotokan and Gōjū-ryū, involves much more breaking and full contact, knockdown sparring as a main part of training.[3]
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| Styles | Origin | Derived From | Hard and soft techniques | Stances | Representative Kata | Number of kata | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chitō-ryū | Okinawa | Shōrei-ryūorNaha-te, Shōrin-ryū | both elements exist but more soft than hard | natural | Shi Ho Hai, Seisan, Ro Hai Sho, Niseishi, Bassai, Chinto, Sochin, Tenshin, Ro Hai Dai, Sanshiryu, Ryushan, Kusanku, Sanchin | 15 kata not including kihon and Bo kihon/kata | |
| Genseiryū | Okinawa | Shuri-te and possibly Tomari-te. | both, but mostly soft | deep/natural | Ten-i no Kata, Chi-i no Kata, Jin-i no Kata, Sansai, (Koryu) Naifanchi, (Koryu) Bassai, (Koryu) Kusanku or Koshokun (dai) | 64 | |
| Gōjū-ryū | Okinawa | Fujian White Crane and Naha-te. | both | deep/natural | Sanchin, Tensho, Gekisai Dai/Sho, Seipai, Saifa, Suparinpei | 12 | |
| Gosoku-ryu | Japan | Gōjū-ryū, Shotokan | both | deep (beginner), natural (advanced) | Gosoku, Rikyu, Denko Getsu, Tamashi | 46 including weapons kata | |
| Isshin-ryū | Okinawa | Gōjū-ryū, Shōrin-ryū, Kobudō | both, fast & hard | natural | Seisan, Seiunchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, Sanchin, Kusanku, Sunsu | 15 including weapons kata | |
| Kyokushin | Japan | Shotokan, Gōjū-ryū | extremely hard | natural | Sokogi, Pinan + ura, | 33 | [3] |
| Motobu-ryū | Japan and Okinawa | Shuri-te and Tomari-te | both | natural | Naihanchi (shodan and nidan), Shirokuma, Seisan, Passai, Ufukun, Motode (ichi and ni), Kasshindī (san, yon, go) | 11 | |
| 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 | |
| Shitō-ryū | Japan and Okinawa | Shuri-te and Naha-te | both | deep/natural | Pinan, Bassai Dai, Seienchin, Saifa, Rōhai, Nipaipo | 94 | [2] |
| Shōrin-ryū | Okinawa | Shuri-te, Tomari-te, Chinese martial arts | both, primarily fast & soft | natural | Fukyu, Pinan, Naihanchi, passai, kanku, seisan | 21 | |
| Shotokan | Japan and Okinawa | Shōrin-ryū and Shōrei-ryū | 70% hard, 30% soft/fast | deep (formal) and natural | Taikyoku Shodan, 5 Heian, 3 Tekki, Bassai Dai and Sho, Jion, Empi, Kanku Dai and Sho, Hangetsu, Jitte, Gankaku, Sochin, Nijushiho, Chinte, Ji'in, Meikyo, Wankan, Unsu, Gojushiho Dai and Sho | 27 | [2] |
| Shūkōkai | Japan | Gōjū-ryū & Shitō-ryū | 60% hard, 40% soft | natural | Pinan, Bassai Dai, Seienchin, Saifa, Rōhai | 44 | |
| Uechi-Ryū | Fuzhou, Fujian Province & Okinawa | Huzun Quan kung fu[4] Naha-te | half-hard, half-soft | mainly natural | Sanchin, Seisan, Sanseirui | 8 | |
| Wadō-ryū | Japan and Okinawa | Shindō Yōshin-ryū Jujutsu, Tomari-te, Shotokan and Motobu-ryū | both, primarily soft | mainly natural | Primary: Pinan, Kushanku, Naihanchi, Seishan, and Chintō. Secondary: Jion, Wanshu, Jitte, Rohai, Bassai, and Niseishi[5] | 15 | |
| Shorin-ryu Shorinkan | Okinawa | Kobayashi Shōrin-ryū | 90% Hard
10% Soft |
Beginner deep and higher belts also deep | Pinan Nidan ,Pinan Shodan, Naihanchi Shodan,Saifa/Jion, Annan, Basadai, Godusiosu | 8 |
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