Actually there are many styles but on that only some styles are recognised.
Mainly there some styles that recognised by WKF are SHITO RYU,SHOTO KHAN, GOJO RUY, WADO RYU.
First we will know about karate and after that we discuss about styles in karate.
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About Kata
The most popular image associated with kata is that of a karate practitioner performing a series of punches and kicks in the air. The kata are executed as a specified series of approximately 20 to 70 moves, generally with stepping and turning, while attempting to maintain perfect form. There are perhaps 100 kata across the various forms of karate, each with many minor variations. The number of moves in a kata may be referred to in the name of the kata, e.g., Gojushiho, which means One explaination of the use of kata can be looked at as a reference guide for a set of moves. Not to be used following that "set" pattern but to keep the movements "filed". After learning these kata then the practical application of this set of learned skills can be used in the sparring scenario, particularly without points the main objective is to disable your oppenent, to then find different combinations of uses of certain selected techniques. This is where the term artist comes into play by the person that is attacking or defending has to adapt to the situation to find a solution.
Kata in Judo
Judo has several kata, mostly created in the late 19th century by Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo. All but one of the judo kata involve two participants. Judo kata preserve a number of techniques that are not permitted in competition or in randori, including punches, kicks, and the use of the katana and other weapons. The study of kata is usually begun much later in judo than in karate, typically at around the brown belt level. The most commonly studied judo kata is Nage-no-kata, which consists of fifteen throwing techniques. The Katame-no-kata is composed of pinning techniques, chokes, and joint locks. Kime-no-kata is a long kata consisting of self-defense techniques against both unarmed attacks, and attacks with swords and knives.
Kata in the martial arts of other countries
In Korean martial arts such as taekwondo and tangsudo ("tang soo do"), the Korean word hyung is usually employed, though in some cases other words are used. The International taekwondo Federation uses the Korean word tul, while the World Taekwondo Federation uses the word poomsae or simply the English translations pattern or form.
In Vietnamese martial arts, e.g., vovinam viet vo dao the Vietnamese word quyen is used.
In Chinese martial arts, forms are known as taolu. Modern forms are used in wushu competitions.
In Malaysian martial arts, mainly Silat, forms with the upper body are knows as djurus, forms with the lower body are known as langkah, and forms with the whole body are known as dasar pasang.
Kumite (Sparring)
Kumite literally means "meeting of hands," and has many incarnations. Sparring may be constrained by many rules or it may be free sparring, and today is practiced both as sport and for self-defense training. Sport sparring tends to be one hit "tag" type for points. Depending on style or teacher, takedowns and grappling may be involved alongside the punching and kicking.
Dojo Kun (the karate code)
In the tradition of BushidÅ, a dojo kun is a set of guidelines for karetekas to follow both in the dojo (a room in which karate is taught) and out of the dojo, in a kareteka's everyday life.
Conditioning
Okinawan karate uses traditional conditioning equipment "hojo undo." They are simple devices, made from wood and stone, such as the makiwara (striking post) or the nigiri game (large jars used for grip strength). Strength, stamina, speed and muscle coordination are the goals of these supplementary exercises.
Sport karate values aerobic exercise, anaerobic exercise, power, agility, flexibility and stress management.
Sport
Gichin Funakoshi said "There are no contests in karate. In pre-war Okinawa, kumite was not part of karate training. Egami Shigeru relates that in 1940, some karateka were ousted from their dojo because they adopted sparring after having learned it in Tokyo.
Karate competition has three disciplines: sparring (kumite), forms kata (empty handed forms), or kobudo kata (weapons forms). Competitors may enter either as individuals or as part of a team. Evaluation for kata and kobudo is performed by a panel of judges; sparring is judged by a head referee, usually with assistant referees at the side of the sparring area. Sparring matches are often divided by weight, age, gender, and experience classes.
International competition is well organized. The World Karate Federation (WKF) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as being responsible for karate competition in the Olympic games. WKF has developed common rules governing all styles. The national WKF organisations coordinates with its respective National Olympic Committee.
Karate does not have 2012 Olympic status. In the 117th IOC Session (July 2005), karate received more than half of the votes but not the two thirds majority required to become an official Olympic sport.
There are other regional, national and international organizations that organize competition. WKF accepts only one organization per country. World Union of Karate-do Organizations (WUKO)offers that different styles and federations can join a world body, without having to compromise their style or size. In order that there are opportunities for all, WUKO accepts more than one federation or association per country.
In film and popular culture
Martial arts such as Karate spread rapidly in the West through popular culture. In 1950s popular fiction, Karate was at times described to readers in near-mythical terms and it was credible for unarmed combat experts to be shown as unaware of martial arts of this kind.By the 1970s, Martial arts films had formed a mainstream genre which propelled karate and other Asian martial arts into mass popularity.
Some well-known stars who have related styles are:
Jean Claude Van Damme - Shotokan
Fumio Demura - Shito ryu
Dolph Lundgren - Kyokushin
Sonny Chiba - Kyokushin
