Karate

:This article is about the martial art. For the band, see Karate (band).

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, Shindo Jinen Ryu, Shorinjiryu, Shorei-ryu, Shotokan, Shotokai, Shukokai ("Way for all"), Goju-ryu ("hard-soft way"), Kyokushin ("ultimate truth")and Kansuiryu. Other mainstream styles include Shorinjiryu, Seido, Wado-ryu ("way of peace"), Uechi Ryu, Shito-ryu, Shudokan, Bushido Goju-Ryu, Genseiryu and Isshin-ryu (there are at least 3 different styles of isshinryu). Some organizations offer hybrids of karate styles such as the JIKC style.

Related Topics:
Shobayashi - Kobayashi-ryu - Matsubayashi-ryu - Matsumura Seito - Matsumura Motobu - Chito-ryu - Shindo Jinen Ryu - Shorinjiryu - Shorei-ryu - Shotokan - Shotokai - Shukokai - Goju-ryu - Kyokushin - Seido - Wado-ryu - Uechi Ryu - Shito-ryu - Shudokan - Bushido Goju-Ryu - Genseiryu - Isshin-ryu - JIKC

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Styles like Shotokan, Goju-ryu, Wado-ryu, Shito-ryu, Kushin-ryu, and Shindo Jinen 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 organizations have developed from Kyokushin karate. Kansuiryu is a full contact karate style which has developed independantly of Kyokushin, while having a number of similarities.

Related Topics:
Shindo Jinen Ryu - Full contact karate - Masutatsu Oyama

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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.

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Karate Style-lines with Okinawa extraction (1372):

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New Karate-Styles with Japanese extraction:

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Gosoku-Ryu Koeikan-Ryu Nihon Kempo-Ryu

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Mushindo-Ryu Kushin-Ryu Shorinji-Kempo-Ryu(485) Shudukan-Ryu Kan-Zen-Ryu Washi-Shin-Ryu

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Kosho-Kempo-Ryu Kinto-Ryu Yamane-Ryu

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Kan-Ryu(1903)

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Shorinji Tetsu Kempo Kanda-ha Kamishin Ryu

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New Karate-Styles with European extraction:

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Fudokan-Ryu

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Shurei-Ryu(1989)

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