Karate style: two different style - Okinawan karate or Japanese karate, and two different training methods.

The two primary karate style are, Okinawan karate and Japanese karate, and both have seen dramatic changed since its debut. While the training method may differ, there is no single karate style in any martial art school that are the “best” - be it Okinawan karate or Japanese karate.

The general characteristic and application of the two different style can be summarizes as follows:

Okinawan karate

• The three Okinawan karate style are Shuri-te, Naha-te and Tomari-te (Ti or Te, is an ancient okinawan style blended with Chinese and Japanese techniques).
   
• It emphasize on Kihon (basic drills), kata (choreographed routines for blocking, striking and shifting skills), yoku soku kumite (sparring sequences) and makiwara (striking post)
  NOTE: The makiwara should not be use by children as their bones are still developing. Generally, around the age of 16 and teenager can begin this type of training under the supervision of an experienced instructor.
   
• Self-defense strategy: okinawan karate style practitioner would use soft, circular blocks to thwart an attack and would then grab an opponent’s arms or leg to exert control.
   
• Primary weapons: practitioner would use his entire body as natural weapons.
   
• Fighting stance: okinawan karate style practitioner fighting stance would be fairly high (upright) and more natural movement when fighting.
   
• Way of ending a bout: practitioner would terminate a bout with restraining or a controlling technique.

Japanese karate

• The five most popular Japanese karate style are shotokan, goju ryu, shito ryu, wado ryu, kyokushinkai.
  
  It emphasize on Kihon (basic drills), kata (choreographed routines for blocking, striking and shifting skills) with unrehearsed attacks and counterattacks.
   
• Self-defense strategy: japanese karate style practitioner would use direct powerful blocks to deflect an attack and usually would not follow-up with a grab.
   
• Primary weapons: practitioner would use his closed fist and ball of the foot as primary weapons.
   
• Fighting stance: japanese karate style practitioner would lower his stances for greater range of hip movement in rotational manner for more power when striking.
   
• Way of ending a bout: practitioner would finish off with a powerful blow couple with a piercing yell (kiai).

Tournaments generally adhere to one of the karate style or formats: Okinawan, Japanese or North American karate. It can include kata (forms), kumite (free sparring), kobudo (weapons) and at some events include breaking of objects.

Page topic – karate style