What are all the styles of Karate?

[drunkenmonkey blackbelt]

Well I was talking to my Sensie (who is a 3rd Dan Shotokan Instructer) said that she was only a purple belt in Akido style Karate and was wandering what how many styles are there what are they and what is their ranking in comparison to each other. So could any one explain this to me. Thanks.

[Jussi Häkkinen]

Akido? Not Aikido?

Aikido is not karate. It's a whole different martial art.

However, if we limit the discussion to Okinawan/Japanese karate and its spinoffs, we're talking about a couple of hundred (hmm, maybe 200) styles.

Belt and rank systems vary a lot and are very hard to compare.

[Brandon Fisher]

Let me give you a start

Japanese / Okinawan Karate-Do

Shuri Ryu

Shorei Ryu

Shorin Ryu (Kobayashi, Matsubayashi and Shobayashi Ryu, Matsumura Seito)

Goju Ryu

Goju Kai

Shotokan

Shotokai

Shito Ryu

Chito Ryu

Wado Ryu

Wado Kai

Okinawa Te (some still practice it)

Kajukenpo or Kajukenbo

Ryukyu Kempo

Matsumura Kempo

Uechi Ryu

Seibukan

Kyokushinkai

Pangai Noon

Isshin Ryu

Shudokan

Gosoku Ryu

Plus many more. I didn't list mine but it is under my name.

[parkerlineage]

There are probably as many styles of karate as there have ever been masters or people who deemed themselves masters. American Kenpo, a sixty something year old art, has so many branches and substyles, you'd think it was ancient. How much more so with other styles!

[Kieran-Lilith]

I don't think there's ever been an official count in recent years...if ever....

And as for how the ranks stack up against each other, that's a whole 'nother realm, because that doesn't go by style. That goes by individual schools. I mean, in my little town in the middle of nowhere, I think we have at least five schools, if not more. Multiply that by almost every town in America....we're talking there's no way you could ever tell how many schools there are, and no way you could measure BBs against each other unless you saw them together in person. That's how big the variances could be. After all, you could have this little 7 year old BB from the McDojo down the road measured against the BB who has trained since they were 7 and are 70 now....and they could even be from the same town.

Although, you have an awesome question. I wish I knew the answer.

[GOM]

There are no "styles" of Karate.

Karate is Karate.

There are, however, many styles of Martial Arts, but technically, there are no styles of "Karate".

[bushido_man96]

Wow, Fisher. Thems a lot of spin-offs.

[Brandon Fisher]

There are no "styles" of Karate.

Karate is Karate.

There are, however, many styles of Martial Arts, but technically, there are no styles of "Karate".

True the Ryu is nothing more then the school it is taught in.

Wow, Fisher. Thems a lot of spin-offs.

Yeah there are a lot of spinoffs.

[ShotokanKid]

Brandon Fisher-

Just curious about your style- does it have grappling as well?

[Brandon Fisher]

Brandon Fisher-

Just curious about your style- does it have grappling as well?

Yes it does in the Nidan and up ranks mainly. We do some work with grappling for the kyu ranks just on basic movement and defense. The system actually incorporates Trad. Karate, Trad. & Modern Ju Jitsu (more modern), and kobudo kata and training drills mainly unique to us.