There are four major schools (styles) of Japan Karate Do:  Shotokan, Shito-ryu, Goju-ryu and Wado-ryu.  They all belong to the Japan Karate-do Federation (JKF) which is the only Karate-do federation recognized by the Japanese government due to the high standards they promote.  In our school, we practice using JKF standards and regulations which, in turn, are used in international competition.

Each style  has different strong points and ideas about technique.  Shotokan stresses dynamic, straight movement.  Shito-ryu, quicker, angular movements for speed and power.  Goju-ryu stresses circular movements to produce power.  Wado-ryu stresses the movements of traditional jujitsu.  Each style's techniques are, of course, a result of it's history and development.

Our school's style is Shito-Ryu.   It was founded by Kenwa Mabuni (1887-1952) an Okinawan descended from the "Bushi" or warrior class.  The name Shito-Ryu was developed to honor two of Kenwa Mabuni's karate teachers, Itosu and Higashionna (the first kanji in Itosu sounds like "shi" and the first kanji in Higashionna sounds like "to" while "Ryu" means "style" or "way of doing").

Since Shito-Ryu is the style at our school, we favor the performance of smaller, quicker, angular movements for speed and power.  The repetitions of these movements not only develop the power to perform them, but also the stamina to perform them during competition or to carry out the routines of daily life.

With the Chairman of the JKF and WKF Technical Committee, Tsuyama Sensei

Today, Japan Karate-do is practiced worldwide.  Therefore, JKF requires its overseas instructors to learn more than one style.  As a result, the instructor can not only understand and tech a style other than his own but also understand and teach his own style more deeply.  Our school starts by teaching the natural movements and techniques of Shito-ryu.  Later, at intermediate and advanced levels, students learn not only advanced Shito-ryu but also Goju-ryu.