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