The four earliest Karate styles developed in Japan are Shotokan, Wado-ryu, Shito-ryu and Goju-ryu. The first three styles find their origins in the Shuri region of Okinawa whilst Goju-ryu finds its origins in the Naha province.

The table below compares styles of many different styles of karate

Karate

is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...

. Some of the distinguishing features are listed, such as lineage, general form of stances and number of kata. However, the differences attributed to "style" are often a reflection of the disposition and preference of the teaching instructor (i.e. there are softer and harder schools of each style, some schools focus little on kata while others emphasise it, some will add or remove certain kata, etc.).

Other factors, not reflected in the table, are the differences in philosophy. For example, Goju-ryu and its derivative or similar styles, would engage an opponent at a much closer distance than say Shotokan, Wado-ryu, Shito-ryu or other Shuri-te based styles. Other styles would employ more kicks or open-handed techniques. Some would focus on eliminating an opponent with a single devastating punch whilst others prefer to employ multiple techniques. In sparring, certain schools would allow kicks to the groin and others will prohibit attacks to the face. Some styles would advocate body evasion in the face of an attack whilst others would choose to stop a punch with an arm-breaking block. These differences are numerous and will vary from style to style, school to school, perhaps even instructor to instructor.

Comparison

	Origin	Derived from	Hard/soft Hard and soft (martial arts) In martial arts, the terms hard and soft technique denote how forcefully a defender martial artist counters the force of an attack in armed and unarmed combat...	Stances Human position Human positions refers to the different positions that the human body can take.There are several synonyms that refer to the human position, often used interchangeably, but having specific flavors....	Representative kata Kata is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....	# of kata	Weapons
Chitō-ryū Chito-ryu is a style of karate founded by , . The name of the style translates as: chi - 1,000; tō - China; ryū , "1,000 year old Chinese style." The character tō refers to the Tang Dynasty of China...	Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...  and Okinawa	Shōrei-ryū Shorei-ryu is a term which refers to the Naha-Te style of Okinawan karate. Shorei Ryu means "the style of inspiration". It is believed that the term Shorei is derived from the Shoreiji Temple in southern China. The teachings of this temple provided the basis for the Naha-Te style.The Shorei Ryu system was... , Shōrin-ryū Shorin-Ryu is one of the major modern Okinawan martial arts. It was founded by Choshin Chibana in 1933. Shōrin-ryū combines elements of the traditional Okinawan fighting styles of Shuri-te.-History:Chosin Chibana was a top student of the great master of shuri-te, Anko Itosu...	60 percent hard, 40 percent soft techniques	deep (beginner), natural (advanced)
Gōjū-ryū	Okinawa	Chinese Nanpa Shorin-ken Shaolin Nam Pai Chuan Shaolin Nam Pai Chuan is the generic name for southern Shaolin boxing. This could include the five major family styles of Southern Chinese martial arts....	both	deep/natural	Sanchin, Tensho, Gekisai Dai, Seipai, Saifa	12
Gosoku-ryū Gosoku-ryu is a style of Karate which was founded by Takayuki Kubota. Gosoku stands for hard and fast, which suggests a combination of techniques both from the fast and dynamic Shotokan style as well as from the strength-focused Gōjū-ryū style.-Background:...	Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...  and USA	Gōjū-ryū, Shotokan Shotokan is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo Funakoshi . Gichin was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing karate through a series of public demonstrations, and by promoting the development of university karate clubs, including...	50 percent hard, 50 percent soft techniques	deep (beginner), natural (advanced)	Gosoku, Rikyu, Denko Getsu, Tamashi	46 including weapons kata
