Shotokan

Shotokan is a school of karate, reflecting the style of master Gichin Funakoshi, who first brought karate from Okinawa to Japan. Shoto was Funakoshi's pen name for writing poems, while Shotokan was the name of the hall where "Shoto" trained his students. Funakoshi himself never named his style, and always referred to it simply as "karate".

Shotokan style kata are characterised by deep, long stances to provide stability and powerful movements. Strength and power are often demonstrated instead of slower, more flowing motions. The kumite techniques often mirror these stances and movements.

Shotokan karate is today the most popular style of karate, and is practiced in hundreds of dojos around the world.