What is the main difference between all the branches of karate?

The differences come from their lineages, what they emphasize, and the number and variations of kata (empty-hand solo forms).

For example, Uechi-Ryu is a relatively "new" system that came bout when the founder trained martial arts in China. Their forms use a lot of open-hand techniques and strikes with an extended knuckle or toe. There's also a lot of "body conditioning" in the form of hardening the body to take blows. It originally had three kata, though that has been expanded over the years.

Shito-Ryu has more kata, to my knowledge, than any other karate system, including some variations of the same kata. This is because the founder wanted to catalog as many kata as he could. To this end, he studied under a number of instructors, so the "feel" of this system is very blended.

Wado-Ryu has its roots in Shotokan karate, as well as a traditional jujitsu system; its founder studied to latter for years before learning karate. As such, some of the defenses have a very "jujitsu" feel to them. The kata are mostly derived from Shotokan kata.

I could go on, but frankly, going to the main karate page on Wikipedia would giver more in-depth answers. I simply presented those as examples.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate

I don't think the punching methods are "weak". In fact, I'd say that mechanically, they're quite strong in most cases. I suppose you're referring to the reverse punch-style of punching, with the hand being brought back to the hips?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czCGwYUOxow

I think it's a bad idea for a few reasons, mostly that you're not protecting the rest of your body during the strike, but as I said, mechanically, I think it's stronger than a typical boxing or kickboxing punch. The hip is being brought into play (although I strongly disagree with leaving the rear foot flat), the fist is traveling almost the full length of the arm, the finished position is at chest level, which I think is the mechanically strongest position (after all, it's where you get the most weight on your bench press), and the rear shoulder is pulled back tremendously. I wouldn't use it in a real fight, though, because as I said, it leaves you uncovered. But as far as pure power, that's probably the strongest linear punch you can get without stepping forward.

Edit: " the reason the hand is brought back to the hip is that it represents you holding part of your opponent."

I have my doubts about this. Yes, it's a better combat application than simply standing there with your hands at your side, but if your opponent is close enough to grab like that, he's too close for you to get full extension on your punch. If that were the case, all punches would be shown as shorter shots. Since many karate systems have their roots in Chinese martial arts, I asked a group of CMA practitioners what said hand position represented. Most concurred that it was "for training". Though my experience with CMA's outside of Wing Chun is pretty limited, that statement DOES go along with what I've heard about the training methodology: that it's first and foremost about changing what your body does, with combat application (in many cases) being a secondary focus to building certain attributes. Pulling the hand back to the hip produces a stronger rotation than pulling the hand back to the chin, so this explanation DOES make sense.

"when we do reverse punch in sparring, it does not come back to the hip."

Then aren't you sparring incorrectly? If sparring is supposed to be about training our fighting techniques, why wouldn't you spar in a way that reflects that? You have an application for hikete, why don't you use it in sparring?

Karate can be divided into many different ways the first would be traditional Karate which based word being Japanese for a group of arts with roots in Okinawa which did not have a name until 1920's I would say there are two big divisions. Traditional which would be those rooted in Okinawa and Modern which would be any style which uses the name though does not have any connection with Okinawa.

Of the Traditional it can be further divided into those still found on Okinawa and those where the main organizations are on the Mainland giving the Okinawan Karate and Japanese Mainland Karate.

Okinawan styles are further divided into four families, the Naha-te, Shuri-te, Tomari-te, and others. Naha are primarily from the port region which usually included Goju Ryu and Uechi Ryu

Shuri is the Karate of the castle district usually have the "Shorin" attached to them

Tomari is from the education district which is a bit rarer Matsubayashi ryu is the main style representing this lineage (though it has many aspects of Shuri-te)

The Other category are usually family styles which are unique. Most will talk about the Ryei-Ryu

I agree with poster # 2. TKD may be a little more difficult physically, due to the flexiblilty and balance requirements for the high kicks (depending on age and athletic ability). Karate, for the most part, does not kick above the solar plexus (mid chest). As far as 'guy help', go take a class with him (or just watch a class) and show him that you are interested in what he does. As far as preparing for either, start stretching every day. 90% of martial arts training injuries are from not being stretched out and/or warmed up enough. Good Luck!

I would not even attempt to give you a detailed answer. There are to many things that are different from one style to another. And to be more accurate there are closer to 50 different recognized styles. By recognized styles I'm talking only those styles that are seen by the Okinanwans or Japanese as being legitimate styles. There are also many styles claiming to be Karate, but as far as being seen by the Okinawans and Japanese as being Legitimate they are not. Thinks like those groups that call what they do American Karate. It is offensive in a traditional sense to any one that knows what Okinawan and Japanese Karate styles have in them. The only reason someone would create or modify something and call it American Karate is because they don't know what they are missing from their own training.

All that said, I am amazed that several of the people that have answered so far even tried to explain something that is clearly way beyond any fair comparison of styles. Especially in a few paragraphs. Books Like Okinawan Karate only begin to tell the story of the main Okinawan styles. And it does not even cover the Japanese styles.

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To keep this simple the main difference between the many styles of karate or the kata. Different style use different kata. Some use the same kata but with slight variations making it different. Going to far beyond that is complicated and practically impossible sense most of us don't know every style of karate.

hip motion, the way techniques are done, linage, breathing, kata, tactics, footwork, etc.

it would take books to explain even the basic differences

callsign the reason the hand is brought back to the hip is that it represents you holding part of your opponent. its more of a representation of grappling. which people tend to forget while teaching or dont realize. when we do reverse punch in sparring, it does not come back to the hip.

the punches in not week, they can be powerful when done correctly

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have you considered it represents the end points of the technique. the place where your aiming for and not necessarily they place you will practically end up. we are taught to punch through the opponent, this does not necessarily mean your arm will be full extend at the end.

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when appropriate i do retract to the hip, during trapping/grappling that is the purpose of it. the hand goes back to the hip when you have part of your opponent in it, in sparing you and not always going be be holding your opponent when striking,

If you think that callsign then you have no understanding of the reverse punch what so ever, or of the retracting hand.

Okay... sorry this is not a direct answer to your question, although I believe it has to do with interpretation of technique that has been adapted and changed to what the "head" instructor or founder felt was more applicable in the view of the system.

@callsignfuzzy & Kokoro,

I train alongside a Senior Master in Songham TKD with over 30 years of experience, he was the youngest practitioner to be given an "Instructor" qualification at the age of 12, and was the youngest instructor to be authorized to own his own sanction training facility at the age of 16. The issue you are describing (pulling the hand back to the hip) is a FORM issue, it also helps condition the muscle groups to fully complete the movement/counter movement involved in executing a punching technique, similar to the balance and conditioning developed through form stances and footwork.

Not once, in the 9 years I have been training with him, have I ever seen him teach a student to spar from a form stance, let alone actually spar from a form stance himself. He emphasizes a distinct difference between form application and practical application.

Punches weak. lol yeah ok. what ever you think buddy. You must of been talking to the king of the trolls again.

Thanks to Bogeyman we now know the origin of the MCDOJO!

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Now you, the asker, claim that "punching methods in these styles", like Goju Ryu, are so weak...

You have obviously never been punched by a Goju Ryu practitioner. If you did, you would go right for the toilet paper to wipe your mouth after making a statement like that.

But I digress...

And since you know so much about how weak they are, you must be an authority on martial arts, having decades of training and experience.

So please - educate us!