A Description of Goju Ryu, Kyokushin,

Shorin Ryu, & Ryuei Ryu Karate Styles

Goju Ryu

Goju Ryu (Japanese for "hard-soft style") is one of the four traditional styles of karate, featuring a combination of hard and soft techniques. It is commonly believed that the concept of combining the two extremes originated in a Chinese martial arts doctrine known as wu bei ji (pronounced bubishi in Japanese.) Goju Ryu combines hard striking attacks such as kicks and punches with softer circular techniques for blocking and controlling the opponent, including locks, grappling, take downs and throws. Major emphasis is given to breathing correctly. Goju Ryu practices methods that include body strengthening and conditioning, its basic approach to fighting (distance, stickiness, power generation, etc.), and partner drills. Goju Ryu incorporates both circular and linear movements into its curriculum.

Sanchin kata is the foundation to all other Gōjū kata, it is also the foundation of body conditioning. Sanchin kata has the simplest techniques, and yet is arguably the most difficult to master of all Gōjū kata. Sanchin is often taught as a black belt kata, yet it is simple enough to teach at the white belt level. This is often done in order to prepare the student for this kata by the time he or she reaches black belt.

Kyokushinkai

Kyokushinkai is a style of stand-up, full contact karate, founded in 1964 by Masutatsu Oyama who was born under the name Choi Yong-I. Kyokushinkai is Japanese for "the society of the ultimate truth." Kyokushin is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline and hard training. Its full contact style has had international appeal (practitioners have over the last 40+ years numbered more than 12 million)

In this form of karate the instructor and his/her students all must take part in hard sparring to prepare them for full contact fighting. Unlike some forms of karate, Kyokushin places high emphasis on full contact fighting which is done without any gloves or protective equipment. This apparent brutality is tempered somewhat by the fact that you are not allowed to use a non-kick or non-knee strike to hit your opponent in the face, thus greatly reducing the possibility of serious injury. Knees or kicks to the head and face, on the other hand, are allowed.

Technically, Kyokushin is a circular style. This is in opposition to Shotokan karate, which is considered a linear style, and closer to Goju-ryu, which is considered a circular style. Shotokan and Goju-ryu were the two styles of karate that Oyama learned before creating his own style. However, Oyama studied Shotokan for only a couple of years before he switched to Goju-ryu where he got his advanced training. This is reflected in Kyokushin where the early training closely resembles Shotokan but gradually becomes closer to the circular techniques and strategies of Goju-ryu the higher you advance in the system.

Shorin Ryu

Shorin-ryu is one of the major modern Okinawan martial arts. Said to have been founded by Sokon Matsumura during the 1800s, Shorin-ryu combines elements of the traditional Okinawan fighting styles Shuri-te and Tomari-te. Shorin-ryu is widely considered to be one of the two major modern styles of Okinawan karate, along with Goju-ryu, which is rooted in the other traditional Okinawan style, Naha-te.

Shorin-ryu is generally characterized by natural breathing, natural (narrow, high) stances, and direct, rather than circular movements (with the exception of Shorin-Ryu Kyudokan, which makes extensive use of circular movements). Shorin-ryu practitioners will say that deep stances are not important for powerful moves, and that only correct motion matters.

Ryuei Ryu

This style of karate was first introduced to Okinawa around 1875 by Norisato Nakaima. Born of wealthy parents in Kume, Okinawa, Nakaima was a good scholar and, at the age of 19, went to Fuchou, China for advanced studies in the martial arts. There a former guard to the Chinese embassies in the Ryukyu islands introduced him to a Chinese boxing teacher known as Ru Ru Ko, who also taught Sakiyama Kitoku and, according to some sources, many years later Kanryo Higashionna. Nakaima was accepted as a disciple, and, after over 7 years of training, received a certificate of graduation from the master. He was trained in a variety of arts and skills ranging from physical combative techniques to Chinese medicine and herbal healing remedies. Just before leaving China, Nakaima traveled to the Fujian, Canton, and Beijing areas, where he collected a number of weapons and scrolls to bring back home with him.

Back in Okinawa, Nakaima passed this Chinese boxing style in secret to his son Kenchu Nakaima, who then went on to teach it only to his son, Kenko Nakaima (founder of the Ryuei Ryu Karate and Kobudo Preservation Society. In 1971, at the age of 60, Kenko Nakaima realized that there was no longer a need to keep his family's fighting system a secret, and so, with some hesitation, he took on a group of twenty school teachers as karate students, it was at this point the name "Ryuei Ryu" was first used to describe the art.

Ryuei Ryu has 11 kata in it’s curriculum and incorporates extensive weapons training. There are relatively few schools of the Ryuei Ryu outside of Japan. One group, the Okinawa Ryuei Ryu Karate Kobudo Ryuhokai, is led by Tomohiro Arashiro of California. Arashiro Sensei teaches a very popular sport based version of the art, modified simply for competitive situations only by Tsuguo Sakumoto, a former student of Kenko Nakaima.

Luis Santana

Triangle’s Best Karate

March, 2008

Characteristics of Gojo Ryu, Kyokushinkai, Shorin Ryu and Ryuei Ryu

Goju Ryu

Goju Ryu, the name literally translated as hard-soft karate, is a style which employs linear hard striking attacks with softer circular techniques used for blocking and manipulating opponents. Goju Ryu uses powerful stances (like those found in Shorin Ryu and Shotokan), such as sanchin, with lower stances being a more recent addition. This transformation is similar to the change in Shotokan stances from Gichin Funakoshi (higher) to lower stances introduced by Funakoshi’s son Gigo.

Goju Ryu was founded by Chojun Miyagi, who was a student Kanryo Higaonna whose style (Naha-te) of karate was derived from several Chinese influences including Wushu and kempo. Naha-te, and thus Goju Ryu, share a lineage based on influence from the White Crane style, from which the circular movements and fast strikes are taken, and from the Tiger style, which focuses on strong linear attacks and attacks to vital points (kyoshu-jitsu). In addition to these, Goju also incorporates traditional Okinawan fighting (tuite) which includes grappling, throwing, sweeping and other close-in techniques.

