Karate has become one of the most popular martial arts and sports worldwide. Both kids and adults are joining this ancient practice due to its versatility.
Whether you’re looking for a challenging sport or an interesting way to stay active, karate offers something for everyone. Many also take up karate as an effective means of self-defense.
However, with its popularity comes confusion, especially when it comes to the different styles of karate.
There are over thirteen recognized karate styles, each offering something unique. Some, like Kyokushin, are known for their intensity, while others are less well-known.
As a beginner, you may be wondering which karate style is right for you. I had the same questions when I first started, so I understand the struggle.
That’s why I’ve decided to share the four major karate styles—each with a rich traditional background and global popularity. Let’s dive into the four major karate styles and discover which might be the best fit for you!
Understanding the Four Major Karate Styles
As I’ve mentioned before, based on lineage, history, and tradition, there are four major styles of karate. Below, I’ve written a brief history and highlighted the unique features of each style.
Shotokan
Shōtōkan Ryu, commonly known as Shōtōkan, is a style of karate that descends from Shurite, a martial art tradition from Okinawa. It was established by Funakoshi Gichin. Funakoshi developed Shōtōkan as a style that emphasizes strength, speed, and the power generated from deep stances.
Shōtōkan is known for its physically demanding techniques. Practitioners spend hours training in low stances, developing both power and control.
The long, deep stances help generate massive amounts of energy in the lower body, which is channeled into techniques like Gyako Tsuki (reverse punch) to neutralize opponents.
If you’ve ever seen the Shōtōkan sigil, you’ll notice a tiger in a low stance—this reflects the grounded and stable nature of Shōtōkan’s techniques.
Funakoshi believed that a strong foundation was crucial to mastering karate, which is why he placed so much emphasis on basic drills or kihon. By perfecting the basics, practitioners can build a solid foundation that prepares them for more advanced techniques.
Funakoshi also modernized karate by making it more accessible to students of all ages and turning it into a structured, sports-oriented practice.
Many asked the origin of the name of this style. His first official dojo, established in Mejiro, Tokyo in 1936, was called Shōtōkan—named after his pen name “Shōtō,” which he used when writing poetry and philosophy.
Unique Characteristics of Shōtōkan Karate:
- Shōtōkan is known for its emphasis on kihon (basic techniques), with a focus on repetition and drilling to master fundamental movements.
- One of the most distinctive features of Shōtōkan is its long and deep stances, which lower the practitioner’s center of gravity and help generate power in strikes.
- The style relies on large hip rotations to increase the power of strikes, with movements switching between open hips (hanami) and forward hips (shōmen).
- Shōtōkan techniques are designed to be linear and fast, taking the shortest path to the target, while grappling and flowing techniques are reserved for more advanced students.
- Kicks, including side kicks (yoko-geri khekomi, kheagi), are commonly practiced in katas such as Enpi, Gojoshio Dai, and Basai Dai.
- Shōtōkan katas are also unique in that the practitioner is expected to end at the same spot where they started, symbolizing control and precision.
Goju Ryu
Goju Ryu Karate is one of the most popular karate styles today. The term “Goju” itself tells us what it’s all about. “Go” means hard, referring to the powerful, linear strikes often associated with traditional karate, while “Ju” means soft, which points to the circular, flowing movements used for defense.
Together, Goju Ryu stands for the “hard and soft” way of karate—pretty cool, right?
This style was founded by Miyagi Chojun, who came from a prestigious family in Naha, Okinawa. His martial arts journey started in 1902 when he began studying Chinese martial arts.
After traveling to China to deepen his knowledge, he brought these teachings back to Japan. By 1938, Miyagi had officially started teaching his own karate style, which quickly gained popularity.
Unique Features of Goju Ryu Karate:
- Goju Ryu stands out because of its soft, circular movements for blocking and defense. Unlike other styles, like Shotokan, Goju Ryu uses both open and closed fists, giving fighters more versatility.
- This style is all about balance—hard strikes combined with smooth defenses. The use of joint locks and throws (similar to wrestling techniques) also makes it unique, thanks to its roots in Chinese kenpo. When it comes to targets, Goju Ryu fighters often aim for the Ganka (the area near the ribs) instead of the solar plexus.
- Goju Ryu practitioners also train to maintain stability with unique stances, especially in grappling situations or on uneven surfaces. Regular body conditioning (Hojo undō) is a big part of the training regimen, helping fighters build physical resilience.
- One of the most fascinating aspects of Goju Ryu is its breathing techniques, known as Ibuki. There are two types:
Yō Ibuki: This is a hard breathing technique that strengthens the diaphragm and helps absorb impact during a fight.
In Ibuki (Nogare): On the flip side, this soft breathing technique promotes relaxation, allowing the fighter to stay calm and focused during combat.
Famous Goju Ryu Katas
Some of the most well-known Goju Ryu kata include Tenso, Saifa, SuPerinpei, and Kururunfa. These sequences of movements help fighters practice the unique techniques and principles of Goju Ryu.
