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 Shotokan, Wado-ryu, Shito-ryu, and Goju-ryu.[1] The first three 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]
When it comes to individual karate styles; 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. Kyokushin, an extremely hard style, involves breaking more often than the other styles and full contact, knockdown sparring as a main part of its training.[3] Goju-ryu places emphasis on Sanchin kata and its rooted Sanchin stance, and it features grappling and close-range techniques.
All styles of Karate:-
1.Chito-ryu
2.Enshin kaikan(円心会館)
3.Gensei-ryū
4.Gōju-ryū
5.Kobayashi-ryū
6.Isshin-ryū
7.Kishimoto Di(Sui-Di)
8.Kyokushin
9.Shindō jinen-ryū
10.Shito-ryū
11.Shorin-ryū
12.Shorinji-ryu
13.Shotokan
14.Shudokan
15.Shūkōkai
16.Shuri-ryu
17.Uechi-ryū
18.Wadō-ryū
19.Ryūei-ryū
20.Toōn-ryū
21.Motōbū-ryū
22.Motōbū Udundi
23.Seibukan
24. Nihon Kenpo Karate-do
25. Kojo-ryū/Kogusuku-ryū
Comparison
Styles | Origin | Derived From | Balance of hard and soft techniques | Stances | Representative Kata | Number of kata |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Gensei-ryū | 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) | 7 or 8 |
Gōjū-ryū | Okinawa | Fujian White Crane and Naha-te. | both | deep/natural | Sanchin, Tensho, Gekisai Dai/Sho, Seipai, Saifa, Suparinpei | 12 |
Gosoku-ryū | 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, Naihanchi, Wansu, Passai, Chinto, Kusanku, Seiunchin, Sanchin, Sunsu | 15 including weapons kata |
Shūkōkai | Japan | Gōjū-ryū & Shitō-ryū | 60% hard, 40% 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 | Shuri-te and Naha-te | both | deep/natural | Pinan, Bassai Dai, Seienchin, Saifa, Rōhai, Nipaipo | 94 |
Shōrin-ryū | Okinawa | Shuri-te, Tomari-te, Chinese martial arts | both, primarily fast & hard | natural | Fukyu, Pinan, Naihanchi, passai, kanku, seisan | 21 |
Shotokan | Japan | Shōrin-ryū and Shōrei-ryū | 70% hard, 30% soft/fast | deep (beginner), longer (advanced) | Unsu, 3 Taikyoku, 5 Heian, 3 Tekki, Jion, Kanku Dai, Bassai Dai, Empi, Sochin | 26 |
Shuri-ryū | Okinawa | Shuri-te, Hsing-yi | both | deep/natural | Wunsu, O-Naihanchi, Sanchin | 15 |
Uechi-ryū | Okinawa | Pangai-noon Kung Fu, Naha-te | half-hard, half-soft | mainly natural | Sanchin, Seisan, Sanseirui | 8 |
Wadō-ryū | Japan and Okinawa | Shindō Yōshin-ryū Jujutsu, Tomari-te and Shotokan | both, primarily soft | mainly natural | Pinan, Kushanku, Seishan, Chintō, Naihanchi, Jion, Wanshu, Jitte and Niseishi[5] | 15 |
Yōshūkai | Japan and Okinawa | Chitō-ryū | 60% hard, 40% soft | deep (beginner), natural (advanced) | Seisan, Sochin, Tenshin, Bassai (core katas) | 18 |
See also
- Boxing styles and technique
- Hybrid martial arts
- Styles of Chinese martial arts
- Styles of wrestling
- Comparison of kobudō styles
- Karate kata—includes comparison of kata performed by style
References
- Corcoran, John and Farkas, Emil. Martial Arts. Traditions, History, People. Gallery Books, 1983, p. 49.
- Clayton, Bruce D. Shotokan's Secret, The Hidden Truth Behind Karate's Fighting Origins. Black Belt Communications LLC, 2004, p. 97 & 153.
- Kara-te Magazine. Special Collector's Edition - Kara-te, History, Masters, Traditions, Philosophy. Blitz Publications, p. 27, 45, 39 & 67.
- Clayton, Bruce D. Shotokan's Secret, The Hidden Truth Behind Karate's Fighting Origins. Black Belt Communications LLC, 2004, p. 96 & 97.
- "Wado Ryu Kata - USA Wado Ryu".
Sources
- Karate-do Kyohan, written by Gichin Funakoshi translated by Tsutomu Oshima