In its appearance Shito-ryu basically can be seen as a combination of Shotokan-like and Goju-like karate. Shotokan, which came from Shorin-ryu (from Shuri-te), utilizes long linear stances and physical power and Goju-ryu, which came from Shorei-ryu (from Naha-te and Tomari-te) utilizes up and down stances and internal breathing power (hard and soft techniques). Shito-ryu adopted both principles from Shorin-ryu and Shorei-ryu. Shito-ryu is fast, but still powerful and artistic. It incorporates the powerful Shuri-te kata like Naifanchin and Bassai, the hard and soft Naha-te kata like Sanchin and Kururunfa, and the artistic Chinese white crane kata like Nipaipo and Paipuren. Shito-ryu is broad, still distinct. It emphasizes very much on Kihon (basics) at the beginning, but for a senior Shito-ryu student, quality and quantity run together. Shito-ryu contains all the eighteen Shorin-ryu kata, all the sixteen Shorei-ryu kata, the Chinese white crane kata, plus the kata devised by Master Mabuni himself from his broad knowledge and experiences, a total of more than sixty kata (depending on the organization). Moreover, the special charateristic of Shito-ryu which distinguish it from other school is that, Shito-ryu lives together with Ko-budo (weapon arts) and sometimes Iaido (sword-drawing-arts). The Kihon, Kumite, Karate kata, Ko-budo Kata, Iaido kata and the principles & messages behind them made the treasury of Shito-ryu so magnetic and demanding that Shito-ryu deserves a life-long dedication to practice and perfect.

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