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Karate Styles

Explore the traditions, history and unique emblems of Karate.

Shotokan Karate

  • Founding Year: 1922
  • Founder: Gichin Funakoshi
  • Global Rank: #1
  • Estimated Students: ~40 Million
  • Lineage / Influences: Rooted in Shuri-te, influenced by Chinese Kenpo; Funakoshi’s modernization for Japan

Kyokushin Karate

  • Founding Year: 1964
  • Founder: Masutatsu Oyama
  • Global Rank: #2
  • Estimated Students: ~12 Million
  • Lineage / Influences: Blend of Shotokan and Goju-Ryu, developed into full-contact

Goju-Ryu Karate

  • Founding Year: 1930
  • Founder: Chojun Miyagi
  • Global Rank: #3
  • Estimated Students: ~8 Million
  • Lineage / Influences: Derived from Naha-te, strong Chinese circular techniques

Shito-Ryu Karate

  • Founding Year: 1928
  • Founder: Kenwa Mabuni
  • Global Rank: #4
  • Estimated Students: ~6 Million
  • Lineage / Influences: Combination of Shuri-te (Itosu) and Naha-te (Higaonna)

Wado-Ryu Karate

  • Founding Year: 1939
  • Founder: Hironori Otsuka
  • Global Rank: #5
  • Estimated Students: ~5 Million
  • Lineage / Influences: Fusion of Shotokan Karate with Shindo Yoshin-Ryu Jujutsu

Shorin-Ryu Karate

  • Founding Year: 1920s
  • Founder: Choshin Chibana
  • Global Rank: #6
  • Estimated Students: ~3 Million
  • Lineage / Influences: Direct descendant of Shuri-te, speed and linear strikes

Uechi-Ryu Karate

  • Founding Year: 1910
  • Founder: Kanbun Uechi
  • Global Rank: #7
  • Estimated Students: ~2 Million
  • Lineage / Influences: Influenced by Chinese Southern Shaolin styles (Pangai-noon)

Isshin-Ryu Karate

  • Founding Year: 1956
  • Founder: Tatsuo Shimabuku
  • Global Rank: #8
  • Estimated Students: ~1.5 Million
  • Lineage / Influences: Blend of Shorin-Ryu and Goju-Ryu, vertical fist innovation

Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate

  • Founding Year: 1947
  • Founder: Shoshin Nagamine
  • Global Rank: #9
  • Estimated Students: ~1 Million
  • Lineage / Influences: Branch of Shorin-Ryu, integrates Shuri-te and Tomari-te kata

Chito-Ryu Karate

  • Founding Year: 1946
  • Founder: Tsuyoshi Chitose
  • Global Rank: #9
  • Estimated Students: ~1 Million
  • Lineage / Influences: Influenced by Shuri-te and Chinese martial arts

Shudokan Karate

  • Founding Year: 1930s
  • Founder: Kanken Toyama
  • Global Rank: #10
  • Estimated Students: ~800 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Rooted in Shuri-te, Toyama’s adaptations from Chinese arts

Shotokai Karate

  • Founding Year: 1950s
  • Founder: Shigeru Egami
  • Global Rank: #11
  • Estimated Students: ~700 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Continuation of Funakoshi’s teachings, fluidity over competition

Ryuei-Ryu Karate

  • Founding Year: 1970s
  • Founder: Nakaima Kenko
  • Global Rank: #12
  • Estimated Students: ~500 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Derived from Naha-te, Chinese family martial traditions

Shindo Jinen-Ryu Karate

  • Founding Year: 1933
  • Founder: Yasuhiro Konishi
  • Global Rank: #12
  • Estimated Students: ~500 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Blend of Shotokan, Shito-Ryu, and Jujutsu principles

Shorinkan Karate

  • Founding Year: 1975
  • Founder: Nakazato Shugoro
  • Global Rank: #13
  • Estimated Students: ~400 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Branch of Shorin-Ryu, Nakazato’s lineage

Motobu-Ryu Karate

  • Founding Year: Early 1900s
  • Founder: Choki Motobu
  • Global Rank: #14
  • Estimated Students: ~300 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Based on Motobu family techniques, practical self-defense

Matsumura Seito Karate

  • Founding Year: 1956
  • Founder: Hohan Soken
  • Global Rank: #14
  • Estimated Students: ~300 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Descendant of Matsumura family Shuri-te

Gensei-Ryu Karate

  • Founding Year: 1953
  • Founder: Seiken Shukumine
  • Global Rank: #14
  • Estimated Students: ~300 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Created by Shukumine, blending Karate with innovative tactics

Shorin-Ryu Matsumura Orthodox

  • Founding Year: 1956
  • Founder: Hohan Soken
  • Global Rank: #14
  • Estimated Students: ~300 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Matsumura family’s orthodox Shuri-te

