Karate Style Comparison! Names & Characteristics Explained 

Was I missing YOUR style? Please share it with the people in the comment section :)

As someone who trained Uechi, I can tell you that we emphasized hardening our body and learning to breath, move and contract our muscles to absorb damage as much as hardening for attacking, more so even.

I'm so glad that Kudo got mentioned. I practise Kudo with a small community here in this part of the world.

That's awesome that you and Jesse Enkamp can bring all these knowledge about Karate. It's not a thing people usually learn at the dojo. Oss!

Someone asked Jesse Enkamp what style he uses, he didn’t give a clear answer instead going on about some mountain. You see to me, ‘styles’ are basically like cars, you have ford, Chrysler, BMW, Audi, Toyota, Nissan etc. All of them do the same thing but are from different ideas of how a car should be. So I ‘drive’ Shotokan.

I’m Itosu Ryu, this is the first time I’ve heard someone from outside the style talk about it.

Nice to see the origins of the Full-Contact Karate family. Personally, I think Shotokan deserves some credit for their founding as much as Goju-ryu, since Masutatsu Oyama trained in both before he founded Kyokushin, at least to my knowledge.

Kyokushinkaikan Karate derives not only from Goju-Ryu Karate Sensei Yusuke, but also from Shotokan Karate, as Sosai Oyama Masutatsu, our founder had learned both styles, along with Judo, Boxing and Korean Kenpo, as well as Chinese Kenpo. Ashiharakaikan Karate is an offshoot of Kyokushin Karate, then both Seidokaikan Karate, as well as Enshinkaikan Karate, both emanated from Ashiharakaikan Karate. Kyokushin-Kan Karate (極真館 空手) which is under the leadership of Kancho Royama Hatsuo is still 100% Kyokushinkaikan Karate, as is Shin Kyokushinkaikan Karate (新極真会館空手) which in turn is the organisation of Kancho Midori Kenji, once again 100% Kyokushinkaikan Karate. What happened was, that once our Kyokushinkaikan Karate (国際空手道連盟極真会館) 'International Karate Organisation Kyokushinkaikan, Sosai Oyama Masutatsu had passed away, he had not appointed a successor to continue to lead his martial arts organisation. So upon his death many of his senior Shihans (masters) began to feud amongst each other for the power and leadership, of the entire unified, Kyokushinkaikan Karate World organisation at that time. As they could not come to an agreement, many of this Kyokushin Karate masters, decided to form their own organisations, while slightly modifying their Kyokushin Karate organisation's name, so as to differentiate themselves from the other Kyokushin Karate groups. So as you mentioned here in this video, Shin-Kyokushinkaikan Karate and Kyokushin-Kan Karate for example. Kudo Karate is indeed a mixture of Kyokushin Karate and Judo, but so is Enshinkaikan Karate, as both of their founders, had become Judo black belts, prior to both studying Kyokushin Karate. However just to clarify again, Sosai Oyama Masutatsu had studied Chinese Kenpo, Korean Kenpo and boxing in his youth. Upon migrating to Japan, from his native South Korea, he studied Kozen Judo and obtained the rank of 4th dan black belt, then progressed onto Shotokan Karate where he obtained yet again the 4th dan black belt rank. He finally studied Goju-Ryu Karate, where he achieved the rank of 7th dan black belt, which ultimately justifies why he was ranked 10th dan black belt in his own martial arts style of Kyokushinkaikan Karate, which he had established himself. Great video as always by the way Sensei Yusuke, Osu!🇲🇽🇦🇺🥋🤟👍✌🙏

Wow! This is pure gold! Amazing job, dude.

Great video - Thanks for a nice succinct overview of karate styles!

You are an amazing man. Thank you for your youtube channel. Amazing library for karate fighters

Great video! I was surprised to see so many styles!

this was excellent. very informative.

Great straight forward video that can be easily used in explaining the history & family tree if Karate. I’m in the other Shotokan styles line: SKIF but I’ve also been studying Osaka, Enoeda & Shiina when they were younger for research.

This is an awesome video! I'm a Goju Ryu ( IOGKF and Meibukan) practitioner myself. I always enjoy your videos.

I wonder where "Enkamp-Ryu" would fall in that chart. lol

Very well explained, thank you.

Nice work. Thank you. Kyokushin is a mix of both Shotokan and Goju. Oyama Masutatsu trained his early years (until yondan) under Funakoshi Gichin and Gigo. The kyu grade kata of Kyokushin are mostly Shotokan kata.

