Styles

Within karate there are presently a multitude of different styles or schools. These include:

Shobayashi,
Koei-Kan,
Kobayashi-ryu,
Matsubayashi-ryu,
Matsumura Seito,
Matsumura Motobu,
Chito-ryu,
Shorinjiryu,
Shorei-ryu,
Shotokan,
Shotokai,
Shukokai ("Way for all"),
Goju-ryu ("hard-soft way"),
Kyokushin ("ultimate truth").

Other mainstream styles include:

Shorinjiryu,
Seido,
Wado-ryu ("way of peace"),
Uechi Ryu,
Shito-ryu,
Shudokan,
Bushido Goju-Ryu,
Genseiryu,
Isshin-ryu (there are at least 3 different styles of isshinryu).

Some organisations offer hybrids of karate styles such as the JIKC style.

Styles like Shotokan, Goju-ryu, Wado-ryu and Shito-ryu are labelled as 'traditional' because they were founded during the early part of the 20th century. Full contact karate includes Kyokushin-kaikan (which was founded by Masutatsu Oyama), and other offshoots of Kyokushin (so-called because emphasis in matches is placed on the amount of damage done rather than the quality of technique displayed; although this is also important). Most full contact karate styles or organisations have developed from Kyokushin karate.

There is great variance in the outer forms and principles among styles. For example, Shotokan karate is characterised by deep, long stances and rigid, powerful movements. At the other end of the spectrum, Wado Ryu prefers quick and subtle body movements (known as 'tai sabaki') to evade attacks and provide swift counter attacks. It is important to remember that karate is a physical representation of certain principles or techniques found to be useful in fighting. Although the representations may differ from style to style, the concepts themselves remain universal.