Comparison of karate styles

[Xue Sheng96]

When I get interested in a style I tend to start researching it, and since Kobudo is from Karate, I started doing a little research on Karate. I realize that there are different styles of Karate, just like there are different styles of Taijiquan and Xingyiquan, but I was wondering what those differences were.

I only currently know one Karate Practitioner, who also has an extensive CMA background, as well as a Black Belt in BJJ. And the style he trains is Kyokushin, which I know is rather hard training. Years ago I use to train Yang Taijiquan with a Uechi-Ryu practitioner, but I have not seen him in years

But in researching I came across this, and I was wondering how accurate it was and what other resources are out there.

Comparison of karate styles

Also. prior to the list in the link, I had only heard of; Kyokushin, Goju-ryu, Isshin-ryu, Shotokan, Wado-ryun and Uechi-Ryu

 

[isshinryuronin]

When I get interested in a style I tend to start researching it, and since Kobudo is from Karate, I started doing a little research on Karate. I realize that there are different styles of Karate, just like there are different styles of Taijiquan and Xingyiquan, but I was wondering what those differences were.

I only currently know one Karate Practitioner, who also has an extensive CMA background, as well as a Black Belt in BJJ. And the style he trains is Kyokushin, which I know is rather hard training. Years ago I use to train Yang Taijiquan with a Uechi-Ryu practitioner, but I have not seen him in years

But in researching I came across this, and I was wondering how accurate it was and what other resources are out there.

Comparison of karate styles

Also. prior to the list in the link, I had only heard of; Kyokushin, Goju-ryu, Isshin-ryu, Shotokan, Wado-ryun and Uechi-Ryu

Referring to the Wikipedia article you linked and some you mentioned:

Shotokan - The main Japanese style as described.

Shito-ryu - Okinawan master Mabuni created this style while in Japan. As such, while article describes it as being more upright, extensive use of the deep zen kutsu stance typical of Shotokan is seen. Mabuni knew more katas from more styles than anyone and I think Shito-ryu reflects this influence.

Goju - A Naha based style with closer ties to Chinese Fujian. It is a very close in style and while the article stresses its sanchin kata with its deep rooting, IMO it's also characterized by counter-grabbing and joint/vital point targeting.

Uechi-ryu - Also Naha based with even closer ties to China than goju with much open hand striking

Wado-ryu - Don't know much about it, but after reviewing 3 of its advanced katas it seems like a typical Shorin/Tomari kind of Okinawan karate.

Isshinryu - Now recognized as one of the main traditional Okinawan styles, it's mostly Shorin based with some goju influence (including seiuchin and sanchin kata). Close to mid distance ranges and upright stance, its kata having a good amount of grabbing technique.

Kyokushi - As described in the article.

For more info, check out the various styles' kata on Youtube.

 

[Tony Dismukes102]

Wado-ryu - Don't know much about it, but after reviewing 3 of its advanced katas it seems like a typical Shorin/Tomari kind of Okinawan karate.

Wado-Ryu is interesting because it could be considered as much a style of jujutsu as karate. The founder, Hironori Otsuka, started out as a jujutsu practitioner and the original name of the art he founded was Shinshu Wadoryu Karate-Jujutsu. The rebranding of Wado-Ryu as just karate was (from what I've read) more due to politics than anything else.

 

[isshinryuronin]

Wado-Ryu is interesting because it could be considered as much a style of jujutsu as karate. The founder, Hironori Otsuka, started out as a jujutsu practitioner and the original name of the art he founded was Shinshu Wadoryu Karate-Jujutsu. The rebranding of Wado-Ryu as just karate was (from what I've read) more due to politics than anything else.

I know it has jujutsu background, but this is not reflected in the 3 advanced or 1 intermediate kata (not Pinan) I watched. Whether there is a kata or two that do exhibit this, or if it's treated separately outside of karate kata I don't know.

The branding of karate as predominantly a striking art was certainly due to Japanese TMA politics reserving the grappling arts for the already established judo and jujutsu. This was required to get karate accepted into the Japanese mainstream in the 1930's as a distinct discipline. Back in Okinawa, the karate styles kept an emphasis on standup grappling and joint attacks.

 

[_Simon_101]

@isshinryuronin I think Xue is converting... I think we've finally got 'im!!

Yeah a pretty decent comparison. One thing I've noticed is that often styles are said to be "a mix of ___ and ___", whereas it merely incorporates certain aspects or forms of styles. A prime example is Kyokushin. Whenever I tell people that my first and primary style was Kyokushin and I've transitioned to Goju, they often say "oh, well Kyokushin is a mix of Shotokan and Goju", and.. it really isn't. Apart from the kata (which are heeeavily modified) there is very little Goju in terms of philosophy, strategy and principles (perhaps more Goju Kai). Kyokushin truly is its own thing. I'd say it's more in line with old school hardcore Shotokan in terms of discipline and movement, yet still technically and fighting-wise and philosophy it is its own contextual paradigm of training.