This is fantastic, thank you.

Very informative video. good stuff

Great explanation, I practiced GojuRyu in my youth and was an incredible technique, thanks and congrats for this video.

Wow amazing video, I practise karate Shotokai. Thanks for sharing.

Very informative. Thank you.

Great video sensei, very detailed. I started karate (Wado ryu) now (at age 27) and it's wonderful.

i feel honored and proud to be a Kyokushin Karate practitioner, great video, Osu

Fantastic. Thank you. Still deciding :)

Thank you, I always found this confusing. Your graphic and and explanation were simple and understandable.

Thank you, Sensei. Very informative and easy to follow. I study Matsubayashi Ryu and Shito Ryu.

Nice and informative :) Ive trained a few years in Shorin-/Shito Ryu, but thats 25 years ago now. Currently doing Yamaue AikiJutsu (for 12 years) :)

Love your videos!

That was a excellent review

This was very informative. So many different styles. Enshin Karate was one you missed. I believe it was derived from Ashihara because it's also has a strong emphasis on Sabaki.

Isshin Ryu! Awesome to see it in your list. Some more cross influence info for your list is Isshin Ryu's founder, Shimabuku Tatsuo, learned from not just Goju Ryu's Chojun Miyagi and Shorin Ryu's Chotoku Kyan (I think Kyan learned from both Shuri-te and Tomari-te instructors), but also Motobu Choki for a time.

This is like "Crash Course: Karate". Awesome layout, so easy to understand, but also really delving into those specifics that we're here for.

Love this!

My experiences in just Karate styles as far as Japanese systems go were; Wadõ Ryū, Ryukyu Kempõ/Kobudõ (but the Dojo was called Shudokan). But I have also studied American Kenpõ Karate, as well as both Taekwondõ and Tang Soo Dõ (both which had a heavy Shotokan Karate base); and even Kajūkenbõ (in which the Ka stands for Korean Karate aka Tang Soo Dõ).

Thank you for sharing all this knowledge. I'm a beginner, so many things to learn...gambarou!

Thank you very much Sensei for this video will be a part of Karate history.... This video is a rare in the World....

Very in depth explanation 👍

Was a little surprised that I did not see Okinawa Kenpo in this list. I know some people believe that it is not a style at all, but has a founder (Nakamura) who actually is known for bringing bogu gear into karate for full contact sparring, and a specific list of both open hand kata and kubudo. Was still very happy to learn about all the other styles.

How about Chito-ryu (founded by Chitose Tsuyoshi)? I did a style called Ryusei-ryu, which was a branch of Chito-ryu that was founded by Chitose Tsuyoshi's son-in-law. What software did you use to make your chart? I would like to use it for presentations. Are you at Keio University karate club? I taught at Keio (SFC) for 10 years. :)

Isshin-ryu here. Old school, straight forward, very little flash. I love it..

Very good video. I love kyokushin but i like to learn much of other styles that you that you show us in the lineage. Thanks

Great Video

Wow amazing video, I practice Tenshinkan Karate. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you!

Well done!

Thank you for the video! Since you mentioned JKA for Shotokan, I believe that one thing to include is Wado-Kai for Wado-Ryu too, as they are both independent organisations now

As a kung-fu practitioner I am happy to see how kungfu also had influence Japanese martial arts as well

Who knew! Great presentation.

in my town we had wado ryu , i miss those days

Felt nice hearing someone mention shorin ryu

Hello Sensei ! Thank you for all your work. Shotokai here !

That's awesome ❤️ arigatu sensei

Best Explanation

Hi, I really enjoyed the video, it was very enlightening and would like to know more about other shotokan styles.

Gracias Sensei 🙏🏽

Hello o/ Karate Do Shotokai here : I am really fond of your opened mind about martial art. The style changes the stance into fudo dashi instead of zenkutsu dashi and focused on Irimi principle. Trivialy I'd say it's Aikido with strikes instead of throws and locks. We are based in France, the masters organize seminaries 3 times a year and if you're willing to contact them to join, or even for a private class with some of them I'll be glad to help you.

I watch your videos and Jessie Encamp. I love the historical and contextual details. I would love it, if possible, if you were able to do a video on the influences on Korean martial arts from Japan and Okinawan influences. Tang Soo Do seems very similar to Shotokan and I have heard it referred to as "sister arts". I can't find much on the history of Korean Martial Arts here like I do with the amazing work you do for the Japanese styles. Thanks for everything!