Isshin-ryū Isshin-ryu is a style of Okinawan karate founded by Tatsuo Shimabuku 　and named by him on 15 January 1956. Isshin-Ryū karate is largely a synthesis of Shorin-ryū karate, Gojū-ryū karate, and kobudō. The name means, literally, "one heart method"...	Okinawa	Gōjū-ryū, Shōrin-ryū Shorin-Ryu is one of the major modern Okinawan martial arts. It was founded by Choshin Chibana in 1933. Shōrin-ryū combines elements of the traditional Okinawan fighting styles of Shuri-te.-History:Chosin Chibana was a top student of the great master of shuri-te, Anko Itosu... , Kobudō Okinawan kobudo Okinawan kobudō is a Japanese term that can be translated as "old martial way of Okinawa"...	both, primarily hard	natural	Sunsu	14
Kokondō	Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... , Okinawa, & USA	Kyokushin Kyokushin is a style of stand-up, full contact karate, founded in 1964 by Korean-Japanese karate master, who was born under the name Choi Young-Eui . Kyokushinkai is Japanese for "the society of the ultimate truth". Kyokushin is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline and hard training... , Isshin-ryū Isshin-ryu is a style of Okinawan karate founded by Tatsuo Shimabuku 　and named by him on 15 January 1956. Isshin-Ryū karate is largely a synthesis of Shorin-ryū karate, Gojū-ryū karate, and kobudō. The name means, literally, "one heart method"... , Jujutsu Jujutsu Jujutsu , also known as jujitsu, ju-jitsu, or Japanese jiu-jitsu, is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no weapon, or only a short weapon....	balanced hard & soft; balanced linear & circular	deep (beginner), natural (advanced)	Konsho, Konni, Konsan, Bassai, Henka 1-6, Kanku	40+, including weapons & kihon kata
Kyokushinkai	Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...	Shotokan Shotokan is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo Funakoshi . Gichin was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing karate through a series of public demonstrations, and by promoting the development of university karate clubs, including... , Gōjū-ryū	hard, circular movements derived from gōjū, as you become more advance the style has softer techniques.	natural	5 Pinan, Kanku, Tensho, Garyu	23 (+ ura)
Seidō juku Seidō juku Seidō is a style of karate founded by Master Tadashi Nakamura in 1976 in New York City. It is unique for being a physical, traditional style and incorporating Zen meditation in training.- History :...	USA	Gōjū-ryū, Kyokushinkai	both	deep/natural	Seido, Pinan	25 + Ura and Kobudō Okinawan kobudo Okinawan kobudō is a Japanese term that can be translated as "old martial way of Okinawa"...  weapons
Shindō jinen-ryū Shindō jinen-ryū is a form of karate that was founded in 1933 by .- Yasuhiro Konishi :Yasuhiro Konishi was born in 1893 in Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan. His martial arts training began at the age of six, in Muso Ryu Jujitsu, which was followed by kendo when he was 13, and subsequently, Takenouchi-ryū Jujitsu, a style...	Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...  (and Okinawa)	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	See Shinken Taira Shinken Taira was a Japanese martial artist, born as in 1897 on Kume island in the Ryūkyū archipelago.- Early life :He was the second son in a family of three boys and one girl. He was given up for adoption as a child . In his early life he took on his mother's maiden name of Taira. Taira worked in the sulfur... , Ryukyu Kobudo Ryukyu Kobudo Ryukyu Kobudo is the branch of Okinawan Kobudo developed and systemized by Taira Shinken under the association.Ryukyu Kobudo uses the following weapons: Bō, Sai, Eku, Kama, Tinbe-Rochin, Tekko, Nunchaku and Tonfa.-Ryūkyū Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai:...
Shitō-ryū	Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...  and Okinawa	Shōrin-ryū Shorin-Ryu is one of the major modern Okinawan martial arts. It was founded by Choshin Chibana in 1933. Shōrin-ryū combines elements of the traditional Okinawan fighting styles of Shuri-te.-History:Chosin Chibana was a top student of the great master of shuri-te, Anko Itosu... , Naha-te, Shotokan Shotokan is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo Funakoshi . Gichin was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing karate through a series of public demonstrations, and by promoting the development of university karate clubs, including...	both	deep/natural	Pinan, Bassai Dai, Seienchin, Saifa, Rōhai, Nipaipo	43
Shōrin-ryū Shorin-Ryu is one of the major modern Okinawan martial arts. It was founded by Choshin Chibana in 1933. Shōrin-ryū combines elements of the traditional Okinawan fighting styles of Shuri-te.-History:Chosin Chibana was a top student of the great master of shuri-te, Anko Itosu...	Okinawa	Shuri-te, Tomari-te, Chinese martial arts	both, primarily soft	natural	Pinan, Naihanchi, Fukyu	21
