Shito-ryu basically is a combination of Shotokan and Goju-ryu. 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 katas like Naifanchin and Bassai, the hard and soft Naha-te katas like Sanchin and Kururunfa, and the artistic Chinese white crane katas 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 katas, all the sixteen Shorei-ryu katas, the Chinese white crane katas, plus the katas devised by Master Mabuni himself from his broad knowledge and experiences, a total of more than sixty katas (depending on the organization).
Moreover, the special charateristic of Shito-ryu which distinguish it from other school is that, Shito-ryu lives together with Kobudo (weapon arts) and sometimes Iaido (sword arts). The Kihon, Kumite, Karate katas, Kobudo Katas, Iaido katas 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.