Correct breathing is a major aspect of Gojo Ryu. Breathing in is said to be “soft” while breathing out is said to be “hard”. Body strengthening (isometrics) is also very important in this style, for the hard attacks as well as for strong stances for close-in grappling techniques.

Kata in the Goju Ryu style is broken up into 3 traditional categories, kihongata for teaching basic techniques, heishugata for learning the fundamentals of movements and principles, and kaishugata which focuses on “combat application”. This breakdown of the kata into groups is similar to how kata is taught in Shotokan, with the basic katas being taught to beginners (6), intermediate katas taught to those just under shodan (9), and the last 15 kata for the advanced karate-ka. Along with all the kata training bunkai oyo (analysis and interpretation of kata movements) is stressed, and the karate-ka perform multi-person drills based on the bunkai analysis, which helps to reveal techniques-within-techniques.

Free sparring or kumite is not a major aspect of Goju Ryu, instead more focus is applied to kata and bunkai. Shotokan follows a similar path in its approach to kumite, where free sparring is performed by black belts after gaining a good understanding of kata and having a solid basis in kihon.

Kyokushinkai Ryu

Kyokushinkai is a very disciplined and hard training style that has it roots from many different styles of karate (Shotokan and Goju Ryu) as well as judo and jujitsu. The ryu name means “ultimate truth” which is why this style focuses its training (and competition) on full contact. It is the belief of this system that realistic combat and physical toughness are the way to properly train and learn karate.

Founded by Masutatsu Oyama in 1964, this style has, in its many derived forms, amassed a huge following, much due to the full-contact nature. The techniques employed in this style are more circular in nature as a result of Oyama spending more time learning Goju Ryu (from So Nei Chu and Gogen Yamaguchi) versus Shotokan (from Gichin Funakoshi). Like most other karate styles, Kyokushinkai emphasizes kihon, kata and kumite.

Kihon in Kyokushinkai is based on the movements and techniques found in the Shotokan and Goju styles, as well as boxing and kick-boxing. Linear techniques are taught first, representative of the Shotokan influence. Circular techniques are learned later after the karate-ka has become more advanced, this stemming from the extensive training Oymana had in the Goju Ryu style. Training is done in a full-contact manner, without protective equipment. This is to ensure the practitioner be fully conditioned before performing kumite.

There are three major groups of kata in the traditional Kyokushinkai system. The Northern style katas have their origins in Shotokan karate, these are the more basic kata taught to the lower ranks. This is most likely due to Oyama only training with Funakoshi for a couple of years. The Southern style katas have their origins in the Goju Ryu style, and are taught to the higher ranks. Oyama reached the level of 8^th dan in the Goju Ryu style under the instruction of So Nei Chu. The third type is something Oyama developed called Ura Kata, which has the karate-ka use spinning movements for advancing and retreating instead of linear stepping. This was done to improve balance and multi-directional combat skills.

Kyokushinkai practices full-contact kumite without any protective gear, commonly resulting in injuries during training and competitions. Within the dojo, traditional Shotokan schools do not use protective gear when training kumite; however, control of techniques is expected, thus limiting the possibilities of injuries. In competition kumite Shotokan practitioners use only hand gear and mouth pieces (and helmets and groin cups for youths). Sparring is an important part of Kyokushinkai training as it is used to train the use of different techniques in a fighting situation. Full-contact sparring in Kyokushin is considered the ultimate test of strength, endurance, and spirit. A special tradition (test) within Kyokushinkai is the 50- or 100-man kumite, which is a test of an advanced student to fight 50 to 100 opponents in rapid succession.

Shorin Ryu

Shorin Ryu, which is based on Shuri-te and Tomari-te, along with Goju Ryu, which is based on Naha-te, are considered to be the two major styles of Okinawan karate. The Shorin Ryu style was a major influence on modern karate, with many of its primary elements incorporated into other modern styles. Shorin Ryu is meant to be a “natural style”, not “hard” like Goju Ryu.

Sokon Matsumura is typically referred to as the founder of the Shorin Ryu style, and he is attributed with unifying the traditional Okinawan fighting style and Chinese martial arts. In his youth Matsumura was a student of Kanga Sukagawa (5 years) and later on traveled in China learning different Chinese fighting styles. Two of Matsumura’s best known students were Anko Itosu and Anko Azato. Itosu and Azato trained many famous students, including Gichin Funakoshi, who later developed the Shotokan style based on a simpler form of the styles taught by these two teachers.

Shorin Ryu, while having a direct Chinese influence, has more linear or direct movements rather than circlular. Typical of this style is high, narrow stances, believing that correct motion matters more for application than low stances. These two aspects were incorporated into the early version of Shotokan by Funakoshi, and while linear movements still prevail today, the stances have been lowered in order to better train the lower portion of the body. “Natural breathing” is another critical component of this style (Shotokan adopted this principle as well), preferred over the soft/hard breathing of other styles such as Goju Ryu, keeping with “natural” aspect of this style.

There are 13 different sets of katas in traditional Shorin Ryu, where each set may contain one or more katas. These sets are used to train the most basic movements to the most advanced. The katas of this style are used in many different styles, including Shotokan though with different names and different emphasis.

In more modern US Shorin Ryu schools only 19 of the traditional katas are performed. Jujutsu is used in the study of these kata to increase the overall effectiveness of the techniques. In addition, a training technique called “push hands” is used to improve ones awareness of distance and body position. This same drill is used in traditional Shotokan schools as well, probably stemming from Funakoshi incorporating his kendo training into Shotokan, which had a strong focus on distance and timing. For kumite training in these schools, 12 prearranged fighting routines are practiced, each with an attack, a block and a counter attack, very similar to sanbon and ippon kumite.