Shotokan Shotokan is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo Funakoshi . Gichin was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing karate through a series of public demonstrations, and by promoting the development of university karate clubs, including...	Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...  and Okinawa	Shōrei-ryū Shorei-ryu is a term which refers to the Naha-Te style of Okinawan karate. Shorei Ryu means "the style of inspiration". It is believed that the term Shorei is derived from the Shoreiji Temple in southern China. The teachings of this temple provided the basis for the Naha-Te style.The Shorei Ryu system was... , Shōrin-ryū Shorin-Ryu is one of the major modern Okinawan martial arts. It was founded by Choshin Chibana in 1933. Shōrin-ryū combines elements of the traditional Okinawan fighting styles of Shuri-te.-History:Chosin Chibana was a top student of the great master of shuri-te, Anko Itosu...	Primarily hard techniques as well as soft techniques and some circular movements	deep (beginner), natural (advanced)	5 Heian, Jion, Kanku Dai, Bassai Dai, Sochin etc.	26 + additional
Shuri-ryū Shuri-ryu karate, is an eclectic martial arts system developed by Robert Trias , the first person to teach karate in the mainland United States, who opened the first dojo in 1946 in Phoenix, Arizona. Later in 1948 he formed the first karate association in the U.S., The United States Karate Association...	USA	Shuri-te, Hsing-yi Xingyiquan Xingyiquan is one of the major "internal" or Wudang styles of Chinese martial arts. The word translates approximately to "Form/Intention Boxing", or "Shape/Will Boxing", and is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements and explosive power...	both	deep/natural	Wunsu, O-Naihanchi, Sanchin	15
Uechi-ryū	Okinawa	Pangai-noon Pangai-noon Pangai-noon was a style of Southern Chinese kung fu taught by Shu Shi Wa which formed the basis for Uechi-ryū karate. The name Pangai-noon indicates that the art's techniques are half-hard, half-soft, and is derived from the Okinawan pronunciation of the original Chinese.Shu Shi Wa was a teacher...  Kung Fu	half hard, half soft	mainly natural	Sanchin, Seisan, Sanseirui	8
Wado-ryū	Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...	Yoshin-ryu Jujitsu and Shotokan Shotokan is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo Funakoshi . Gichin was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing karate through a series of public demonstrations, and by promoting the development of university karate clubs, including...	both, primarily soft	mainly natural	Pinan, Kushanku, Seishan, Chintō	15 (one hidden)
Yōshūkai Yoshukai Karate karate is a branch discipline of the Japanese/Okinawan martial art, Karate-dō, or "Way of the Empty Hand."The three kanji that make up the word Yoshukai literally translated mean “Training Hall of Continued Improvement.” However, the standardized English translation is "Striving for Excellence."...	Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...  and Okinawa	Chitō-ryū Chito-ryu is a style of karate founded by , . The name of the style translates as: chi - 1,000; tō - China; ryū , "1,000 year old Chinese style." The character tō refers to the Tang Dynasty of China...	60 percent hard, 40 percent soft techniques	deep (beginner), natural (advanced)
Ryūei-ryū Ryuei-ryu is an Okinawan style of karate. It was originally a family style of the Nakaima family of Naha and is now one of the internationally recognized Okinawan karate styles. It is practiced in the United States, Argentina, Venezuela, Europe, and Okinawa.- History :...	Okinawa	Fuzhou, China	Naha Te	natural	Anan, Paiku, Heiku, Pachu, Ohan, Paiho, Niseishi	about 16

See also

• Karate kata
  Karate kata
  Kata is a Japanese word describing detailed patterns of movements practiced either solo or in pairs....
  
   - includes comparison of kata performed by style
• Karate
  Karate
  is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
  
  
• Comparison of kobudō styles
  Comparison of kobudo styles
  This table compares styles of kobudō. The weapons practiced by each style are listed. The styles listed below may practice strictly weapons, or may practice another martial arts as well....
  
  

External links

• Karate, Okinawan Kobudo and Kendo Kata videos