Shorin-ryu
少林流
Shorin-ryu (少林流, "Shaolin style") is one of the original Okinawan karate styles, preserving techniques closer to the art's Chinese roots. It uses natural, upright stances — shizen-dachi (自然立ち) — and emphasizes speed and agility over raw power.
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Shorin-ryu connects you to the original Okinawan karate tradition — te (手, "hand"). Its natural stances and speed-based technique — including tuidi (取手, grappling) hidden in kata — are practical and accessible for all body types.
At a Glance
Who It's For
What You'll Learn
Natural upright stances for mobile, agile fighting
Fast hand techniques including rapid-fire combinations
Classical Okinawan kata preserving Chinese martial arts roots
Body shifting (tai sabaki) for evasive defense
Tuidi (grappling) applications hidden within kata
Your First Class
Wear a gi. Expect basic punches, blocks, and kicks from natural stances, and a focus on proper breathing and body mechanics. Classes run 45-60 minutes.
Watch & Learn
Legends of Shorin-ryu
Anko Itosu (糸洲安恒)
Anko Itosu, known as the "Grandfather of Modern Karate," transformed the art from a secretive fighting method into a system suitable for public education. By introducing karate into Okinawan schools and creating the Pinan kata series, he made the art accessible to a broad audience. His students Gichin Funakoshi and Kenwa Mabuni went on to found Shotokan and Shito-ryu respectively, making Itosu the common ancestor of most modern karate.
Gichin Funakoshi (船越義珍)
Gichin Funakoshi is widely regarded as the father of modern Karate. He brought the Okinawan art to mainland Japan in the early 20th century, transforming it from a regional self-defense system into a globally practiced martial art and sport.
Chibana Choshin
Shoshin Nagamine
Related Styles
Shotokan
Shotokan (松濤館) is the most widely practiced karate style worldwide, developed by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Yoshitaka. It emphasizes deep stances — zenkutsu-dachi (前屈立ち, front stance) — powerful linear techniques, and perfection of form through kihon (基本, basics), kata (型, forms), and kumite (組手, sparring).
Karate
Karate is a Japanese striking art that uses punches, kicks, knee strikes, and open-hand techniques. Originating in Okinawa, it emphasizes kata (型, forms), kihon (基本, basics), and kumite (組手, sparring).
Goju-ryu
Goju-ryu (剛柔流, "hard-soft style") was founded by Chojun Miyagi, combining hard — go (剛) — striking with soft — ju (柔) — circular techniques. Its signature kata Sanchin (三戦, "three battles") develops internal strength through dynamic tension breathing.
White Crane
White Crane — Bai He Quan (白鶴拳) — is a Southern Chinese martial art from Fujian province, inspired by the movements of the crane. It emphasizes evasive footwork, rapid hand strikes — he zui shou (鶴嘴手, crane-beak hand) — and the use of an opponent's force against them.
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