For many
people, especially
those who are not familiar with martial arts, the question often arises
on what the difference between karate and kung fu is. Upon watching
somebody doing martial arts, the untrained eye will find it hard to
tell whether that person is doing karate or kung fu. Even those who are
beginning martial arts may sometimes be confused about the different
styles until further exposure to them will reveal just how different
they really are.
Historically,
the
people living in the islands of Okinawa just south of Japan got exposed
to Chinese kung fu martial arts due to the close proximity to China.
Over time, the Okinawans and Japanese developed their own styles of
martial arts now known as karate from the original influence of Chinese
kung fu. Although both karate and kung fu utilize many similar martial
arts techniques, most kung fu styles will usually have more variety of
techniques compared to karate systems. It’s almost like the Japanese
streamlined the number of techniques from Chinese systems to develop
karate.
The
Japanese also
modified the way techniques are executed in karate as they became more
linear compared to kung fu. This is especially evident in the forms or
katas (traditional sequence of set moves) where karate techniques are
performed with crisp movements that have distinct stop and go motions.
In
kung fu forms,
movements involve the use of more circular techniques, particularly
with the hands. These circular motions give kung fu forms a more
visually graceful look as techniques seem to flow from one to another.
There is less stop and go with most kung fu styles. This is why some
martial artists, especially in North America, often refer to Chinese
kung fu as ‘soft’ styles while karate and tae kwon do are ‘hard’ styles.
This
is not to say
that hard styles such as karate or tae
kwon do are more powerful
martial arts than kung fu and other soft styles. The term ‘soft’ is a
bit misleading because the power from circular kung fu moves is often
hidden. Circular moves can generate just as much power as linear ones
found in hard styles.
Most
kung fu forms
are also usually more complex and longer in duration than most karate
forms. To most martial artists, a kung fu form will look much more
exotic while a karate form will look more straight forward in terms of
martial arts techniques. Interestingly enough, there are karate styles
such as goju which do have quite a lot of circular techniques similar
to kung fu. Kempo styles are considered a hybrid of Chinese kung fu and
Okinawan karate techniques with both circular as well as linear
techniques. There are also many more different styles of kung fu
compared to karate.
Martial
arts weaponry
is found in both kung fu and karate styles but different sets of
weapons are utilized in each martial arts system. Much like the empty
hand forms, the kata with karate weapons are also more linear compared
to those with kung fu weapons which have more circular movements. As
expected, there is a lot more variety of different Chinese kung fu
weapons than found in the Japanese karate styles.
Traditionally,
practitioners of karate wear a white uniform called a gi which features
the overlapping kimono-like top. Less traditional schools like 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 at
instructor level ranking. Most of the time and especially inside a dojo
studio, karate stylists will not wear any shoes while training.
Most
kung fu stylists will wear a very different looking uniform. Kung fu
uniforms usually consist of tops with Chinese ‘frog-style’ buttons
rather than overlapping fronts like the karate gi top. The uniforms can
be black or a variety of colors with often lighter fabrics such as
satin and shoes are commonly worn. The modern acrobatic Chinese martial
arts of wushu can feature satin uniforms with many different bright
colors. Many kung fu schools simply utilize t-shirts and baggy pants as
uniforms. Satin colored sashes are often worn to signify rank of
students but this is actually more of a North American style as most
kung fu schools in Asia do not show rankings in uniforms.
Overall,
there’s more variety of techniques, styles, weapons and
uniforms found
in the Chinese kung fu systems compared to karate. However, that is not
to say that one system or style of martial art is superior to another.
They are just different and to the observer, it could come down to
personal preference. Some prefer kung fu and some prefer karate. Some
ambitious martial artists who desire a full well rounded education
practice both kung fu and karate.
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