why are there so many different style of karate?

The question is, if you have trained many different Karate systems, when you fight, which Karate system technique will you use? Will you just use the "tools" in your toolbox and your tools may come from different Karate systems?
 
The question is, if you have trained many different Karate systems, when you fight, which Karate system technique will you use? Will you just use the "tools" in your toolbox and your tools may come from different Karate systems?

Humorous, sure. But I think it actually applies.

 
Even if we started out with just one style of Karate it is inevitable that it would evolve into many different styles. As I said before, there is a martial art for every martial artist. Just as Mr Miyagi said in Karate Kid III that Karate comes from within the student. The roots come from the instructor but eventually a student will do it his own way. Mr Miyagi might be a fictional character in a fictional movie but what he said in this case is very true.
 
why can't we just all just practice the same types of martial arts instead of having a gazillion different types?
One man's nectar is another mans poison.
And there is too much variation, in the way people think and move. Some styles are better suited to some people, than any of the others.
It is confusing, but, that is how freedom of action is. In the end it picks winners and losers, just like in politics.
 
Interestingly, Gichin Funakoshi said in his autobiography that he thought there should only be "Karate" and not styles. He apparently wasn't fond of what he taught being given the moniker "Shotokan Karate".
 
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