Whats the difference between kung fu, martial arts, and karate?

L

lmattl

New member
Martial arts is the general term for traditional forms of Oriental self-defense or combat that utilize physical skill and coordination without weapons. Kung fu, karate, aikido, judo, jiu-jitsu, etc are just different styles with different teachings and techniques.
 
P

pugpaws2

Member
All traditional fighting arts are martial arts. It is like motorcycles. Honda, Suzuki, Harley Davidson, ....etc. are all motorcycles. Martial arts are the terms used to indicate any traditional fighting art that was or is intended for warfare hand to hand combat.
Kung-fu is a generic terms that covers at least 300-400 different styles of Chinese martial arts. Karate is a generic term meant to indicate about 50- different styles of martial arts that are from either Okinawa or Japan.


************ EDIT:
Karate is not from Japan. Karate developed in Okinawa. The Okinawans introduced Karate to the Japanese in the early 1900's.
Before that time there was no Karate in Japan. The Japanese had other martial arts. Now there are both Okinawan and Japanese styles of Karate. but as I said Karate is from Okinawa....

...
 
B

BujinkanNinja

Member
Martial arts is a general term which includes all fighting styles. Kung Fu and Karate are two different types of martial arts. Kung Fu is a Chinese martial art which is further broken down into different styles (Wing Chun Kung Fu, Eagle Claw Kung Fu, etc.). Karate is an Okinawan (Japanese) martial art which is also further broken down into different styles (Shotokan Karate, Kyokushin Karate, Goju Ryu Karate, etc.).

If you're talking about the new "Karate Kid" then its title is a bit misleading. It's called the "Karate Kid" because the people who made it wanted to go along with an already successful franchise. But in reality he is learning Kung Fu in China and not one thing in the entire movie has anything to do with Karate whatsoever. Weird, eh?
 
L

LNYBk

New member
Kung Fu is more quick and loose. You move behind your shots and you throw your shots smooth and quick.
Karate is tight and powerful. You throw hard from the hips. A karate student would take pride in a one shot finish.
 
L

luvrats

New member
Martial Arts is a term used to describe all sorts of different methods of fighting. Karate, Judo, Jujutsu, Kung Fu -- these are just a few types of martial arts.

They are all different, they come from different countries. Kung Fu is from China, Karate is from Japan.

Compare them to dances. The Tango comes from Latin America, the Jitterbug comes from the USA, the Waltz comes from Europe. They are all very different but they are all dances.
 
Top