Comparison_of_karate_styles Knowpia

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.

Background edit

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:

Shotokan involves long, deep stances and powerful long range techniques.
Shito-ryu, on the other hand, uses more upright stances and stresses speed rather than power in its long and middle range techniques.
Wado-ryu too employs shorter, more natural stances and the style is characterised by the emphasis on body shifting to avoid attacks.
Goju-ryu places emphasis on Sanchin kata and its rooted Sanchin stance, and it features grappling and close-range techniques.

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]

Comparison of styles edit

Styles	Origin	Derived From	Hard and soft techniques	Stances	Representative Kata	Number of kata	References
Chitō-ryū	Okinawa	Shōrei-ryū or Naha-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

References edit

^ Corcoran, John; Farkas, Emil (1983). Martial Arts. Traditions, History, People. Gallery Books. p. 49.
^ ^a ^b ^c Clayton, Bruce D. (2004). Shotokan's Secret, The Hidden Truth Behind Karate's Fighting Origins. Black Belt Communications LLC. pp. 97 & 153.
^ ^a ^b "Special Collector's Edition: History, Masters, Traditions, Philosophy". Kara-te. Blitz Publications. pp. 27, 39, 45 & 67.
^ "Huzun Quan | 虎尊拳". www.taipinginstitute.com. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
^ "Wado Ryu Kata".