| If you are interested in learning martial arts, you | | | | style. They can be of different colors and usually, |
| will meet several styles or systems of styles that | | | | are made of satin or other light fabrics. Shoes are |
| might pique your interest. A couple of the | | | | also typically used in kung fu. |
| systems of styles you might be interested in are | | | | When it comes to movements, you can also |
| karate and kung fu. For some people, these may | | | | easily tell the differences between the two |
| mean the same moves or principles but in reality, | | | | systems of styles. In karate, movements are |
| there are many differences between the two. | | | | more linear. You will observe practitioners doing |
| In terms of origin, the karate systems of styles | | | | strikes, kicks, and punches. This is a style of |
| come from Okinawa in Japan. Kung fu, on the | | | | fighting that is considered "hard." Power is given |
| other hand, originated in China. One easy way to | | | | the biggest importance when doing karate training. |
| tell if you are looking at someone doing kung fu | | | | Some styles under karate are kempo, shotokan, |
| or karate is to look at their attire. Karate | | | | and ishin ryu. |
| practitioners wear a white kimono top called "gi." | | | | Kung fu, on the other hand, gives emphasis to |
| This "gi" is held together by a colored belt. | | | | "soft" movements. You will notice practitioners |
| Different colors represent different levels of | | | | doing circular moves and giving priority to speed. |
| expertise in the art of karate. Typically, those | | | | Even when doing some serious damage, a |
| who do karate don't wear shoes. Kung fu | | | | practitioner will look graceful, with his or her |
| practitioners, on the other hand, wear tops with | | | | movements showing great harmony. A couple of |
| frog-style buttons. These tops are not in kimono | | | | the styles are tai chi and wing chun. |