Kung Fu Vs Karate. What is better and the key differences between the two

Often, people will compare Kung Fu with Karate as on paper, they both look quite similar and are known by the public. Looking closer though, there’s a lot of big differences and it’s quite clear that they’re not that alike…at least in some circumstances.

In short, Karate is a striking based martial art that focuses on punches on kicks. With Karate, there are then different styles such as Shotokan and Kyokushin and many others. Kung Fu is similar as it is an umbrella term and there are all sorts of styles that fall into it. For instance, it features Sanda that is a kind of Chinese boxing, and Shuai Jiao which is Chinese wrestling. Therefore, it’s very difficult to give a like for like comparison, as you can see there’s a lot of differences between the two.

This differs from the western viewpoint that Kung Fu is mostly striking and similar to Karate. Whilst you may call someone ignorant for this, the reality is that most western Kung Fu gyms actually train in a style very similar to Karate, so the modern comparisons in the west are somewhat justified.

In this article, we shall look at the differences between the two and what is better. As said though, trying to compare them is not an easy task!

Is karate stronger than kung fu?

This is something that doesn’t have a definitive answer. As mentioned in the introduction, comparing the two is almost impossible. Further, if we’re to compare ‘western Kung Fu’, then it’s actually very similar to Karate anyway. However, if we’re to look at all forms of Kung Fu, then arguably it’s actually more rounded compared to Karate.

In short, Kung Fu can also encompass grappling such as Shuai Jiao whereas Karate is mostly striking. Whilst Karate has a little grappling and the odd submission, it’s fair to say that for the most part it’s striking. So, if you taught both Sanda and Shuai Jiao against Karate, then Kung Fu would win in a fight.

The issue is that in modern times this is very unlikely though. You’re probably just not going to find a decent Kung Fu gym that teaches these in unison which harms the argument. Therefore, if we’re to compare the striking elements of Kung for to Karate, there’s really little in it and it’s down to personal preference in terms of what you want to learn.

In terms of physical strength, it depends on what Karate style you practice. Most styles of Kung Fu have notoriously tough strength and conditioning routines, whereas in Karate it depends on what type you train. Goju Ryu for instance has a tough conditioning regimen, whilst other Karate styles are less physically demanding.

Is karate and kung fu the same thing?

In today’s society, you could argue that the two have many similarities and the lines are blurred between the two. To re-cap, Kung Fu is a huge term that literally translates to ‘acquired skill’ which is an appropriate term to use. Karate loosely translates to ’empty hand’ which gives you an idea of how it works. Basically, almost any fighting style can fall under the umbrella of Kung Fu and it’s fair to say that it influenced all sorts of styles. However, Karate is based much more on punches and kicks.

Regardless of its origins, it’s fair to say that these days, Kung Fu and Karate are very similar. Most Kung Fu gyms will not teach grappling and focus on striking, so Karate is stylistically similar. One obvious difference is the uniform. In Karate, a kimono is worn, whereas in Kung Fu wears a different outfit that is cross between a gi and a monk’s clothing.

Which is older karate or kung fu?

In terms of age, Kung Fu is far older than Karate, and possibly directly influenced it. Karate was founded in the 17th century in Okinawa but really made a name for itself from the 1920s onwards when it reached mainland Japan. It was originally made by farmers and peasants who could not legally carry weapons so used farming implements as well as their fists.

Kung Fu is much older and was founded in the 11th century so it’s literally hundreds of years older. One issue with the history of Kung Fu is that it can be difficult to trace due to its vague roots. Remember, Kung Fu is as much a blanket term as an individual martial art, so it’s tough to pin a direct date on when Kung Fu first started.

Where is Kung Fu and Karate from?

Kung Fu originated in China and was used by the Xia Dynasty to fight effectively whilst in battle. It was also famously trained and taught by Buddhist monks who still train Kung Fu today. As for Karate, it was founded in the Japanese island of Okinawa and later spread to other parts of Japan. In short, Kung Fu is Chinese, whilst Karate is Japanese. These two countries have a particular influence in the martial arts world – as a lot of combat culture and fighting styles came from both of these parts of the world and without them, martial arts would not look the same.

Conclusion

Overall, it’s fair to say that there’s a good few differences between Karate and Kung Fu. It’s also quite tricky to realistically compare the two, as it’s a difficult task when taking into account the different styles of not just Kung Fu but also Karate. With this said, it’s unfair to compare as it’s not realistic but instead we should be celebrating both martial art styles and what they’ve bought to the world.

In conclusion, Karate and Kung Fu are two different styles, with Kung Fu having lots of different parts to it, whereas Karate is more centered on striking. These days though, Kung Fu has morphed into a similar art to Karate in some circles.

Want to learn more about Kung Fu? Check out this introductory book.