Oldest style?
Bit of an open question but..... which karate style is the oldest? ;)

Shorin Ryu is often said to be the oldest but there is no doubt older styles, maybe Te or something. Anyone know which is the oldest known 'karate' style? Also what is the oldest known 'karate kata' I've heard that Wankan and Seisan are very old, Seisan deriving from the white crane forms. What do you think is the oldest style and kata?

You're right, the Shorin group of styles are the oldest VERIFIFABLE , Karate . They only came together in the first quarter of the 20th century, but before the middle of the 19th century, what we now call Shorin Ryu, was all there was. The style that claims to be the oldest is, Kojo Ryu, an Okinawan 'family' style. But its history is a little to suspect. In the mid 19th century other styles appeared, Naha-te and Tomari-te. Basically if you came from that town that's the Karate you did. Shorin became called Shuri-te. The difference, at this point all the Kata were unique to each style. Basically Shuri-te and Tomari-te amalgamated to form the Shorin group of styles.< note, there are a good few different Shorin Ryu's just to confuse you.> Naha-te became Goju Ryu. -Andy.