Ryuei Ryu

The founder of Ryuei Ryu was Norisato Nakaima, who got his start in martial arts training with a Chinese boxing instructor named Ru Ru Ko in Fuchou, China. Nakaima also trained in weapons before leaving China and heading back to Okinawa. Nakaima kept his martial arts private, teaching it only to his son Kenchu, who then taught it to his only son Kenko. It was Kenko Nakaima who decided to share his art with others in the early 1970’s.

The Ryuei Ryu style has 11 katas, including Sanchin which is virtually the same as the version from Uechi Ryu and Goju Ryu. The style is soft and supple until striking, then it becomes hard or firm, which is similar to judo and kendo. Shotokan follows a similar philosophy, staying relaxed until the moment of impact. Breathing is similar to the Goju style, with breathing in being soft, and breathing out hard, with a hiss sound. Shotokan karate focuses on a more natural breathing pattern. Ryuei Ryu also places heavy emphasis on learning Chinese weapons, up to 14 different ones.

Some of the more modern schools of Ryuei Ryu, and there are not many due to it not becoming a public ryu until relatively recently, focus on competition karate, or sport, and not on the traditional aspects. Many claim that the kata do not represent real situations, Kenko Nakaima says they just haven’t spent enough time understanding them to know how to use them.

Craig Lawton

Triangle's Best Karate

March 11, 2008

Style Research

Stratton Lobdell
Kenshusei Research Paper March 08


In researching different styles of modern karate many similarities quickly become apparent. Most, if not all, styles of hand to hand fighting can trace their roots back to a similar beginning. If one goes back for enough in written and verbal tradition the common ancestor is a Buddhist monastery in China where they practiced extreme physical feats to prepare themselves for longer meditation. These exercises had been brought to China by a monk from India.
As to the truth of this story there is unlikely to be any final resolution since so many karateka today have little real understanding of what they do and rarely look further than the surface, the superficial movements of the art they practice. As these arts have been passed down there are few who are truly capturing the fighting essence, or budo spirit of the art. The practitioners who teach by rote, repeating the same nonsense they were told by their instructor, further dilute this spirit and over the generations much has likely been lost. In looking back to the past it is important to consider the source of information and to approach all teaching with our own analytical abilities. This is not to say that all modern practitioners are lost, or that ancient monks had perfected the martial arts in 800 AD.
In fact, most of the techniques that were created and perfected centuries ago are no longer even applicable. Movements designed to counter sword and spear must now be adapted for the knife in the back alley. As guns have become more of a part of self defense the karateka has been forced to move toward tai-no-sen, anticipation and diffusion of aggression, because the human body can never be hardened to stop a bullet. I merely point out that we must consider the source of information and that in training we must break down each technique and make it applicable to our situation.
Modern karateka look to the past for inspiration and spirit but every year brings new technologies, new training methods, and new ideas. As we move forward and incorporate these new ideas into our training and into our art, we should still keep an eye on the past. Through a true understanding of the path that has led our chosen art to its current syllabus we can see the true budo spirit that the art was founded on. The styles of Goju-ryu, Kyokoshinkai, Shoren-ryu amd Ryuei-ryu have common ancestry in Okinawa.
The history of karate itself is one of cultural and social exchanges with China going back to the Tang dynasty—-hence the Korean name for karate, "Tang Soo" or "Chinese hands." Before the development of modern Karate started by Gichin Funakoshi, Okinawan karate styles generally took after the names of the towns they came from, thus "Naha-te," "Shuri-te" and "Tomari-te" were karate styles that came from the towns of Naha, Shuri and Tomari, respectively.
The late 19th century saw the great karate masters going back to China for a "martial-arts pilgrimage" of sorts. The great Chinese pugilist Liu Liu Ko ("Ryū Ryū Ko" in Japanese) in Southern China taught a handful of these Okinawan students who went on to become karate legends. One of the primary methods of this kara-te cultural exchange was through the teaching of kata.
A kata is a set of techniques organized as pre-arranged movements that simulates a fight. Okinawan kata have traditionally been used to preserve sets of techniques and fighting principles, and they have also served as the basis upon which Okinawan fighting systems are taught. In kata, each movement can be interpreted as different techniques and its applications. Kata is to be understood as a "living textbook" in which karate proper—its techniques and philosophy—is passed down. The practice of kata itself provides the practitioner a sense of structure and possibilities to use in a real fight. Bunkai, on the other hand, is the analysis—or interpretation (oyo-bunkai)—of kata movements. After the analysis of bunkai, karateka usually practice drills to ingrain the application in the muscle memory, which makes sense of sequences of movements in kata forms. Techniques-within-techniques are revealed through constant practice of kata and bunkai.
Gōjū-ryū (剛柔流), (Japanese for "hard-soft style") is one of the four traditional styles of karate, featuring a combination of hard and soft techniques. It is commonly believed that the concept of combining the two extremes originated in a Chinese martial arts doctrine known as wu bei ji (pronounced bubishi in Japanese.) Gōjū-ryū combines hard striking attacks such as kicks and punches with softer circular techniques for blocking and controlling the opponent, including locks, grappling, takedowns and throws. Major emphasis is given to breathing correctly. Gōjū-ryū practices methods that include body strengthening and conditioning, its basic approach to fighting (distance, stickiness, power generation, etc.), and partner drills. Gōjū-ryū incorporates both circular and linear movements into its curriculum. "Go" means hard; "jū" means soft. which literally means hard soft karate.
The naming of Gōjū-ryū came about more by accident than design. In 1930, numerous martial arts masters asked Chojun Miyagi’s top student, Jin’an Shinzato, while in Tokyo as to what school of martial arts he practiced. As Naha-Te had no formal name he came up with the impromptu name Hanko Ryū (Half-Hard Style). On his return to Okinawa he reported this incident to Chojun Miyagi. After much consideration Chojun Miyagi decided on the name Gōjū-ryū (hard and soft school) as a name for his style. This name he took from a line in the Bubishi (a classical Chinese text on martial arts and other subjects). This line, which appears in a poem, the Hakku Kenpo (roughly, "The eight laws of the fist"), describing the eight precepts of the martial arts, reads, “Ho wa Gōjū wa Donto su” (the way of inhaling and exhaling is hardness and softness, or everything in the universe inhales soft and exhales hard).
The development of Gōjū-ryū goes back to Kanryo Higaonna, (1853–1916), a native of Naha, Okinawa. As a teenager he trained with an Okinawan master named Arakaki Seisho. Later in life he travelled to Fuzhou in Fujian Province, China, where he studied Wushu and kempo from various teachers, primarily a kung fu master called Ryu Ryu Ko (or Liu Liu Ko, or To Ru Ko; the name is uncertain.) Some sources have identified him as Xie Zhongxiang, second generation master of Whooping Crane Kung Fu and student of Pan Yuba.
Higaonna returned to Okinawa during the middle of the Meiji Era (1868–1911) and continued in the family business of selling firewood, while teaching a new school of martial arts, distinguished by its integration of gō-no (hard) and jū-no (soft) kempo in one system. The word karate (empty hand) was not in common use at that time, and Higashionna's style was known as Naha-te. It is accepted that Chinese Nanpa Shorin-ken was the strain of kung fu that influenced this style. As such, this style and that of Uechi Ryū were built upon a similar foundation.