Thank you Sensei

Nice video, I did 6 years Shotokan and reached Shodan, then moved city and started Shin Kyokushin from white belt and am now Green belt (4th kyu). The 5 Pinan / Heian kata were common to both styles but with some variation. Zenkutsu dachi and Kiba dachi and 4 blocks (gedan barai, jodan age uke, uchi uke, soto uke) were the same, but Kokutsu dachi and shuto uke is quite different. Sparring / kumite is very different! Osu!

Kon´nishi ha. I saw my first video of you today, and this is the 2nd. Great videos, great english. Domo arigatō gozaimashita. Greetings from Germany. Dewa mata, Kara Bonsai. PS: awesome Dojo! PPS: Just have seen an interview on you with Team Ki, thats a green wall shot - the dojo background :) - but still awesome.

Hoping for a second video of this

I loved Wado Ryu so much. There was a subtle beauty to its way of blending Karate and Jiu-Jitsu that was hard to grasp initially. We would use strikes like bone locks and turn blocks into grabs. Once I started American Kenpo, I saw a lot of parallels. No technique, no matter how seemingly basic, was ever just one thing. Every block was a strike. Every strike was a grab. Every movement was used to manipulate and control the opponent’s body.

thank you very much for this video. it's precious knowledge. PS: a long time ago i've trained Uechi Ryu style in Brazil.

Was happy to see Isshinryu mentioned. My personal favorite style.

Good content

Hello, Thanks for the video. I would like this work to be continued with a demonstration of the differences between vintage and modern forms of shuri-te, naha-te and tomari-te. I would also like to show the benefits that we could obtain from learning other styles, whether modern or vintage shuri-te, naha-te and tomari-te. Examples: 1 high vs low position, 2 rooting vs mobility, 3 linearity vs circularity, 4 percussion vs control/projection... etc with a special mention for tai sabaki for which I cannot find a contrary but which is not used in the same way in the different styles. If you could continue in this direction I would be very grateful. As you asked, I would like to tell you that as a descendant of kyukushinkai we can subjoin three styles: Shidokan, shindokai and shin ai do. Good continuation.

Would love to see a video on the fallout of the JKA and some of the major branches that broke off I.e ASAI, ISKF, etc.

Finally there is the one one who can explain all of this

From shotokan came tang soo do/ korean karate (won kuk lee) and taekwon-do/ chang hon style (choi hong hi), both is pupil of gichin funakoshi

Great video. You are so right about founding masters having training in different branches. Funakoshi had influences from Shuri, Naha and Tomari. I really enjoy your videos. Even more than Jessie-san. OSU.

Great research, thank you for that! Shukokai karate was missing. It has roots in Shito-Ryu, developed by Chojiro Tani and Kimura Shigeru. Shukokai is one of the most hard-hitting Karate styles I believe.

Chito-ryu karate and from it Yoshukai karate . I studied U.S. Yoshukai karate back in 1987 here in Alabama where Yuki Koda set up his Honbu Dojo in Montgomery Alabama the state capital but U.S. Yoshukai has dojo’s in several U.S. States I might add that the Grandmaster and founder was Mamoru (Katsou ) Yamamoto who would come to Alabama once a year for black belt tests as far as I can remember ! It’s a great style and retained all of the Kata of Chito-ryu but had some variation in the kobudo added as well as the katana techniques and Kata coming from Niten - ichi ryu

As a long time Marshal Artist, I highly respect all types of Marshal Arts,because all of them staring with respect Dicipline Stamina and Self defense. It doesn't matter what kind of Marshal Art's you are exercising or training, but they have same philosophy.

Kojo-ryu is one of the oldest family style of Karate in Okinawa and should be listed together with Uechi-ryu and Ryuei-ryu because it is also imported directly from China.It would be great if you can make a video on more obscure and rare styles like Kojo-ryu,Kishimoto-Di etc.

Good video very informative on the root of traditional karate. I came up training American freestyle P.K.A karate. Which is not traditional at all lol. However I appreciate it because it provided a strong kickboxing base with point fighting under tones that helped when I started boxing. Use of the side kick threw Dutch style kickboxers and muay thai fighters off when I started would spar them. And though I possess a more kickboxing with low kick style now I always respect my karate root for being able to do well in other fighting arts. Osu

Awaited video

Without a doubt, one of the best Karate history videos on RU-vid that takes the time to connect all the different lineages and styles of Karate. Excellent work and thank you!

