Which are the major differences between Wado Ryu and Shotokan Karate ?

Question

And also do you believe that in competitions those two styles tend to be identical?

Answer 1

Alot of times they are identical..Some of the kata's they do are identical..The stances may just be different and in some cases like My dojo uses the Pinan system but does Pinan yondon, Pinan Sandan, and Pinan Godan. You may see Wado Ryu and goju-ryu use Heian Sandan and Heian godan, and all that will be different are a few of the stances instead of a back stance you will have a neko ashi datchi (cat stance).

Also I believe Shotokan uses the Tekki Kata's too instead of the Heian version. They are just about the same style except for a few variations with kata and applications. Also Shotokan is the only style of Karate I know that has alot of jumping technique.

But yes in competition alot of times they are identical they still use the same terminoligy and in a traditional tournament both styles would attend!

Answer 2

I apologize for the fan boy who posted before me. He’s a bit enthusiastic about his fan topic. Also I’m not a karateka so I’m not the best person to answer this question, but here we go. Goju ryu is a pure Okinawan group. They tend to favor solid and low stance compared to the other two and also train to harden their body to take punishments. This is the most traditional karate of the three. Shotokan is the style that made karate so popular in the first place. The founder learned two of okinawan styles and moved to the main islands of Japan and taught a new style that was a combination of the two. This style has grown since then, and is now more characterized by fast techniques and foot works that was useful in the light/no contact point sparring. The Kyokushin is the newest style of the three, and it is actually based on the first two styles. The founder first learned the Shotokan then the Goju ryu, then he went around Japan challenging different dojos to improve his skills. (not to mention the solitary training in the mountains) There are other feats too, but these are the main influences that lead to the new formation of Kyokushin. They used to have no protector full contact sparring, but they have since then changed the rules to be more safe. The characteristic of current kyokushin style is hard hitting, never giving up, and always charging forward. A good way of thinking them is Goju is like a heavy rock with sharp edges, Shotokan is like a river with a carnivore fish, and Kyokushin is like a mini hurricane that’s picked up bunch of houses on the way there.

Answer 3

The major differences are that Shotokan is straight and Wado is circular; Shotokan is hard and Wado is soft; Shotokan is simply striking, and Wado is complex body shifting, takedowns, and submissions.


'And also do you believe that in competitions those two styles tend to be identical?'
Not at al. While their Kata might look similar, their sparring is not. Shotokan is a linear,impractical, and hard style. Wado Ryu sparring is softer, more indicative of a kempo or a jujutsu ryu, as wado is often called Wado Ryu Jujitsu Kempo. Wado incorporates Shotokan's striking with Jujutsu takedowns and throws, chokes, rudimentary joint locks, and Kempo's circular speed striking.