Gōjū-ryū founder Chōjun Miyagi.

After Higaonna's death Miyagi sailed to China and studied there for several years, returning to Naha in 1918. Many of Higaonna's students continued to train with him, including Higa Seiko (1898–1966). However, Higaonna's most senior student Juhatsu Kyoda, who studied under Higaonna one month longer than Miyagi, formed a school he called Tōon-ryū (Tōon is another way of pronouncing the Chinese characters of Higaonna's name, so Tōon-ryū means "Higaonna's style"), preserving more of Higaonna's approach to Naha-te.
From White Crane, Gōjū takes the circular movements and fast strikes. From Tiger Style, Gōjū takes the strong linear attacks and the tiger claw pinching (especially in kyusho-jitsu). Also, one of the main components and sources of Okinawan karate is the native tradition called "tuite": grappling, joint locks and breaks, throws, sweeps, which often led to ground fighting. These techniques were widely practiced in Ryūkyū's small villages and were blended with Chinese martial arts to give birth to karate. In kata, usually low stances and/or hands in chambers are the signs of a technique of this kind.
The kata taught in Gōjū-ryū are rather traditional and in most organizations are emphasized more than actual kumite (or free sparring). This emphasis in kata is also an emphasis in bunkai, the actual self-defense application of the kata movements. The self-defense approach explains why Gōjū-ryū does not emphasize free sparring and its limiting rules.
Sanchin kata is the foundation to all other Gōjū kata, it is also the foundation of body conditioning. First variation of Sanchin-kata (sanchingata dai-ichi) serves as Kihongata. Sanchin kata (三戦, サンチン) has the simplest techniques, and yet is arguably the most difficult to master of all Gōjū kata. Sanchin is often taught as a black belt kata, yet it is simple enough to teach at the white belt level. This is often done in order to prepare the student for this kata by the time he or she reaches black belt.
Only one stance is used—the sanchin (meaning "three battles") stance, from which a name of the kata is derivative now (initially it was named as Peppuren. Sanchin-dachi is a practical stance, and yet is the most difficult stance to master. The legs protect the body from sweep kicks, the thighs are to trap low kicks. According to a tai chi manual ("Zhengzi 13 postures"), the punch draws its power from the earth through the legs—the flip of the hips enables the strength of the whole body to be channeled and focused into one punch.
Properly employed, Sanchin kata follows the "hard" style of karate—all the muscles are to be flexed and tensed throughout the kata—actually making it the most strenuous kata. This type of strength training, taught for thousands of years, is only recently understood in Western science and is known as "isometric training" in bodybuilding.
In Chinese training, Sanchin kata also introduces the student to the use of "qi" (Japanese "ki") for training and fighting applications. It can be understood to be a form of "qigong" as employed in Chinese Wushu. Many western interpretations of qi/ki explain it as an enhanced understanding of internal body dynamics and muscle control through repeated and strenuous training.
In Gōjū, there are two sanchin kata: the first one, Miyagi's sanchin (or "sanchin dai ichi"), the most widely taught as initial and Kihongata, was created for such purpose by Chojun Miyagi, and has no turns so the karateka goes forward and then backwards. The second sanchin, Higaonna's sanchin (or "sanchin dai ni") is a full-version Sanchingata and is older and was taught by Higaonna Kanryo. In this kata the karateka always goes forward, but turns 180 degrees twice. Initially it was taught with open hands, as sanchin-kata still is in Uechi-ryu, but later it was also revised to closed fists by Miyagi's co-student Juhatsu Kyoda, founder of To'on-ryu, and adopted by Chojun Miyagi as well. This kata was adopted by other styles such as Isshin-ryū.
Kyokushin kaikan (極真会館, Kyokushin kaikan?) is a style of stand-up, full contact karate, founded in 1964 by Masutatsu Oyama (大山倍達, Ōyama Masutatsu?) who was born under the name Choi Yong-I (최영의). Kyokushinkai is Japanese for "the society of the ultimate truth." Kyokushin is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline and hard training. Its full contact style has had international appeal (practitioners have over the last 40+ years numbered more than 12 million[1][2][3]).
Kyokushin has influenced many of the "full-contact" schools of karate, emphasizing realistic combat, physical toughness, and practicality in its training curriculum. Many other martial arts organizations have "spun-off" from Kyokushin over the years, with some adding additional techniques, such as grappling, but continuing with the same philosophy of realistic and practical training methods.
As a young child, Oyama enjoyed fighting watching fighters studied Korean Taekkyon. In 1938, he emigrated to Japan and studied Okinawan Karate under Gichin Funakoshi, eventually gaining 2nd dan. Later, Oyama also trained under Yoshida Kotaro, a famous Daito-ryu jujutsu/Yanagi-ryu Aiki-jujutsu master, from whom he received his "Menkyo kaiden" - an older form of grade, a scroll signifying mastery, from Kotaro. This scroll is still on display at the Honbu dojo in Tokyo.
Also, upon the advice of his mentor and well-known Member of the National Diet, Matsuhei Mori, around this time the young master took his Japanese name, Masutatsu Oyama, the name he would use for the rest of his life. After World War II, Oyama began his training in Goju Ryu karate under a Korean master in Japan, So Nei Chu, who ran a dojo in Tokyo along with the renowned Goju teacher, Gogen Yamaguchi. He would finally attain 8th Dan in Goju ryu karate. Another influential master he met whilst training at the Goju school was Masahiko Kimura, the renowned champion of judo. Kimura encouraged Oyama to take up judo so that he would have an understanding of the art's powerful ground skills. Kimura introduced Oyama to the Sone Dojo in Nakano, Tokyo, where he trained regularly for four years, eventually gaining his 4th Dan.
It was after this time that Oyama first retreated into the mountains for one of his well-known solitary training periods, yamagomori. He completed two such retreats for a total of almost three years of solitary training in accord with the ascetic traditions of many of the great warriors of Japan through the centuries. During this period of isolated training, Oyama engaged in intense shugyo, or spiritual discipline.
In the early fifties, Oyama traveled to the USA, visiting 32 states and demonstrating the power of his karate against all comers.


