How many of us can tell the difference between Kung fu and karate when we witness a fight in a movie? To the untrained eye, Kung fu and karate are precisely the same. They involve similar movements and bodily postures and look pretty similar.
Kung Fu and Karate may seem similar, but they are two fundamentally different sports and have different origins. Kung Fu originated in China while karate originated in Japan, and so the fighting techniques used in both these sports are unique to their own culture. There’s no way to determine which of these combats is better than the other since they both have unique styles and aims.
However, Kung fu generally equips you with more skills, encompasses a broader range of activities, fighting styles, and weapons, and involves spiritual training. This makes it more useful than karate in specific contexts.
To learn more about the differences between the two, keep reading ahead.
What Is The Difference Between Karate And Kung Fu?
Several factors distinguish the two.
Their Histories And Philosophies Differ
Kung Fu originated in china, typically cultivating discipline and skill and pursuing self-knowledge through martial arts techniques. Karate originated in Japan and specifically in the Ryukyuan tribe. Its purpose is to teach combat in a specific style. It focuses less on the spiritual elements.
The Fighting Techniques Involved Are Different
Kung Fu is not restricted to one fighting style. It includes multiple different forms of fighting, which include Tai Chi and Wing Chun. At the same time, karate forms its own unique but singular category of martial art.
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What Factors Make Kung Fu better than Karate?
That being said, there are several reasons why Kung Fu is superior to Karate.
Kung Fu Is More Comprehensive
Since Karate is just one style of fighting and Kung Fu is an umbrella term that teaches you a range of different fighting and self-defense techniques, Kung Fu is more comprehensive than Karate. Only 10% of Kung Fu techniques are present in Karate, but most tricks you learn during Karate will be taught to you during Kung Fu as well.
Kung Fu Also Trains The Soul As Well As The Body
The core principle of Kung Fu is to learn focus and discipline. For this reason, Kung Fu adopts Buddhist meditation techniques as well. These are advantageous for your mental health and allow you to think and concentrate better in all fields of life, including a fight.
Kung Fu Is The Deadlier Of The Two
The martial art equips you with skills such as Fajin (channeling force in shorter distances). These are absent in Karate. Kung Fu also involves training to use diverse weapons. These aspects make it more deadly and dangerous than Karate.
In Conclusion
Both these sports are complex and hard to master. Learning them will give you a great skill. They may look the same but are inherently different but if you want to learn a skill that allows you to developed physical and emotional strength, Kung Fu is the best option for you.