Excellent presentation! When I studied Shorin Ryu on Okinawa in 1977, I remember my Sensei sharing with me, that the karate I learned was brought from Okinawa to Japan and modified there. Then it was re-introduced to Okinawa. He called it Shorin-ryu Shudokan. Do you have any information on Masao Yonamine, of the Shudokan lineage?

Kyokushin -KAN run by Kancho Hatsuo Royama places emphasis on the BUDO aspect more than anything, but also incorporates Taikken training as well as Kobudo. If you would like to discuss this more, please reach out to me at your convenience. I have really been enjoying your videos, thank you .

Thank you teacher

I like that you use the late great Master Kanazawa in the Shotokan demo

As a practitioner of Isshin Ryu, thank you for getting the general historical concepts.

Great video!! Do you know something about Traditional Shotokai? It is the one that I started a few years back. Thanks in advance!

I studied Shotokan for many years and had the pleasure of training under Master Kanazawa on a number of occasions..

I study Isshin-Shorinji Ryu; emphasizes utilizing body mechanics and technique to substantiate punching and kicking power. We also study groundwork, break locks, and weapons training.

I'll be honest when i saw you made a 10 minute video on this topic i scoffed at first. Though i was pleasantly surprised fairly quickly through the video. Also gained some clarification on my style i studdied Shōrin-ryū. Critical block really makes sense reflecting back on things. We used to put ALOT of emphasis on the micro movements in our blocks. A block was meant to be thought of as a strike as well. Also my Sensei used to always say that the secret techniques were in the basic movements, being the small detailed micro movements.

Hello yusuke sensei, it was a great video as usual. I am a shitoryu practitioner but i wanna know more about gensei ryu, can you make a video on the history of gensei ryu and its founder?

You could also add Tang Soo Do into the mix - essentially Korean Karate. The creator of the style KJN Hwang Kee was heavily influenced by the teachings of Gichin Funakoshi.

thank you

Very informative, I enjoyed learning this! Any chance I could download the karate family tree chart you have presented?

Very educational. thanks sensai..i did shotokan but now its more K1 i live both shotokan n kyokushin but hey u also do mauy thai

Shito ryu also has influences from naha te. Kanryo higaonna taught mabuni naha te kata. Circular blocks and movements

A style found in Canada called Kanreikai which is a mix of goju-ryu and kyukushin World Karate Kanreikai

You forgot about matsumura seito shorin ryu which does not come from itosu but from matsumura. Other than that, very well explained for new karate practicioners

Good, simplified explanation. FYI, The International Karate League, Founded by Walter K. Nishioka, Shihan, Hawaii, USA, web site www.ikl.org, is a modified version of Okinawan Shorin-ryu from Shoshin Chibana. Nishioka trained in Okinawa and also in Japan under Hironori Otsuka, WADO-ryu. He lives in Pearl City, Hawaii, and is one of the few remaining living legends. Keep up the good work in spreading Karate- Do throughout the World. Sincerely, Julian Shiroma, Hanshi, IKL, Hawaii, USA

I think what your are doing on RU-vid is very essential and precious, based on your profound love and researches about this martial arts. By the way, it seems to me that Higaonna-ryu (東恩納流) did not appear in anywhere of your marvelous and easy-to-understand Karate history chart. I hear Shito-ryu (糸東流), through which I practice Karate, derived from combination of Itosu-ryu (糸洲流) and Higaonna-ryu (東恩納流). Due to different and combined movements of these two styles, I hear Shito-ryu has a lot more number of katas than any other stile-established karate sects. What I am saying might be wrong, though. You look like a Japanese but your pronunciation is beautiful and easy-to-understand for non-native English speakers like me. Thanks!

Yusuke, maybe someone else wrote this allready, but "K1" is NOT a Karate Style, but was a Kickboxing-Organisation, which developed a specific ruleset allowing "Full Contact"-Karateka, Muay Thai Fighters, but also many other Kickboxers to compete. Of course there is a connection to Kyokushin and Seidokaikan and also the "Japanese/Dutch Kickboxing", but it became its own thing and in Kickboxing the use of "Dutch style"/"Japanese style"/"K-1" is more or less a thing to set it apart from "American style Kickboxing" and also Muay Thai, because of different rulesets. (for example "K-1 rules" allowed knee strikes and low kicks, which were not allowed in the "American Kickboxing", but does not allow elbow strikes like in Muay Thai).

thank you sensei. i am a student of a korean style and am very interested in learning more about our roots. would have loved it even more if you explained around what year these spreads happened and the styles evolved . thank you so much. greetings from vienna