Founder of Kyokushin Karate, Sosai Masutatsu Oyama.

In 1953, Oyama opened his own karate dojo, named "Oyama Dojo," in Tokyo but continued to travel around Japan and the world giving martial arts demonstrations, including bare-handed challenges. His first 'dojo' was a vacant lot in Mejiro, Tokyo. In 1956, Oyama moved the dojo into the ballet studio attached to the Rikkyo University. Oyama's own curriculum soon developed a reputation as a tough, intense, hard-hitting, and practical style which he named "Kyokushin" in a ceremony in 1957. As the reputation of the dojo grew, students were attracted to come to train there from Japan and beyond and numbers grew.
In 1964, Oyama moved the dojo into a building he refurbished not far from the ballet studio at Rikkyo. Oyama also formally founded the "International Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan" (commonly abbreviated to IKO or IKOK), to organize the many schools that were by then teaching the Kyokushin style. This dojo at 3-3-9 Nishi-Ikebukuro, in the Toshima area of Tokyo, remains the world headquarters to this day.
After formally establishing the Kyokushinkaikan, Oyama directed the organization through a period of expansion. Oyama hand-picked instructors who displayed ability in marketing the style and gaining new members. Oyama would choose an instructor to open a dojo in another town or city in Japan. The instructor would move to that town and usually demonstrate his karate skills in public places, such as at the civic gymnasium, the local police gym (where many judo students would practice), a local park, or conduct martial arts demonstrations at local festivals or school events. In this way, the instructor would soon gain students for his new dojo. After that, word of mouth would spread through the local area until the dojo had a dedicated core of students. Oyama also sent instructors to other countries such as the Netherlands (Kenji Kurosaki), Australia (Shigeo Kato), the United States of America (Tadashi Nakamura, Shigeru and Yasuhiko Oyama, Miyuki Miura) and Brazil (Seiji Isobe) to spread Kyokushin in the same way. In 1969, Oyama staged the First All Japan Full Contact Championships and in 1975, the First Open Full Contact World Karate Championships, which took Japan by storm. From that time, world championships have been held at four-yearly intervals, although under the current confusion of self-proclaimed representative organizations, there are up to five so-called "world championships" claiming to represent Kyokushin.
Upon Oyama's death, the International Karate Organization (IKO) splintered into several groups, primarily due to conflict over who would succeed Oyama as Chairman and the future structure and philosophy of the organization. Currently, the issue remains unresolved, although a series of court cases over the last 13 years appears to be coming to an end with a result finally due in the near future. Based on what was quickly proved to be a false and invalid will, Shokei (Akiyoshi) Matsui was named as his successor, even though Matsui was junior to many others in the IKO organization. Matsui claimed that he personally owned the intellectual rights to all Kyokushin trademarks, symbols, and even the name Kyokushin. However, the Japanese legal system consequently ruled against Matsui in this matter, returning the ownership of Oyama's intellectual property to his family.
Existing as a single organization under the leadership of the founder, Mas Oyama, the Kyokushin organization, after the Master's passing, broke down into various groups, each claiming their own authority as representing the original Honbu.
Various other organizations have stemmed from Kyokushin and teach similar techniques but go by different names. Also, numerous dojos throughout the world claim to teach a Kyokushin curriculum without formal connection to the organization. Although difficult to quantify, it is conjectured that the number of students and instructors involved in learning or teaching the style or one of its close variations around the world is significant and numbers in the millions.
Oyama's widow passed away in June 2006 after a long illness. According to the Japanese legal system the Custodian of Oyama's intellectual property and legacy is the youngest of his daughters, Kikuko (also known as Kuristina) who now operates the original IKO Honbu.
Kyokushin training consists of three main elements: technique, forms, and sparring. These are sometimes referred to as the three "K's" after the Japanese words for them: kihon (technique), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring). The Kyokushin system is based on traditional karate like Shotokan and Goju-ryu, but incorporates many elements of combat sports like boxing and kickboxing in kumite. Many techniques are not found in other styles of karate. Today, some Kyokushin fighters (like Francisco Filho and Glaube Feitosa) appear in kickboxing events like K-1, but apart from some exceptions, Kyokushin does not allow its students to appear in paid fights and remain with the style. In the past this has caused many high-ranking competitors to leave the organization, even if they continue to practice the art and skills of Kyokushin.
In this form of karate the instructor and his/her students all must take part in hard sparring to prepare them for full contact fighting. Unlike some forms of karate, Kyokushin places high emphasis on full contact fighting which is done without any gloves or protective equipment. This apparent brutality is tempered somewhat by the fact that you are not allowed to use a non-kick or non-knee strike to hit your opponent in the face, thus greatly reducing the possibility of serious injury. Knees or kicks to the head and face, on the other hand, are allowed.
In the earliest Kyokushin tournaments and training sessions bare knuckle strikes to the face were allowed but resulted in many injuries, and, thus, students who were forced to withdraw from training. Mas Oyama believed that wearing protective gloves would detract from the realism that the style emphasizes. Therefore, it was decided that hand and elbow strikes to the head and neck would no longer be allowed in training and competition. Furthermore, many governments don't allow bare knuckle strikes to the head in sanctioned martial arts competitions. The vast majority of Kyokushin organizations and "offshoot" styles today still follow this philosophy.
Technically, Kyokushin is a circular style. This is in opposition to Shotokan karate, which is considered a linear style, and closer to Goju-ryu, which is considered a circular style. Shotokan and Goju-ryu were the two styles of karate that Oyama learned before creating his own style. However, Oyama studied Shotokan for only a couple of years before he switched to Goju-ryu where he got his advanced training. This is reflected in Kyokushin where the early training closely resembles Shotokan but gradually becomes closer to the circular techniques and strategies of Goju-ryu the higher you advance in the system.
