Which style is softest?

[kc0bus]

I'm new to Karate and haven't started yet but was thinking about it. I've done some research on the internet about the hardess/softness of the four main styles of Karate. Here's what I've found out so far:

Shotokan is hard and external

Wado-Ryu is soft and internal

Shorin-Ryu is soft and internal

Chito-Ryu is ???

I can't seem to find out how hard or soft Chito-Ryu is. Regardless, my question is this: Of the four styles, which one is the softest of all?

Many thanks,

[Samuel]

I'd say from my small experience in Wado-Ryu it is rather soft. for example there's theres hardle any grabs in the throwin techniques, its all open and using hip power, But i dont know if thats similar to other styles, but I presume its due to Wado's Jitsu influence.

The founder of Wado saw it as an art of avoiding stikes and countering them using body movement to great advantage, he supposedly sparked up this concept during one winter while he observed the trees, the smaller rigid hardbranches that collected snow eventually snapped from all the strain.

But the large flexiable oak tree's simple bent and the snow fell off.

[Menjo]

Shotokan is hard and external

Actually, there are alot of interal training lessons in the higher levels of Shotokan. Also, the higher up, the more capable you are of using soft techniques. But in general, mostly external.

Just wanted to get that across.

[Sohan]

To clarify:

In my experience, Shorin-ryu is NOT soft and internal. It, like many Okinawan fighting arts, has elements both soft and hard, but is primarily a hard art with some softer techniques that resemble aikido and judo (ie joint manipulations, throws, and redirections). There is also a more internal aspect that is taught as one rises in Dan level.

With respect,

Sohan

[pittbullJudoka]

To clarify:

In my experience, Shorin-ryu is NOT soft and internal. It, like many Okinawan fighting arts, has elements both soft and hard, but is primarily a hard art with some softer techniques that resemble aikido and judo (ie joint manipulations, throws, and redirections). There is also a more internal aspect that is taught as one rises in Dan level.

With respect,

Sohan

I'm glad someone already set him straight on the Shorin Ryu issue

[cathal]

Chito-Ryu is a hard-soft. The founder called it half hard.

[Sensei Mark]

In all styles their can generally be found a combination of the Hard and the Soft. It is the Yin and Yang of the Martial Arts which taken as a whole allows the student a better roundness to their style.

Seeing the original topic poster referred to himself as a beginner to the study of the martial arts, maybe it would better serve your needs to firstly train for awhile and as such the answers may present themselves.

[RichardHangHong]

Aren't all four styles both hard and soft? That way, there is a balance of the two. Also, should it really matter which style is the "softest"? All are on the same journey so what does it matter if their routes are different?

Did you choose these four styles for any particular reason or are they just random choices? If you're thinking about taking up karate have a look around at some of your local dojos. It's not the style that's important, it's the instructor. If you can find a good teacher you'll do really well and learn a lot.

[RichardHangHong]

Oh, and whilst you're out and about looking around for a dojo, try your best to avoid any McDojos.

[cathal]

Oh, and whilst you're out and about looking around for a dojo, try your best to avoid any McDojos.

Always good advice.

When I was eight I practiced Shin-Shin Toitsue, a very soft style of Aikido.