The three styles of traditional Okinawa Karate
Karate was born in Okinawa in the middle century. This fact it's well known in Japan. And it has three difference styles. The names Shyurite Nahate and Tomarite from their origin areas or hometowns and it have different features, skills and forms.
Shyurite : This was a classic type and higher class samurai’s martial arts and it was influenced by Japanese martial arts too. Te means hands or martial arts in the old Okinawa dialect.
Shyuri was the capital’s name of old Okinawa Kingdom. The royal palace was called Shyuri castle. The core method of Shyurite is fast or quick action.
The typical Kata names are this. Naihanchi, Pinan, Bassai, Kusanku, Seishiyan and Chinto. It has sixty Kata forms. Naihanchi is the most basically Kata for training. It's a very important one. Pinan is for beginners and middle levels. Pinan has important elements from old classic styles. It was made by Master Itosu sensei in the end 19th century.
Nahate : Nahate, the name came from Naha city in Okinawa. It was a commerce area near Shyuri palace. Nahate was very influenced from Chinese martial arts, because the old Okinawa kingdom traded often with China.
The typical Kata names are this. Seiyunchin, Seipai, Seisan, Suparinpei Sanchin, Tenshyo, Gekisai etc. It has about twenty forms. Sanchin and Tenshyo are basic forms and very important. The core method of Nahate is powerful and a power.
Tomarite : Tomarite is a very unique style. Tomari was port city and there were a lot of difference culture from Asia. Japanese Samurai, Okinawa’s Samurai, the Chinese and other Asians natives shared information about there cultures. At last, the Tomarite style was born. It was influenced from Shyurite Nahate, Chinese martial arts, Japanese martial arts etc.
Famous Kata forms are Tomari Battsusai, Tomari Naihanchi, Tomari Rohai, Matsumora Rohai, Niiseishii etc.
At last okinawa’s old traditional Karate style came to Japan in the end of 19thcentury. We have mastered it now and we have included Japanese style too. The Japanese original Kata formes are Hougata (13 units.) and Taisabaki (5 units.) Taikyoku(3 types) and Seiryu (3 units.) These are recently practiced in Seishinryu.

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