Shito Ryu
Shito Ryu is a style of karate that was created by Mabuni Kenwa, who combined the teachings of two of Okinawa’s greatest martial arts masters: Itosu Ankō and Higaonna Kanryō.
Mabuni’s style reflects the influence of both masters. Itosu was a famous practitioner of “Shurite,” a form of karate in ancient Japan known for its straight and hard techniques.
On the other hand, Higaonna specialized in the “Nahate” style, which emphasizes circular movements and softer techniques. To honor these teachers, Mabuni named his style “Shito Ryu” by combining characters from their names. “Shi” comes from Itosu, and “To” comes from Higaonna.
Unique Features of Shito Ryu Karate
- Shito Ryu stands out because it places a strong emphasis on kata—traditional forms used to practice techniques. In fact, Shito Ryu includes some of the longest and most complex kata in all of karate. The style also focuses on accuracy, efficiency, and speed, which sets it apart from styles like Shotokan, which emphasizes power and strength.
- Shito Ryu uses mid-height stances (called Dachi) where the knee is positioned over the center of the foot. This stance allows for quicker movements and helps conserve energy. Because of this, Shito Ryu practitioners don’t rely on large hip rotations like other karate styles do. The result? Kicks and punches may not be as powerful as styles like Shotokan or Goju Ryu, but they’re faster and more efficient.
- Shito Ryu also includes three key teaching components:
Sappō: Techniques for finishing off an opponent, including strikes (kimewaza) and throws (nagewaza). While it sounds intense (it translates as “killing methods”), these techniques are really just designed to defeat an opponent quickly.
Kappō: Techniques for maintaining health and survival.
Shinhō: Techniques for mental discipline and control, helping practitioners maintain focus and a clear mind in combat.
While Shito Ryu teaches all three, many modern schools focus primarily on Sappō, since it’s the most practical for sparring and competition.
Wado Ryu
Wadō-ryū, a style established by Ohtsuka Hironori, blends the strong, striking techniques of Shotokan karate with the smooth, flowing movements of Japanese jūjutsu.
This unique combination sets Wadō-ryū apart from other karate styles, focusing not just on physical strength, but on harmony of movement and mind.
Rather than blending karate and jūjutsu equally, Wadō-ryū approaches karate with a jūjutsu mindset, where deflecting attacks and maintaining balance are key.
Practitioners learn to move in sync with their opponents, using body-shifting techniques, known as tai sabaki, and balance-breaking strategies, called kuzushi.
Originally named Shinshu Wadō-ryū (New Style Harmonious Way Karate-Jūjutsu), the term Wadō-ryū was coined by a student named Eriguchi Ei’ichi in 1934. The name carries a dual meaning—on one level, it represents peace and harmony, while on another, the character 和 (wa) refers to the style’s connection with jūjutsu.
Unique Features of Wadō-ryū Karate
- Partner Work: Like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Judo, Wadō-ryū heavily emphasizes training with a partner, allowing practitioners to develop timing, distance control, and technique in real time.
- Smooth, Flowing Movements: Wadō-ryū uses smaller stances, unlike the deep, low stances of Shotokan. Movements are light and smooth, focusing on fluidity rather than rigidity.
- Tai Sabaki (Body Shifting): One of the defining features of Wadō-ryū is the use of tai sabaki, where practitioners sidestep or reposition themselves to avoid direct confrontation with an opponent’s attack. Instead of meeting force with force, they use their body to deflect and counter efficiently.
- Balance-Breaking (Kuzushi): Wadō-ryū incorporates kuzushi, techniques that subtly unbalance the opponent before countering, similar to the principles found in jūjutsu.
- Maai (Fighting Distance): Practitioners are trained to maintain the perfect fighting distance, allowing them to strike or retreat with minimal movement. This concept of maai teaches them how to control the flow of a fight by staying just out of reach of the opponent while remaining in striking range.
- Zanshin (Mental Focus): Wadō-ryū emphasizes zanshin, a state of constant awareness and mental focus. Practitioners are always alert, ready to react to any move from the opponent.
- Efficient and Minimal Techniques: The techniques in Wadō-ryū are designed to be efficient, with minimal wasted motion. This allows practitioners to conserve energy and respond quickly to any attack.
- Subtle Use of Joint Locks and Throws: Wadō-ryū includes a significant amount of joint locks and throws, drawn from its jūjutsu heritage. These techniques are performed with a soft, natural flow, making them less rigid than in other karate styles.
- High Blocks (Jōdan): While other karate styles may focus on mid-level blocks, Wadō-ryū typically defaults to high-level (jōdan) blocks in both basics and kata.
Finally, Karate offers something for everyone, but with so many styles, it can be challenging to choose the right one.
Whether you’re drawn to Shōtōkan’s powerful, linear techniques, Goju Ryu’s balance of hard and soft movements, Shito Ryu’s precision and speed, or Wadō-ryū’s harmonious blend of karate and jūjutsu, each style provides a unique path to mastering this ancient martial art.
By understanding the history and features of these four major styles, you’re one step closer to finding the perfect fit for your karate journey.