Another thing is the soft vs hard style, but this is a can of worms at times. It isn't always so black and white as that.

Obviously generalities in descriptions have to exist in order to differentiate between training approaches and styles, but it never is as clear cut. Still it's a good general guide, and yeah there are more styles that keep popping up that I'd never heard of too.

It's really fascinating and educational to study different style philosophies!

 

[Kung Fu Wang102]

General Karate question.

Is circular punch (such as hook, uppercut, overhand, hammer fist, back fist, side punch. spiral punch) emphasized in Karate system?

 

[isshinryuronin]

they often say "oh, well Kyokushin is a mix of Shotokan and Goju", and.. it really isn't. Apart from the kata (which are heeeavily modified) there is very little Goju in terms of philosophy, strategy and principles (perhaps more Goju Kai). Kyokushin truly is its own thing. I'd say it's more in line with old school hardcore Shotokan in terms of discipline and movement, yet still technically and fighting-wise and philosophy it is its own contextual paradigm of training.

Kyokushin founder Mas Oyama studied both Shotokan and goju. But the goju he studied was not the Okinawan goju - it was Yamaguchi's Japanized version (hard training including standing under icy waterfalls), so it doesn't look like the goju most of us are familiar with.

 

[isshinryuronin]

General Karate question.

Is circular punch (such as hook, uppercut, overhand, hammer fist, back fist, side punch. spiral punch) emphasized in Karate system?

Hook and uppercut (close range strikes) are common in Okinawan styles. Hammer fist exists in some styles, but not as common as backfists. Side punches can be found (but in application may be expression of a pull), spiral and overhand punches not so much.

 

[Same Trick48]

Hook and uppercut (close range strikes) are common in Okinawan styles. Hammer fist exists in some styles, but not as common as backfists. Side punches can be found (but in application may be expression of a pull), spiral and overhand punches not so much.

The “Yama-tzuki” found in Shotokan Bassai-Dai kata(which I practiced extensively) and Wankan kata hold a overhand’ish punch expression, at least that’s what naturally came out of it for me when I sparred/fought(competition)

 

[Darren]

When I get interested in a style I tend to start researching it, and since Kobudo is from Karate, I started doing a little research on Karate. I realize that there are different styles of Karate, just like there are different styles of Taijiquan and Xingyiquan, but I was wondering what those differences were.

I only currently know one Karate Practitioner, who also has an extensive CMA background, as well as a Black Belt in BJJ. And the style he trains is Kyokushin, which I know is rather hard training. Years ago I use to train Yang Taijiquan with a Uechi-Ryu practitioner, but I have not seen him in years

But in researching I came across this, and I was wondering how accurate it was and what other resources are out there.

Comparison of karate styles

Also. prior to the list in the link, I had only heard of; Kyokushin, Goju-ryu, Isshin-ryu, Shotokan, Wado-ryun and Uechi-Ryu

i don`t know what it is with me, but i have to jump right into the middle of the fire and make it out the best i can, at 61 years of age that gets tiring i took stand up for like 2.5 this time around before i even got into BJJ, after every class the guys would be rolling and looked like they where having fun and i was not getting any sparring done in my stand up at all, guess 35 years ago it was good but with the birth of MMA and BJJ stand all but died any i got into bjj without knowing anything about it(i did not even know what was coming) well i found out real real quick! now in addition to my stand up im building a game in BJJ(i hope) after but 2 years i thought well i best maybe read some stuff on this,watch some videos just cram my brain with all i can and the rest just seems to come together in time, then i read where BJJ is called the GENTLE ART, well up to that point in time GENTLE was no where to be found even the star ship enterprise of star trek could not find it nor even keep up with it! till i got hurt again, OKAY thats it my fighting days are over the only thing that are not over is my stand up and my BJJ, which i can tell you, it only others that have helped me to get to where i am today without others i would not be where i am today, there for proving that humans do need each other just not for what the can take but what they can give also.

 

[Tez3]

General Karate question.

Is circular punch (such as hook, uppercut, overhand, hammer fist, back fist, side punch. spiral punch) emphasized in Karate system?

Yes.

 

[Tez3]

i don`t know what it is with me, but i have to jump right into the middle of the fire and make it out the best i can, at 61 years of age that gets tiring i took stand up for like 2.5 this time around before i even got into BJJ, after every class the guys would be rolling and looked like they where having fun and i was not getting any sparring done in my stand up at all, guess 35 years ago it was good but with the birth of MMA and BJJ stand all but died any i got into bjj without knowing anything about it(i did not even know what was coming) well i found out real real quick! now in addition to my stand up im building a game in BJJ(i hope) after but 2 years i thought well i best maybe read some stuff on this,watch some videos just cram my brain with all i can and the rest just seems to come together in time, then i read where BJJ is called the GENTLE ART, well up to that point in time GENTLE was no where to be found even the star ship enterprise of star trek could not find it nor even keep up with it! till i got hurt again, OKAY thats it my fighting days are over the only thing that are not over is my stand up and my BJJ, which i can tell you, it only others that have helped me to get to where i am today without others i would not be where i am today, there for proving that humans do need each other just not for what the can take but what they can give also.

