Comparison of karate styles

The table contains a comparison of the different 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

The four major karate styles developed in Japan, especially in Okinawa are Shotokan, Wado-ryū, Shitō-ryū, and Gōjū-ryū; many other styles of Karate are derived from these four. The first three of these styles find their origins in the Shuri-Te and Tomari-Te styles from Okinawa, while Goju-ryu finds its origins in Okinawan Naha-Te. Shito-ryu can be regarded as a blend of Shuri and Naha traditions as its kata incorporate both Shuri and Naha kata.
The formal application within the four most widespread karate styles in mainland Japan 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 stresses close-range techniques.

Some later styles of karate have been derived from the four main branches with their own focuses. 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.

Comparison of styles

Styles/Schools	Founded By	Founded In	Founder's Influences	Hard and soft techniques	Stances	Representative Kata	Number of kata	References
Chitō-ryū	Tsuyoshi Chitose	Kumamoto	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	Seiken Shukumine	Tokyo	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, Naifanchi, Bassai, Kusanku or Koshokun	64
Gōjū-ryū	Chōjun Miyagi	Tsuboya, Naha	Fujian White Crane and Naha-te.	both	deep/natural	Sanchin, Tensho, Gekisai Dai/Sho, Seipai, Saifa, Suparinpei	12
Gosoku-ryu	Takayuki Kubota	Tokyo	Gōjū-ryū, Shotokan	both	deep, natural	Gosoku, Rikyu, Denko Getsu, Tamashi	46 including weapons kata
Isshin-ryū	Tatsuo Shimabuku	Konbu, Uruma	Gōjū-ryū, Shōrin-ryū, Kobudō	both, fast & hard	natural	Seisan, Seiunchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, Sanchin, Kusanku, Sunsu	15 including weapons kata
Kyokushin	Mas Oyama	Tokyo	Shotokan, Gōjū-ryū	Primarily hard but soft defenses are also present	natural	Sokogi, Pinan + ura,	33
Motobu-ryū	Motobu Chōki	Osaka	Shuri-te and Tomari-te	both	natural	Naihanchi, Shirokuma, Seisan, Passai, Ufukun, Motode, Kasshindī	11
Shindō jinen-ryū	Yasuhiro Konishi	Tokyo	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	Kenwa Mabuni	Osaka	Shuri-te and Naha-te	both	deep/natural	Pinan, Bassai Dai, Seienchin, Saifa, Rōhai, Nipaipo	94
Shōrin-ryū	Chōshin Chibana	Torihori, Naha	Shuri-te, Tomari-te, Chinese martial arts	both, primarily fast & soft	natural	Fukyu, Pinan, Naihanchi, passai, kanku, seisan	21
Shotokan	Gichin Funakoshi	Tokyo	Shōrin-ryū and Shōrei-ryū	70% hard, 30% soft/fast	deep 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
Shūkōkai	Chōjirō Tani	Kobe	Gōjū-ryū & Shitō-ryū	60% hard, 40% soft	natural	Pinan, Bassai Dai, Seienchin, Saifa, Rōhai	44
Uechi-Ryū	Kanbun Uechi	Wakayama	Huzun Quan kung fu Naha-te	half-hard, half-soft	mainly natural	Sanchin, Seisan, Sanseirui	8
Wadō-ryū	Hironori Ōtsuka	Tokyo	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	15