What is the difference between shotokan karate and Goju ryu karate?

Answer 1

4th kyu in Meibukan Goju-ryu. The key to what separates Goju from numerous other styles of karate is in its name. "Goju" is made up of the Japanese words "go" (hard), and "ju" (soft), literally meaning hard-soft style karate. Hard refers to the straight/linear closed hand techniques. Soft refers to the more circular open hand techniques. The style is a combination of the two. I find it to have less kicking and more focus on "kata" (forms) than Shotokan.

Shotokan was derived in Japan based on Shorin-ryu karate from Okinawa.

Answer 2

My first style was Shotokan but then I switched to Shorin-Ki. It was more upright, quicker movements with more sidestepping that the Shotokan did not do.

In the Zen Bei Butoku Kai Our sister clubs were Goju style while we were Shorin-Ji style.

We'd often learn the same kata at the same time from the same teacher yet they came out very different!

The Goju style was slower, heavier and stressed power although they could certainly move fast if necessary.

Both the Shotokan and the Shorin-Ji was lighter and quicker, more getting off line and attacking the corners.

Shotokan is a Japanese style based on Okinawan Shorin-ryū karate. Shorin Ryu is one of the three major styles of Okinawa, the other two being Goju Ryu and Shōrei-ryū. So they all have their roots on the same island.