The oldest known style of karate is believed to be Okinawa Shorin-Ryu. It originated on Okinawa, which is part of the Ryukyu Archipelago, and is a direct descendant of Shuri-Te. The name Shuri-Te comes from Shuri Castle, the former center of the Ryukyu Kingdom. While other styles like Shōrei-ryū also have deep roots in Okinawan karate history, Shorin-Ryu is often cited as the oldest due to its lineage and the historical significance of its founder, Grandmaster Sokon Matsumura
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