The northern kata have their origins in Shotokan karate, which Oyama learned while training under Gichin Funakoshi. The URA, or 'reverse' kata were developed by Oyama as an aid to developing balance and multi-direction combat skills. These Katas include Taikioku and Pinans as well as Shotokan’s signature kata Kanku dai.
The southern kata have their origins in Goju Ryu karate, which Oyama learned while training under So Nei Chu and Gogen Yamaguchi. Sanchin and Gekisai katas as well as Seienchin were incorporated.
The kata Garyu is not taken from traditional Okinawan karate but was created by Mas Oyama and named after the village where he was born in Korea. The kata Yantsu is also often believed to be an original Kyokushin kata but there is enough evidence to suggest it finds its roots in Okinawa before Oyama created Kyokushin.
Several kata are also done in "ura". This means that on every other step forward, the practitioner slides his back leg behind his front leg and around to the position it would have been in had he stepped forward. This in effect produces a spin on one foot.
Sparring is used to train the application of the various techniques within a fighting situation. Sparring is usually an important part of training in most Kyokushin organizations, especially at the upper levels with experienced students.
In most Kyokushin organizations, hand and elbow strikes to the head or neck are prohibited. However, kicks to the head, knee strikes, punches to the upper body, and kicks to the inner and outer leg are permitted. In some Kyokushin organizations, especially outside of a tournament environment, gloves and shin protectors are worn. Children always wear head gear to lessen the impact of any kicks to the head. Speed and control are instrumental in sparring and in a training environment it is not the intention of either practitioner to injure his opponent as much as it is to successfully execute the proper strike. Tournament fighting under knock-down rules is significantly different as the objective is to down your opponent.
Tournament competition is an important part of Kyokushin, and most Kyokushin organizations sponsor local, national, and international competitions. Kyokushin tournaments are held throughout the year on every continent in the world, but the largest are held in Japan where they are televised on Japanese television and draw crowds of thousands. Tournaments are organized as either weight category or open tournaments. The Kyokushin World Tournaments are known as the Karate Olympics.
Kyokushin culture believes that accepting a "challenge" represents a Kyokushin practitioner's commitment to the principles of the art. One way to participate in a challenge, in which a Kyokushin student tests his/her courage and desire to defeat one's adversary, is through tournament competition.
Most Kyokushin tournaments follow "knock-down" rules in which points are awarded for knocking one's opponent to the floor with kicks, punches, or sweeps. Grabbing and throwing are generally not allowed in Kyokushin tournaments. When they are, they are legal only if performed in less than a second. Hooks are usually legal if performed for a 'split second.' Arm or hand strikes to the head, face, neck or spine are usually not permitted, but kicks to the head are allowed. If, however, the opponent turns his back while the opponent is throwing a technique, there is no penalty. Outside of Japan straight kicks to the front of the knee are usually disallowed. Knock-outs do sometimes occur and minor to moderate injuries are common, but serious injuries are rare. The most common injuries are concussions, broken clavicles, and fractured limbs and sternums. Many Kyokushin tournaments follow an "open" format that allows competitors from any martial-arts style, not just Kyokushin, to enter and compete.
Shorin-ryu (小林流 (松林流, 少林流), Shōrin-ryū?) is one of the major modern Okinawan martial arts. Said to have been founded by Sokon Matsumura during the 1800s, Shorin-ryu combines elements of the traditional Okinawan fighting styles Shuri-te and Tomari-te. Shorin-ryu is widely considered to be one of the two major modern styles of Okinawan karate, along with Goju-ryu, which is rooted in the other traditional Okinawan style, Naha-te.
Sokon Matsumura was a renowned warrior of his time; bodyguard to three kings of Okinawa, he has been called the Miyamoto Musashi of Okinawa and was dubbed bushi, or warrior, by his king. However, while he is often referred to as the "founder" of Shorin-ryu, he did not invent all the components of the style, and perhaps didn't refer to it as Shorin-ryu himself. It is quite possible that he synthesized his knowledge of Okinawan arts with Chinese fighting styles that he learned on his travels and taught it as a coherent system to some eager students, who subsequently refined it, labeled it, and passed it on. Shorin is the pronunciation of the Chinese Shaolin in Hogun ("Hogen" is standard Japanese for "dialect"; the suffix "-ben" is also used, but the modern use of the word "Hogen" is current Okinawan local "slang" for Uchinanchuguchi, TFA.) The primary dialect of Okinawa (error); and ryu means "style". Therefore, Shorin-ryu ("Shaolin style" or "small pine forest") reflects the Chinese influences intrinsic to the art.
Along with being a style on its own, Shorin-ryu is also perhaps the most influential single ancestor of modern Japanese karate. One of Matsumura's best-known students, Anko (or "Ankoh") Itosu became a great practitioner and teacher of Okinawan karate and developed the five Pinan kata, which are now taught not only in Shorin-ryu, but also in a wide variety of Okinawan, Japanese and derived martial arts. It is also believed by some that the first three Pinan kata were actually developed by Matsumura and the last two by Itosu. In addition, Itosu and another student of Matsumura's named Anko Azato were among the primary influences on a fellow Okinawan named Gichin Funakoshi. Funakoshi introduced his Okinawan martial arts to mainland Japan in 1922, and in subsequent decades was instrumental in developing what he termed simply karate or karate-do into a popular Japanese martial art. The style Funakoshi taught on mainland Japan is now called Shotokan karate.
Shorin-ryu is generally characterized by natural breathing, natural (narrow, high) stances, and direct, rather than circular movements (with the exception of Shorin-Ryu Kyudokan, which makes extensive use of circular movements). Shorin-ryu practitioners will say that deep stances are not important for powerful moves, and that only correct motion matters.
