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For some people, particularly those who are not intimate with martial arts, the question many times arises on what the divergence amid karate and kung fu is. Upon watching someone doing respective moves, the without training eye will find it hard to tell which style that person is doing. Even those who are just beginners may on occasion be confused when it comes to the dissimilar styles until further exposure to them will disclose just how dissimilar they actually are. Historically, the people living in the islands of Okinawa just south of Japan got exposed to Chinese martial arts due to the close proximity to China. Over time, the Okinawans and Japanese formulated their own styles now known as karate from the initial influence of Chinese styles. Although both utilize some similar techniques, most kung fu styles will normally have more potpourri of proficiencies equated to karate systems. It’s closely like the Japanese streamlined the number of proficiencies from Chinese schemes to develop karate. The Japanese also modified the way proficiencies are executed in karate as they became more linear. This is specially evident in the forms or katas (traditional sequence of set moves) where karate proficiencies are performed with crisp movements that have distinct stop and go motions. In kung fu forms, movements implicate the use of more circular techniques, exceptionally with the hands. These circular motions give these forms a more visually graceful look as proficiencies seem to flow from one to another. There is less stop and go with most Chinese styles. This is why a heap of martial artists, particularly in North America, oftentimes refer to 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 soft styles. The term ‘soft’ is a bit misleading because the power from circular moves is often times hidden. Circular moves may generate just as much power as linear ones found in hard styles. Most kung fu forms are also normally more complex and longer in duration than most karate forms. To most, a soft style form will look much more exotic while a karate form will look more straight forward in terms of techniques. Interestingly enough, there are karate styles such as goju which do have rather a lot of circular techniques. Kempo styles are considered a hybrid of Chinese and Okinawan proficiencies with both circular as well as linear techniques. There are also a good deal of more dissimilar styles of kung fu equated to karate. Martial arts weaponry is found in both kung fu and karate styles but dissimilar sets of weapons are employed in each system. Much like the empty hand forms, the kata with karate weapons are likewise more linear equated to those with kung fu weapons which have more circular movements. As expected, there is a lot more assortment of dissimilar Chinese 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 established schools like those in North America will concede 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 in particular inside a dojo studio, karate stylists will not wear any shoes while training. Most kung fu stylists will wear very dissimilar looking uniforms consisting of tops with Chinese ‘frog-style’ buttons rather than overlapping fronts like the karate gi top. The uniforms may be black or a potpourri of colors with many times lighter fabrics such as satin and shoes are ordinarily worn. The innovative acrobatic Chinese martial arts of wushu may feature satin uniforms with a lot of dissimilar bright colors. Many kung fu schools merely implement t-shirts and baggy pants as uniforms. Satin colored sashes are often worn to signify rank of students but this is in truth more of a North American style as most Chinese martial arts schools in Asia do not show rankings in uniforms. Overall, there’s more assortment of techniques, styles, weapons and uniforms found in the Chinese kung fu schemes equated to karate. However, that is not to say that one system or style of martial art is superior to another. They are just dissimilar and to the observer, it could come down to personal preference. Some prefer kung fu and a lot of prefer karate. Some ambitious martial artists who desire a full well rounded education exercise both styles. Most helpful customer reviews |
