The difference between Karate and Kung Fu

For many people, especially those who are not familiar with martial arts, the question often arises as to what the difference between karate and kung fu. When watching someone do different moves the untrained eye, it's hard to say what style that person is doing. Even those who are just beginners can sometimes be confused about the different styles to further exposure to them will reveal how different they are genuine.

Historically, the inhabitants of the islands of Okinawa just south of Japan exposed to Chinese martial arts, thanks to its proximity to China. Developed over time and the Japanese encountered their own styles that is now known as karate from the original styles of Chinese influence. Although both use many similar techniques, most kung fu styles usually more variety of techniques in comparison with karate systems. It's almost like the Japanese streamlined the number of techniques from Chinese to develop systems of karate.The Japanese also the techniques in karate run as they became more linear way changed. This is particularly evident in the forms or katas (traditional sequence of set of moves) where karate techniques are performed with sharp movements that have different stop and go movements.

In kung fu forms, movements are accompanied by the use of more circular techniques, in particular with the hands. This circular movements this forms a more visually elegant in its appearance as techniques seem to flow from one to another. There is less stop and go with most Chinese styles. This is why some martial artists, especially in North America, often to kung fu styles as "soft" while karate and tae kwon do "hard" styles. This isn't to say that hard styles such as karate or tae kwon do more powerful than soft martial arts styles. The term "soft" is a bit misleading, because the power of circular moves is often hidden. Circular movements can generate as much power as linear found in hard styles. Most kung fu forms are also usually more complex and longer duration than most karate. For most, a soft style form will look much more exotic, while a karate form more straightforward in terms of techniques.Interestingly enough, there are styles such as karate goju who quite a lot of circular techniques. Kempo styles are considered to be a hybrid of Chinese and Okinawa techniques with both circular and linear techniques. There are also many more different styles of kung fu in comparison with karate.

Martial arts weapons is found in both kung fu and karate styles but different sets of weapons are used in each system. Just like the blank forms, the hand with karate kata weapons are also more linear compared to those with kung fu weapons have more circular movements. As expected, there is a lot more variety of different Chinese weapons than found in the Japanese karate styles.

Traditionally, wearing a white practitioners of karate called a gi uniform with overlapping kimono-like top. Less traditional schools such as those in North America will allow colored uniforms. A colored belt will be the finishing touch to the gi with of course the black belt for those on instructor level ranking. Most of the time and especially within a dojo studio, karate stylists will shoes not every during exercise.Most of the kung fu stylists will carry very different looking uniforms consisting of tops with Chinese frog-' style ' buttons instead of overlapping fronts such as karate gi top. the uniforms can black or a variety of colors with often lighter fabrics such as satin and shoes are usually worn. The modern acrobatic Chinese martial arts of wushu can function satin uniforms with many different bright colors. Many kung fu schools use just t-shirts and baggy pants as uniforms.Satin colored wings are often worn to indicate grade students but this is actually more of a North American style as most Chinese martial arts schools in Asia not ranking in the uniforms.

There is generally more variety of techniques, styles, weapons and found in the Chinese kung fu systems compared with karate uniforms.But that's not to say that a system or style of martial art is superior to another.They are just different, and to the observer, may come down to personal preference. some prefer kung fu and some prefer karate. some ambitious martial artists who have a well-rounded education to practice both styles.