Different Styles of Karate

[NinjaMaster]

Does anybody know all different styles of Karate?

I've heard Okinawa, Shotokan, Goju Ryu, etc. Just wondering what other styles there are and how they are all tied together.

[Berador]

Well, ain't sure if this is what you mean but; Goju, ****o, Shinto, Kyokushin-Kai, Wado.
Those are the ones i know, and the way they intertwine is through their origin in china (as far as i know, please correct me if i'm wrong).

[JimGee]

Goju-Ryu, Uechi-Ryu are forms that came from Naha City Okinawa
Kobayashi-Ryu, Matsubayashi-Ryu, Shobayashi-Ryu and Matsumura were from the City of Shuri.
I study Kobayashi-Ryu which we refur to as Shorin-Ryu ShorinKan.
Shorin is Japaniese for Sholin which refer to the original art comming from China.

See: http://www.karateshorinkan.com/history.htm for a good breif history.

Originally posted by NinjaMaster@Jun 27 2005, 04:47 PM
Does anybody know all different styles of Karate?

I've heard Okinawa, Shotokan, Goju Ryu, etc. Just wondering what other styles there are and how they are all tied together.

Quoted post

[complete]

Welcome, JImGee, and thanks for the update.

[GojuFreak]

The most widley ones practiced are

Okinawan
--------
* Goju Ryu (Founded By Chojun Miyagi)

* Isshin Ryu ( Founded By Tatsuo Shimabuku)

* Shorei Ryu (Origins traced back to Bodhidharma by Choki Motubu was considered the "father of Shorei Ryu)

* Shorin Ryu ( Which branched when it emerged into Okinawa - Shobayashi Ryu (Chotoku Kyan), Kobayashi Ryu (Choshin Chibana) and Matsubayashi Ryu(Shoshin Nagamine) also a lesser known Shorin Ryu exisits, Matsumura Orthodox which was founded by Hohan Soken).

* Uechi Ryu (Founded by Kanbum Uechi)

Japanese
--------
* Goju Ryu (Brought to Japan by Gogen Yamaguchi)

* Kyokushinkai ( Founded By Masutatsu Oyama which is influenced by Shotokan and Goju Ryu)

* ****o - Ryu (Founded By Kenwa Mabuni)

* Shotokan (Founded By Gichin Funaloshi)

* Wado Ryu (Founded by Hironori Ohtsuka)

Other Minoer styles in Japan
----------------------------
* Chito Ryu (Founded By Dr Tsuyoshi Chitose)

* Koei Ryu (Founded by Eizo Onishi)

* Renbukan (Has no single founder because it was developed by serveral masters of various styles)

* Shukokai (Founded by Chojiro Tani)

There are many more styles, but they are the main ones that where taught throughout Okinawa and Japan.

Hope this doesnt open up any wounds since it has been awhile since the last post!


Osu

[complete]

Thanks for the good post.

[wmks shogun]

I was going to add more styles to the list, but really, I think GojuFreak did a pretty good job. One thing I will say is that many styles trace their lineage back to Boddidahrma and the Shaolin Temple. This is not always for the same reason. Some styles do it to add a sense of legitimacy to their style (since that is rather important to the Japanese). It is a double standard since during WWII many Japanese (soldiers)considered the Chinese to be subhuman, yet Japanese arts based on Chinese martial arts styles were more 'legitimate'(old).

[vysokij]

The First six styles of karate that was recognized by the Dai Nippon Butoku-Kai were:

1. Goju Ryu, founded by Chojun Miyagi

2. Shi-to Ryu, founded by Kenwa Mabuni

3. Wado Ryu, founded by Hironori Ohtsuka

4. Shotokan, founded by Gichin Funakoshi

5. Shindo Jinen Ryu, founded by Yasuhiro Konishi

6. Kushin Ryu, founded by Sannosuke Ueshima

[Ben]

I cant help much But when i did a very small amount of karate in my younger years my club was called ECKA (English contact karate association) im not if thats a type of karate I wouldnt imagine so, but is there a styel favoured by the west

[vysokij]

Originally Posted by Ben

I cant help much But when i did a very small amount of karate in my younger years my club was called ECKA (English contact karate association) im not if thats a type of karate I wouldnt imagine so, but is there a styel favoured by the west

As the name indicates, it's more of an association, vice style.

As for the favored style, it really depends on the region, at least in the USA. Some styles are more popular than others in certain areas. This is due mainly to the presence of the high-level instructor.

Goju Ryu, Shi-to Ryu (I write this with a hyphen because vBulletin strips out part of the name due to its similarity to a derogatory word), Wado Ryu and Shotokan are the most popular of traditional Japanese styles. They are the biggest styles in Japan. Kyokushinkai has grown significantly also, but to much in USA.

[complete]

Originally Posted by vysokij

The First six styles of karate that was recognized by the Dai Nippon Butoku-Kai were:

1. Goju Ryu, founded by Chojun Miyagi

2. Shi-to Ryu, founded by Kenwa Mabuni

3. Wado Ryu, founded by Hironori Ohtsuka

4. Shotokan, founded by Gichin Funakoshi

5. Shindo Jinen Ryu, founded by Yasuhiro Konishi

6. Kushin Ryu, founded by Sannosuke Ueshima

I thought the first four were the official ones.

[vysokij]

Originally Posted by complete

I thought the first four were the official ones.

The first four are considered "The Big Four." But the six are the official systems that were first recognized by Dai Nippon Butoku-Kai. The last two are not that big. Kushin ryu is the smallest. Shindo Jinen Ryu, though small, is represented world-wide. As a matter of fact, it was the founder of Shindo Jinen Ryu, Yasuhiro Konishi, who was the catalyst for "karate" being accepted by the Dai Nippon Butoku-Kai as a separate, recognized martial art.

[vysokij]

Glad to see this 2-year-old thread rejuvenated. But maybe a new thread on the origins of Japanese karate may be in order?

[Ben]

thanks for the info vysokij +rep

[sirdarksol]

Originally Posted by vysokij

The First six styles of karate that was recognized by the Dai Nippon Butoku-Kai were:

1. Goju Ryu, founded by Chojun Miyagi

2. Shi-to Ryu, founded by Kenwa Mabuni

3. Wado Ryu, founded by Hironori Ohtsuka

4. Shotokan, founded by Gichin Funakoshi

5. Shindo Jinen Ryu, founded by Yasuhiro Konishi

6. Kushin Ryu, founded by Sannosuke Ueshima

Would just like to make a clarification that these are the first styles that were recognized by Dai Nippon Butoku-Kai, not the first six styles developed historically.
Shotokan, while an excellent style, is also a pretty recent style (late 1800's). Similarly, the Dai Nippon Butoku-Kai, which is a very respectable organization, is also pretty recent (also late 1800's, though it has roots in a tradition that reaches back centuries, even a millenium).
Again, I want to stress that I have the utmost respect for the Dai Nippon Butoku-Kai, as well as for the style of Shotokan Karate, just posting this as a clarification.