There is not a known, whole system of Shorin Ryu except for Matsumura Shorin Ryu. There are many dojos who use the term however for simplicity's sake. Some of the best known schools of Shorin-ryu were started by Matsumura's students keeping with Okinawa's tradition of successorship each of Matsumura's Deshis (students) changed the name of their system when they took over, so the branches began Shobayashi-ryu, Ryukyu Hon Kenpo, Matsumura Orthodox Shorin-ryu, Seidokan, Kobayashi Shorin-ryu (Shido-kan and Shorinkan), Kyudokan, and Matsubayashi-ryu, Okinawa Kenpo, and Sukunaihayashi (Shorin-ryu Seibukan), but there are many others, most with long and distinguished histories that trace back to Matsumura and his students.
There are different sets of kata, ranging from kihon (exercise kata) to rohai (vision of the crane kata). This is a list of the main kata series studied in Shorin-ryu karate. Not all kata are practiced by all schools. In some styles of Shorin-Ryu Kihon Kata or Kihongata is taught before Fukyugata or it takes the place of Fukyugata.
Kihon series (basic form)
Fukyu series (fundamental/universal class form, also called Fukyugata)
Taikyoku series (full hearted way kata)
Naihanchi series (iron horse form)
Pinan series (peace and meditation form), (riceline form)
Channan series (valley kata, these kata are thought to have evolved into the Pinan kata)
Passai series (breakthrough form)
Kūsankū series
Ananku (southern light kata or Swallow on the beach form)
Chintō (east-fighting kata)
Chintē (east village kata)
Gojushiho (54 move kata, also called Useishi)
Rōhai (crane on rock form)
In 1924, Gichin Funakoshi adopted the Dan system from judo founder Jigoro Kano using a rank scheme with a limited set of belt colors. Other Okinawan teachers also adopted this practice. In a Kyū/Dan system, the beginner grade is a higher-numbered kyū (e.g., 9th Kyū) and progress is toward a lower-numbered Kyū. The Dan progression continues from 1st Dan (Shodan, or 'beginning dan') to the higher dan grades. Kyū-grade karateka are referred to as "color belt" or mudansha ("ones without dan"); Dan-grade karateka are referred to as yudansha (holders of dan rank). Yudansha typically wear a black belt.
Requirements of rank differ among styles, organizations, and schools. Kyū ranks stress stance, balance, and coordination. Speed and power are added at higher grades. Minimum age and time in rank are factors affecting promotion. Testing consists of demonstration of technique before a panel of examiners. Black belt testing is commonly done in a manner known as shinsa, which includes a written examination as well as demonstration of kihon, kumite, kata, and bunkai (applications of technique).
Ryuei-ryu (劉衛流, Ryūei-ryū?) is an Okinawan style of karate. It was originally a closely-guarded family style of the Nakaima family of Naha and is now one of the internationally recognized Okinawan karate styles. It is practiced in the United States, Argentina, Venezuela, Europe, and Okinawa.
This style of karate was first introduced to Okinawa around 1875 by Norisato Nakaima. Born of wealthy parents in Kume, Okinawa, Nakaima was a good scholar and, at the age of 19, went to Fuchou, China for advanced studies in the martial arts. There a former guard to the Chinese embassies in the Ryukyu islands introduced him to a Chinese boxing teacher known as Ru Ru Ko, who also taught Sakiyama Kitoku and, according to some sources, many years later Kanryo Higashionna. Nakaima was accepted as a disciple, and, after over 7 years of training, received a certificate of graduation from the master. He was trained in a variety of arts and skills ranging from physical combative techniques to Chinese medicine and herbal healing remedies. Just before leaving China, in order to further his experience in the martial arts, Nakaima traveled to the Fujian, Canton, and Beijing areas, where he collected a number of weapons and scrolls to bring back home with him.
Back in Okinawa, Nakaima passed this Chinese boxing style in secret to his son Kenchu Nakaima, who then went on to teach it only to his son, Kenko Nakaima (founder of the Ryuei Ryu Karate and Kobudo Preservation Society). In 1971, at the age of 60, Kenko Nakaima realized that in today's world there was no longer a need to keep his family's fighting system a secret, and so, with some hesitation, he took on a group of 20 school teachers as karate students. It was at this point the name "Ryuei Ryu" was first used to describe the art.
There are relatively few schools of the Ryuei Ryu outside of Japan. Currently two groups that teach Ryuei Ryu in North America. One group, the Okinawa Ryuei Ryu Karate Kobudo Ryuhokai, led by Tomohiro Arashiro of San Diego, California. Arashiro Sensei,(an Okinawan that claims to have been taught while as enrolled as a middle school student for a few years in Okinawa) teaches a very popular sport based version of the art, modified for competitive situations by Tsuguo Sakumoto, a former student of Kenko Nakaima. The other group, led by Grant Campbell Sensei of New York City (Practitioner of Oriental Medicine, World Karate Champion,& International Champion of both Kata & Full Contact Kumite), The Ryuei Ryu Karate Kobudo Association is a private organization that more closely maintains the original teachings of the Nakaima family.
Among the kata of Ryuei-ryu which are also practiced by the other styles are (サンチン, Sanchin?), Seiunchin (セーユンチン, Seiunchin?), Suparimpei (スーパーリンペイ, Suparimpei?).
Within these different styles it is easy to see similar backgrounds. Many of the styles founders shared students and even teachers. In examining these styles we see patterns which emerge between them all. Most use similar kata and by examining the differences in emphasis that have developed with each, it is possible better understand the fundamentals of our own style. Unfortunately we can not go back and watch Bushi Matsumura or Ru Ru Ko perform their kata so we must try to learn be watching the best aspects of each of their students.
As a word of caution to beginners who wish to transcend the teachings of their instructors: A good instructor has years of experience and analysis behind every technique. Although their understanding of each movement may be different from yours, it is much deeper. The challenge of karate is that there is no one “true path” and we can learn from everyone. Much of the information in this paper was found easily through internet searches and large portions of the text were lifted directly from Wikipedia. There is a wealth of information available to us today that has never been available before. We are in the unique position as modern karateka to be able to draw on hundreds of years of tradition and training to improve our own fighting art. Train in the now with all the knowledge of the past and the technology of the future.