Shorin-Ryu Shorinji

  • Founding Year: 1940s
  • Founder: Kori Hisataka
  • Global Rank: #14
  • Estimated Students: ~300 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Blend of Shorin-Ryu and Shaolin influences

Shorinji-Ryu Karate

  • Founding Year: 1940s
  • Founder: Kori Hisataka
  • Global Rank: #14
  • Estimated Students: ~300 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Blend of Shuri-te and Chinese Shaolin influences

Toon-Ryu Karate

  • Founding Year: 1930s
  • Founder: Juhatsu Kyoda
  • Global Rank: #15
  • Estimated Students: ~200 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Rooted in Naha-te, preserves older kata

Seibukan Karate

  • Founding Year: 1960s
  • Founder: Zenryo Shimabukuro
  • Global Rank: #15
  • Estimated Students: ~200 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Shorin-Ryu lineage, Shimabukuro family tradition

Shorin-Ryu Shorin-kan

  • Founding Year: 1975
  • Founder: Shugoro Nakazato
  • Global Rank: #15
  • Estimated Students: ~200 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Shorin-Ryu branch, Nakazato Shugoro’s lineage

Okinawa Kenpo Karate

  • Founding Year: 1953
  • Founder: Shigeru Nakamura
  • Global Rank: #15
  • Estimated Students: ~200 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Blend of Shuri-te and Naha-te, Nakamura’s system

Shorin-Ryu Kyudokan

  • Founding Year: 1940s
  • Founder: Yuchoku Higa
  • Global Rank: #15
  • Estimated Students: ~200 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Shorin-Ryu branch, Yuchoku Higa’s lineage

Shobayashi Shorin-Ryu

  • Founding Year: 1940s
  • Founder: Eizo Shimabukuro
  • Global Rank: #15
  • Estimated Students: ~200 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Shorin-Ryu branch, Eizo Shimabukuro’s lineage

Hayashi-ha Shito-Ryu

  • Founding Year: 1940s
  • Founder: Teruo Hayashi
  • Global Rank: #15
  • Estimated Students: ~200 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Shito-Ryu branch, Teruo Hayashi’s adaptations

Itosu-Kai Karate

  • Founding Year: 1930s
  • Founder: Shobayashi lineage
  • Global Rank: #15
  • Estimated Students: ~200 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Shito-Ryu branch, honoring Anko Itosu’s Shuri-te lineage

Shorin-Ryu Shubukan

  • Founding Year: 1948
  • Founder: Katsuya Miyahira
  • Global Rank: #15
  • Estimated Students: ~200 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Shorin-Ryu branch, Miyahira’s lineage

Shorin-Ryu Shorin-kan

  • Founding Year: 1975
  • Founder: Shugoro Nakazato
  • Global Rank: #15
  • Estimated Students: ~200 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Shorin-Ryu branch, Nakazato Shugoro’s system

Seigokan Goju-Ryu

  • Founding Year: 1945
  • Founder: Seigo Tada
  • Global Rank: #15
  • Estimated Students: ~200 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Goju-Ryu branch, Seigo Tada’s adaptations

Shimbukan Karate

  • Founding Year: 1950s
  • Founder: Zenpo Shimabukuro
  • Global Rank: #16
  • Estimated Students: ~100 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Shorin-Ryu branch, Shimabukuro family

Seishin-Kai Karate

  • Founding Year: 1940s
  • Founder: Kenei Mabuni
  • Global Rank: #16
  • Estimated Students: ~100 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Shito-Ryu branch, Mabuni family continuation

Shorin-Ryu Seidokan

  • Founding Year: 1960s
  • Founder: Shian Toma
  • Global Rank: #16
  • Estimated Students: ~100 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Shorin-Ryu branch, Shian Toma’s adaptations

Shorin-Ryu Shobukan

  • Founding Year: 1950s
  • Founder: Nakazato Joen
  • Global Rank: #16
  • Estimated Students: ~100 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Shorin-Ryu branch, Nakazato Joen’s lineage

Shorin-Ryu Shorin-do

  • Founding Year: 1960s
  • Founder: Okinawan masters
  • Global Rank: #16
  • Estimated Students: ~100 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Okinawan Shorin-Ryu branch, modern adaptations

Shorin-Ryu Shorin-do

  • Founding Year: 1960s
  • Founder: Various Okinawan masters
  • Global Rank: #16
  • Estimated Students: ~100 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Okinawan Shorin-Ryu branch

Shorin-Ryu Shorinji

  • Founding Year: 1940s
  • Founder: Kori Hisataka
  • Global Rank: #17
  • Estimated Students: Less than 100 Thousand
  • Lineage / Influences: Shaolin-influenced Shorin-Ryu branch

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