What Are the various Karate Styles?

Originating from China and developed in Okinawa, Karate styles are as varied as they are numerous. From the ancient Shuri-Te and Naha-Te to the more recent styles like Shito-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, Wado-Ryu, and Shotokan, Karate spawned dozens and dozens of styles, each with their own technical repertoire and philosophy.

In this article, I will cover the following:

  1. What Are The Original Karate Styles?
  2. What Are The Four Main Styles Of Karate?
  3. What Are The Major Derived Karate Styles?
  4. What Are The Minor Derived Karate Styles?
  5. What Are The Full-contact Karate Styles?
  6. What Are The Hybrid Karate Styles?
  7. Conclusion

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The vast amount of Karate styles reported today can be classified into original styles, major derived styles, minor derived styles, full-contact styles, and hybrid styles. Discover through this list, the richness, and the diversity that Karate has to offer.

What Are The Original Karate Styles?

Little is known about the exact origins of Karate before it appeared in the Ryukyu Kingdom — present-day Okinawa, Japan.

The art of Karate is said to find its origin in China, more precisely in Shaolin temple, where it was developed and practiced as a martial know as Kung-Fu.

Centuries later, the art traveled to Ryukyu islands where it was developed under the name of Te (手) (meaning hand in Ryukyuan language).

Te was once again influenced by Chinese Kung Fu, as trade relationships between China and the Ryukyu were established thirty-six families from Chinese Province of Fujian settled on Ryukyu islands.

Te became globally known as Tode or Tang Hands, in honor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty.

By the 18th century, the art of Te had developed in three different villages – Shuri, Naha, and Tomari, resulting in the creating of Shuri-te, Naha-te, and Tomari-te, the three major historical branches of Te, that will be later known as Karate.

Shuri-Te

Shuri-te, literally "Shuri Hand", is a karate style that has developed on the Okinawa Archipelago in Shuri City. It was especially the local "nobility" who practiced Shuri-te at the royal palace in Shuri. Shuri-Te was an external, long and dynamic style, using many kicking techniques. This style, Shuri-te gave birth to Shorin-Ryu and is also at the base of Shotokan, Wado-Ryu.

Naha-Te

Naha-Te, literally "Naha hand" is one of the original styles that developed around the port town of Naha, the modern-day capital of Okinawa. Naha-te was based mostly on Southern China's Fujian White Crane Kung-Fu. Naha-Te was a short distance, almost static style. It was using very few leg techniques and less rarely used kick above the solar plexus. It puts a lot of emphasis on breathing techniques. Naha-Te gave birth to two styles: Goju-Ryu and Uechi-Ryu.

Tomari-Te

Less know that his two brothers, Tomari-Te, literally "Tomari Hand", is a style originating from the village of Tomari, Okinawa. Tomari-Te seems to have been a mixture of both internal and external aspects of Shuri-Te and Naha-Te. Even though it was a mix between Shuri-Te and Naha-Te, Tomari-Te remained closer to Shuri-Te.


From Tode to Karate

In 1879, the Ryukyu Kingdom was annexed to Japan and became Okinawa, one of the many Japanese Prefecture.

Around 1935, with the intention of making their art more "Japanese", the Japanese character "Tang" of Tode (唐手) was replaced by "empty" becoming empty hands (空手) or Karate.

What Are The Four Major Styles Of Karate?

Today there are four main styles of Karate in Japan: Shito-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, Wado-Ryu, and Shotokan.

These traditional karate styles are direct descendants of ancient Ryukyu Te or Tode.

Shito-Ryu (Japan)

What Are the various Karate Styles?
Fumio Demura Sensei during a Shito-Ryu photoshoot.

Shito-Ryu was created by Kenwa Mabuni in 1928 and put a lot of emphasis on the practice of kata. Mabuni named his style “Shito-Ryu” based on the first kanji character from the names of his two primary teachers. Shito-Ryu blends features of both hard and soft, internal and external martial arts.

Origin: Shuri-Te, Naha-Te Shito-Ryu

Goju-Ryu (Okinawa)

What Are the various Karate Styles?
Sensei Morio Higaonna during a Karate seminar.

Goju-Ryu was founded by Chojun Miyagi in 1930 and is strongly influenced by from Chinese internal martial arts. Goju-Ryu implements soft circular blocking techniques, similar in nature to jujitsu techniques, in combination with powerful counter-strike combinations.

Origin: Naha-Te Goju-Ryu

Wado-Ryu (Japan)

What Are the various Karate Styles?
Tatsuo Suzuki performing a knife defense technique.

Wado-Ryu was created by Hironori Otsuka is 1939 and is strongly influenced by classical jujitsu's technical repertoire. It focuses on Taisabaki (dodging) to avoid or minimize an opponent’s attack. It also has natural stances and is more fluid, than other styles of Karate.

Origin: Shuri-Te Shotokan, Shindō Yōshin-ryū Wado-Ryu

Shotokan (Japan)

What Are the various Karate Styles?
A Shokotan practitionner executing 'shuto-uke' during a kata.

Shotokan was created in Tokyo in 1938 by Gichin Funakoshi, considered by many to be modern karate’s founding master. Shotokan is the most popular Karate style taught around the world. This style of karate makes use of linear techniques and wide stances, designed to deliver powerful strikes quickly.

Origin: Shuri-Te Shotokan

What Are The Major Derived Karate Styles?

The Karate styles I have included into this list are major offsprings of the traditional four major styles. These are the most famous and popular "third generation" descendants of Karate.

Discover the list of the major derived schools.

Uechi-Ryu (Okinawa)

What Are the various Karate Styles?
Uechi-Ryu's Kiyohide Shinjo, a.k.a. 'Okinawan Superman'.

Uechi Ryu is a traditional Okinawan style of karate developed by Kanbun Uechi in the early 1900s, following Kanbun's training for many years in China. Some of Uechi-Ryu's characteristic includes forearm conditioning and unique methods of attacking which includes finger-tip and toe-tip strikes and kicks.

Origin: Naha-Te Uechi-Ryu

Shorin-Ryu (Okinawa)

What Are the various Karate Styles?
Shorin-Ryu Master Higa Minoru teaching Tatsuya Naka (Shotokan) during an episode of 'Kuro-Obi World'.

Shorin-Ryu was founded in 1933 by Chosin Chibana in Okinawa. "Shorin" is the Okinawan pronunciation of Shaolin, honoring the style's ancient Chinese origin. Shorin-Ryu is characterized by its long, natural and relaxed movements, as well as for its speed and agility.

Origin: Shuri-Te Shorin-Ryu

Chito-Ryu (Japan)

What Are the various Karate Styles?
Chito-Ryu Master demonstrating a kata.

Chito-Ryu is one of the main traditional styles of Karate. It was founded in 1946 by Dr. Tsuyoshi Chitose. This Japanese martial art focuses on good manners, self-discipline, fitness, and self-defense. Chito-Ryu employs shibori, quick twisting of the hip muscles, to generate powerful strikes.

Origin: Shuri-Te Shorin-Ryu Chito-Ryu

Isshin Ryu (Okinawa)

What Are the various Karate Styles?
Isshin Ryu Master Angi Uezu performing a kata in Okinawa.

Isshin-Ryu was created in 1957 by Tatsuo Shimabuku and has its origin in Goju-Ryu and Shorin-Ryu. Isshin-Ryu focuses on punches, kicks, kobudo (traditional weapons training), kumite and kata. Isshin-Ryu is also known for its vertical punches (versus horizontal punches on most karate styles).

Origin: Shuri-Te, Naha-Te Shorin-Ryu, Goju-Ryu Isshin-Ryu