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

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.