Comparison of karate styles

The table contains a comparison of karate styles. Some of the distinguishing features are listed, such as lineage, general form of stances, and number of kata.

The four earliest karate styles developed in Japan are Shorin-ryu, Wado-ryu, Shito-ryu, and Goju-ryu. The first three styles find their origins in the Shuri region of Okinawa whilst Goju-ryu finds its origins in the Naha province.

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.

When it comes to individual styles, Shotokan involves long, deep stances and powerful techniques. Shito-ryu, on the other hand, uses more upright stances and stresses speed rather than power in its techniques. Wado-ryu too employs shorter, more natural stances and the style is characterised by the emphasis on body shifting to avoid attacks. Kyokushin, a hard style, involves breaking and full contact, knockdown sparring as part of its training. Goju-ryu places emphasis on Sanchin kata and its rooted Sanchin stance, and it features grappling and close-range techniques.

Comparison

	Origin	Derived from	Balance of hard and soft techniques	Stances	Representative Kata	No. of kata
Chitō-ryū	Okinawa	Shōrei-ryūor Naha-te, Shōrin-ryū	both elements exist but more soft than hard	natural stride (Seisan dachi)	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
Gōjū-ryū	Okinawa	Fujian White Crane	both	deep/natural	Sanchin, Tensho, Gekisai Dai, Seipai, Saifa	12
Gosoku-ryū	Japan	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	15 including weapons kata
Kyokushin	Japan	Shotokan, Gōjū-ryū	Hardest techniques	natural	Taikyoku, Pinan, Kanku, Tensho, Garyu	23 (+ ura)
Shūkōkai	Japan	Gōjū-ryū & Shitō-ryū	70% hard and 30% soft	natural	Pinan, Bassai Dai, Seienchin, Saifa, Rōhai	44 +
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	Shōrin-ryū, Naha-te, Shuri-te.	both	deep/natural	Pinan, Bassai Dai, Seienchin, Saifa, Rōhai, Nipaipo	more than 80
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	deep (beginner), natural (advanced)	5 Heian, Jion, Kanku Dai, Bassai Dai, Sochin etc.	26 + additional
Shuri-ryū	Okinawa	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 and Okinawa	Yoshin-ryu Jujitsu and Shotokan	both, primarily soft	mainly natural	Pinan, Kushanku, Seishan, Chintō, Wanshu, Jitte and Niseishi	15 (one hidden)
Yōshūkai	Japan and Okinawa	Chitō-ryū	60 percent hard, 40 percent soft techniques	deep (beginner), natural (advanced)	Seisan, Bassai, Yoshu, San Shi Ryu	18
Shorinji-Ryu	Japan]	Jiro Ogasawara	60 percent hard, 40 percent soft techniques	deep (beginner), natural (advanced)	Heian Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yodan, Godan, Tekki Shodan, Nidan, Sandan; Bassai Dai, Bassai Sho, Kanku Dai, Kanku Sho, Enpi, Gankaku,Nijushiho, Gojushiho, Chintei, Jiin, Jion, Jitte, Hangetsu, Sanchin, Shushi no Kon, Sakugawa no Kon, Tsukenshita Haku no Sai, Chatan Yara no Sai, Hamahiga no Tonfa, Yara Guwa no Tonfa, Shime waza, nage waza, interview	30

See also

• Comparison of kobudō styles
• Karate kata—includes comparison of kata performed by style

Sources

• Karate-do Kyohan, written by Gichin Funakoshi translated by Tsutomu Oshima

External links

• Karate, Okinawan Kobudo and Kendo Kata videos
• Karate styles
• All India Shorinji-Ryu Karate Federation [1]
• Ogasawara-Ha Shorinji-Ryu Karatedo [2]