Why is the film "The Karate Kid" called this when the boy learns Kung Fu?

[TeaAndSpongeCake]

It just seems a little stupid and incorrect...
To the answerer named "Boss": So...why didn't they just make the main character actually learn Karate instead.. -.-

 

[samsquanch]

80's movie......stupid? Noooooo

 

[JamaicanInNewYork]

In China,the original movie is known as The Kung Fu kid.
Only in America is it called the Karate kid

 

[slxpluvs]

Because it was made when the Japanese were taking over the world, not the Chinese. Wax on, my friend!

 

[boss]

Because no-one is going to seriously pay to watch a film named "The Kung Fu Kid" now are they?

or another reason is around that time there was a Kung Fu Panda film release and people may of accused them of copying them.