Predominately Four Main Karate Styles Practiced in the World Today
Wado
Master Hidenori Ohtsuka developed the Wado style as a tremendously fast style with its technques that totally express the practitioner’s mind and manifest his/her spirit. That the karateka (one who practices karate) holds three vital elements-the heart, spirit, and physical strength and which incorporates slightly more upright stances than Shotokan karate. This amalgamation of the yielding principles of jujitsu, with its emphasis of non-opposition to strength, and the traditional Okinawan karate maneuvers gives this style fluidity that is unique in Japanese karate. Wado Kai also employs very light and fast techniques that favor evasion, not head on brute force. The hand and foot is taught to snap back very quickly to avoid capture from the opponent.
Shito Ryu
Shito-ryu was founded by Kenwa Mabuni (1889-1952) in 1928 and was influenced directly by both Naha-te and Shuri-te. The name Shito is constructively derived from the combination of the Japanese characters of Mabuni's teachers' names - Ankoh Itosu and Kanryo Higaonna. Shito-ryu schools use a large number of kata which are characterized by an emphasis on power in the execution of techniques.
Shotokan
Shotokan was founded by Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957) in Tokyo in 1938. Funakoshi is considered to be the founder of modern karate. Born in Okinawa, he began to study karate with Yasutsune Azato, one of Okinawa's greatest experts in the art. In 1921 Funakoshi first introduced Karate to Tokyo. In 1936, at nearly 70 years of age, he opened his own training hall. The dojo was called Shotokan after the pen name used by Funakoshi to sign poems written in his youth. Shotokan Karate is characterized by powerful linear techniques and deep strong stances.
Goju Kai
Goju-ryu developed out of Naha-te, its popularity primarily due to the success of Kanryo Higaonna (1853-1915). Higaonna opened a dojo in Naha using eight forms brought from China. His best student, Chojun Miyagi (1888-1953) later founded Goju-ryu, 'hard soft way' in 1930. In Goju-ryu much emphasis is placed on combining soft circular blocking techniques with quick strong counter attacks delivered in rapid succession.