Style Definitions

Instructor Certification Course
Feb. 16, 2008
Style Definitions

Wendy Mach


Ryuei-ryu (Style of the Nakaima family of Naha)

Explosive
Driving into
Linear and Circular
Open-handed
Percussive

Shorin-ryu (Small Pine Forest Style)

Natural breathing
Linear
Percussive
High stances

Shotokan (Hall of Shoto)

Dynamic
Percussive
Forward
Linear
Closed-handed

Goju-ryu (Hard/Soft Style)

Hardened body
Soft Circular Sticky
Hard Linear Percussive
Muchimi
Close-range

Kyokushin (To Master the Truth)

Full-contact
Realistic
Multi-directional
Circular


Ryuei-ryu

This style is characterized by LINEAR and CIRCULAR, OPEN-HAND, PERCUSSIVE techniques that are designed to GRAB AND THROW an opponent. Combinations of techniques that are unique to this style are performed EXPLOSIVELY in a forward direction always DRIVING INTO an opponent. Some techniques have simultaneous defense and attack applications. Generally the stances are NARROW and HIGH for MID-RANGE fighting, but when performing kata the hips CHANGE LEVEL between high and low stances. The training emphasis is on repetition of techniques until they can be performed without conscious effort. Tournament competition is encouraged. The signature kata of this style is Annan.


Shorin-ryu

This style is characterized by LINEAR, PERCUSSIVE techniques and NATURAL BREATHING. Natural stances are used that are NARROW and HIGH. The training emphasis is on developing strong techniques through solid basics. Emphasis is also placed on the details of kata performance so that each movement is hard, sharp, and powerful. The signature kata of this style is Seisan (Thirteen).


Shotokan

This style is characterized by DYNAMIC, LINEAR, CLOSED-HAND, PERCUSSIVE techniques that are performed EXPLOSIVELY in a FORWARD direction. Each technique is intended to end a confrontation. The training stances are LONG and LOW. When performing kata the hips REMAIN LEVEL. Fighting stances are shorter and higher for greater mobility when executing LONG-RANGE techniques. The training emphasis is on development of strong, coordinated body movement so that one technique will devastate an opponent and end a confrontation. The signature kata of this style is Kanku-dai (To View the Sky).


Goju-ryu

This style is characterized by the development of a HARDENED, RESILIENT body that can absorb attacking techniques allowing the practitioner to continue and defeat the opponent. Soft (STICKY) CIRCULAR blocks facilitate grabbing the opponent, followed by successive, hard (PERCUSSIVE) LINEAR attacks that are intended to end the confrontation. HIGH stances are used to facilitate CLOSE-RANGE fighting. Breathing exercises are practiced during the performance of the kata Sanchin in order to focus the breath in the lower abdomen making the stance and posture more stable. Techniques are performed slowly with heavy, sticky hands (MUCHIMI) as in isometric training. The training emphasis is on developing a strong, resilient body and mind so that the practitioner can withstand attacks without distraction, and can continue fighting to defeat an opponent. The signature kata of this style is Sanchin (Three battles).


Kyokushin

This style is characterized by FULL-CONTACT, MULIT-DIRECTIONAL, REALISTIC fighting techniques. STRIKING and GRAPPLING techniques are included in the style. CIRCULAR blocking techniques are intended to make contact with an opponent and immediately GRAB AND THROW him, followed by grappling (strangulation or joint-locking) groundwork techniques to IMMOBILIZE him. The training emphasis is on conditioning for full-contact, realistic fighting. Tournament competition in fighting is encouraged. The signature kata of this style is Garyu (Reclining Dragon).


Bunkai Oyo

The art of interpreting kata techniques and movements as responses to various realistic acts of physical violence such as uppercuts, grabs, and holds. These responses transform the punches, kicks, strikes, blocks, and movements of the kata into self-defense applications such as grabs, joint-locks, throws, strangulation, or other close-range fighting techniques that are intended to subdue an attacker. The response continues with as many techniques as necessary to immobilize the attacker or otherwise end the confrontation.





One word that defines each style:

Ryuei-ryu Explosive
Shorin-ryu Powerful
Shotokan Devastating
Dynamic (Masatoshi Nakayama’s definition)
Goju-ryu Muchimi
Kyokushin Intense (physical, spiritual)
Soul Spirit Karate (Masutatsu Oyama’s definition)

References:

Unante: The Secrets of Karate by John Sells

Wikipedia.org

Bugeisha magazine