That is a very long sentence.

I've never heard BJJ being called ''the gentle art".

 

[Xue Sheng96]

i don`t know what it is with me, but i have to jump right into the middle of the fire and make it out the best i can, at 61 years of age that gets tiring i took stand up for like 2.5 this time around before i even got into BJJ, after every class the guys would be rolling and looked like they where having fun and i was not getting any sparring done in my stand up at all, guess 35 years ago it was good but with the birth of MMA and BJJ stand all but died any i got into bjj without knowing anything about it(i did not even know what was coming) well i found out real real quick! now in addition to my stand up im building a game in BJJ(i hope) after but 2 years i thought well i best maybe read some stuff on this,watch some videos just cram my brain with all i can and the rest just seems to come together in time, then i read where BJJ is called the GENTLE ART, well up to that point in time GENTLE was no where to be found even the star ship enterprise of star trek could not find it nor even keep up with it! till i got hurt again, OKAY thats it my fighting days are over the only thing that are not over is my stand up and my BJJ, which i can tell you, it only others that have helped me to get to where i am today without others i would not be where i am today, there for proving that humans do need each other just not for what the can take but what they can give also.

Thank you for the BJJ info, but I am looking at kubodo and its associated karate styles.

I am 64, soon to be 65, have a fake knee and a questionable knee, with arthritis in many joints. I have been in martial arts since 1972, in various styles and I can say, beyond any doubt, that BJJ is not an option for me at this stage in my life. Although, if I were younger, and had all my original parts, I would have given it a try.

 

[Xue Sheng96]

@isshinryuronin I think Xue is converting... I think we've finally got 'im!!

HEY!!!! Thems fighten, words

Although, I’d be lying if I said I had no interest

But I will say this right now, based on the guy I know (actually I know that train Kyokushin… at my age and level of infirmity, I will not be taking any Kyokushin…. Even though I am very impressed by it and the toughness of its practitioners

 

[Darren]

Thank you for the BJJ info, but I am looking at kubodo and its associated karate styles.

I am 64, soon to be 65, have a fake knee and a questionable knee, with arthritis in many joints. I have been in martial arts since 1972, in various styles and I can say, beyond any doubt, that BJJ is not an option for me at this stage in my life. Although, if I were younger, and had all my original parts, I would have given it a try.

much respect sir.

 

[Same Trick48]

.

I've never heard BJJ being called ''the gentle art".

Brasilian soft(gentle) method - BJJ ?

 

[Kung Fu Wang102]

I've never heard BJJ being called ''the gentle art".

Within 1/2 second, you can knock down your opponent with your punch, or with your kick. You can also take your opponent down with your foot sweep.

In BJJ ground game, within 1/2 second, you can't do very much. In BJJ ground game, you don't have the feeling that your shirt is catching on fire.

IMO, ground game is much a slow game than striking game, or wrestling game.

 

[Same Trick48]

When I get interested in a style I tend to start researching it, and since Kobudo is from Karate, I started doing a little research on Karate. I realize that there are different styles of Karate, just like there are different styles of Taijiquan and Xingyiquan, but I was wondering what those differences were.

I only currently know one Karate Practitioner, who also has an extensive CMA background, as well as a Black Belt in BJJ. And the style he trains is Kyokushin, which I know is rather hard training. Years ago I use to train Yang Taijiquan with a Uechi-Ryu practitioner, but I have not seen him in years

But in researching I came across this, and I was wondering how accurate it was and what other resources are out there.

Comparison of karate styles

Also. prior to the list in the link, I had only heard of; Kyokushin, Goju-ryu, Isshin-ryu, Shotokan, Wado-ryun and Uechi-Ryu

Look for the ”Kuro obi” videos starring JKA’s(Shotokan) Tatsuya Naka who visit various karate(and other budo, also kung fu) schools/dojos on mainland Japan and Okinawa to compare and learn similarities and differences between the various styles

 

[Tez3]

Within 1/2 second, you can knock down your opponent with your punch, or with your kick. You can also take your opponent down with your foot sweep.

In BJJ ground game, within 1/2 second, you can't do very much. In BJJ ground game, you don't have the feeling that your shirt is catching on fire.

IMO, ground game is much a slow game than striking game, or wrestling game.

Not to be rude but that has nothing to do with what I said.

My post stated I'd never heard any one call BJJ the 'gentle art'. I know what it is I've practised it for 20 years.

 

[Tez3]

Brasilian soft(gentle) method - BJJ ?

Nope. Never heard anyone say that.