The Difference Between Kung Fu And Karate
It's a strange thing that we would think in terms of differences when we consider and compare Kung Fu and Karate, for there are a lot of similarities
. They are both martial disciplines, after all, and karate is actually grown from kung fu. To really see the differences, however, one needs to look at the arts as a complete picture, and determine exactly how they evolved.
In the beginning, those beautiful, refined kung fu patterns were most likely constructed by peasant conscripts who were given swords and the order to fight or die. Training methods eventually made their appearance, and eventually workable routines were taught. Is it too much to consider that some of the soldiers, weary and tired of battle, would find their way to the Shaolin monastery, where art as art blossomed?
From the Shaolin Temple the arts spread across China, growing into different concepts and taking on different shapes. This was the advent of such styles as wing chun (vin tsung) kung fu, Long Fist (Choy Lee Fut, Hung Gar, and so on), and the various animal schools (mantis, monkey, dog fist, five animal, and so on). And, of course, there is some evidence that Shaolin styles evolved into soft style arts as Pa Kua Chang and Tai Chi Chuan.
This being the basic history of the matter, we can see a certain evolution of art. Hard, practical tricks tend to become softer, more flowing, and people come to understand that one's art can be workable without too much reliance on strength kung fu. Thus, the arts change from hard fists to guiding and sliding palms and turning and flowing whole body motions.
Oh, sure, occasionally you will see a flare up of good old, hard style, bop 'em on the bean kung fu. You will have Chinese boxers, full of black powder and desire, wanting to return to the good, knock 'em down ways. For the most part, however, the practitioners who preach such a return don't know better, they are often half trained, and they are overwhelmed by information from other schools of thought.
For the most part, however, you will see techniques become more polished and, eventually, making a transition to a softer, easier to work technique. Thus, hard style karate, even such as shotokan or kyokushinkai, will become more liquid, require less effort and require more intelligence. It is an interesting concept, that the hard core karate of today will transmogrify into the flowing style of shaolin kung fu tomorrow.
Or, and here's something to think about, that the extreme combat karate method of today's young turks will become the combat wudan style of tomorrow. Could that bassai dai kata and bassai sho kata of today eventually make the transition into the bassai tai chi of tomorrow? Could those young men doing their endless makiwara training eventually act like the old masters of Chen village tai chi chuan, doing their shuto uke and mae geri as if they are immersed in molasses?
This writer believes it is so, and it is inevitable. The effects of age slow men down, and the effects of wisdom make men look, and it is this combination of factors that will translate the hard into the soft, the karate into the kung fu, and the overzealous into the temperate. Now, if you'll pardon me, I have to go practice my sochin kata slow style.
by: Al Case
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