What is Kung Fu? Do they use weapons? Is it better than karate?

Answer 1

Kung Fu actually means "the skill derived from long arduous training".

However, in todays context, it is a general term to describe the various traditional chinese styles of martial arts.

Weapons?
Sure there are weapons in Kung Fu as there are in other arts. The Chinese weapon arsernal is huge and in some cases, quite creative. Weapons are seen as the extention of the hands (and in some weapons like the rope dart, the feet).
And they are not always created to counter human being. Some are used against horses.

Better than karate?
There is no such thing as a better art. Only a better martial artist.

Answer 2

Kung-fu was originally introduced by Indian monks to their Chinese counterpart. Chinese monks were very weakly and so they were also often attacked by thugs, robbers and wild animals.. So they were taught a few moves of martial arts.. later on Kung-fu was born and several styles and systems brached out of the original form. Yes, they use weapons.. Weapons are the extension of human limbs.. If you consider various aspects of martial arts then Kung-fu is one of the best, rather best of the best.. but never compare two martial art forms when fought against each.. because when martial artists use martial arts against their opponents, many factors work.. How well they were trained, how good their reflexes are, and many such aspects.. So when you compare two martial arts, always keep in mind that even a perfectly equipped martial art can never be effective if used by a novice or a not so good martial artist.. Karate was born from Kung-fu.. Some styles of karate still resemble Kung-fu in some moves but not absolutely..

Answer 3

I can not tell you much about Kung Fu because it is so broad a category. But as many people have said Karate was derived From Kung Fu. Otherwise spidertiger440 has the best answer so far so i shall expand on his answer. Karate was indeed developed in Okinawa witch is in the Ryukyu island chain south of Japan. It was a fishing and trading island, and therefore had more contact with china. Karate developed to what it is today because Japan invaded and took over Okinawa. The Samurai took away the weapons of the Okinawans, which lead to the development of what we consider weapons, from basic farming and fishing tools. Bo, Tuifa/Tonfa, Nunchucku, Sai, Eku, Tekko, Kama etc. You see breaking as part of martial arts all over the world now. Well the wood breaking and hand toughening in Okinawa had a purpose as well, to break through the lacquered armor worn by Samurai.

As for which is better. "Which bottle is best?" "The best form is no form. " You see all martial arts to their own respective job. No one style is any better than any other. You are the main factor in which will work better. It depends on you body type, your speed, your flexibility, and which style feels better and works better for you. Even Kung Fu in itself has many hundreds of styles. My advice is take as many free classes as they allow at every martial arts school in town and then make the decision on which feels best to you.

Answer 4

Kung-fu is a general term that describes the styles of martial arts that developed in China. China is a huge country with many geographical divisions. This created many sub-cultures in the country. Each sub-culture developed their native style which branched into other styles, this lead to the development of many, many different kinds of kung-fu. There are many weapons form for each style.

Karate is a form that developed in Okinawa. There was an original Okinawa style called Te. Okinawa is a small chain of island off the southern coast of Japan. Okinawa was not part of Japan; it was its own little country with people that had distinct differences from the Japanese. It was a safe harbor for many sailors. As such many things were imported there both goods and martial art styles. Kung-fu came to greatly influence Te thus leading to karate.

Kung-fu cannot be said to be better or worse than karate. First of all better is a broad term. “Better” in what way? Secondly there are hundreds of different styles of Kung-fu. Which one are you talking about?
Also, I personally believe style is not that important. Quality and frequency of training far outweigh the choice of style.

Answer 5

there is not a perfect martial art, but a devoted trainee. the origin of all official martial arts actually is from India since Body Darma taught to chinese monks some forms and exercises in order to keep fit. their body was not as trainned as their mind.......
China evolved it, japan also korea etc.
most of the martial art styles at some point they come to use weapons. it is a nessecity (though there are styles and forms that teach unarmed battle routines).
to conclude if you want to take up a martial art do not listen to others you will have to find what is the best for you and then make it the best. are you a leg person or do you use you hands more. pay attention to the way that the instructor will choose to guide you from game to real teaching.

it is an interaction..
as a personal view i respect Karate (they are very devoted) but Kung fu is more complete is more fun and demanding but it takes a lot lot lot time to master it. thus i think that it suits my preferences more. (cant say it is better.)

Answer 6

Kung Fu refers to a variety of different chinese martial arts like shaolin. Weapons are used and unlike karate there is no belt system. It is much better than karate if you master it, but finding a legitimate kung fu instructor is much harder since much of it has been watered down. Also, it takes a long time to really master.

Answer 7

Kung Fu is Chinese and Karate is Japanese. There are MANY different styles of Kung Fu so its hard to say that one is better than the other.

Answer 8

Kung Fu is an ancient Chinese martial art. There are empty-hand (no weapons) techniques and an array of weapons that can be used. Karate is a Japanese style. Karate also has both empty-hand and weapons techniques.

I am not sure what you mean by "better". Both are effective and are ancient martial arts.

Answer 9

Kung Fu is the general name given for the Chinese disciplines of the Martial Arts. Most of the Martial Arts today come from some form of it or another, whether it's japanese Korean, Taiwanese etc.

It isn't better than Karate, nor is Karate better than any other Martial Art, because they are based from it.

They do use many types of weapons other than the Sai, Nunchackus, Tonfas, or Bo staff. they also us Broadswords, three sectional staffs (like the Nunchakus, it has a chain connecting the three pieces together.)

It is a good Martial Art to study, and it can be learned to execute with excellent power and speed if trained in the proper manner, and assuming you stick with it.

there are many Chinese Martial Arts to choose from such as Wu Shu, Jeet Kune Do, Wing Chun, the Shaolin fighting Arts, etc.

Karate, Judo, Aikido, (all are Japanese Martial Arts ), Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, and Hwarang Do (Korean Martial Arts) are all based from the Chinese Martial Arts.

Jujitsu is based from Judo, as well as Hapkido (based form Judo and Aikido, but also has striking borrowed from the Chinese Martial Arts.)

the only "Martial Art" that is not based from the Chinese Arts, is Capoeira (which is Brazilian. Jujitsu is also brazilian depending on the teacher, or where they learned it from, Gracie Jujitsu is a Brazilian Martial Art and is well known here in the west among the Martial Arts circles.) which the Brazilian slaves developed to look like a dance so their traders couldn't tell that they were learning to defend themselves as they were not allowed to.

I hope this helped out in what you may have been looking for.

Answer 10

Kung Fu is another type of martial art with a different discipline.
While they can use just about anything within reach as a weapon, the favorite one is their mind. It is not an attack discipline, but rather a defensive one... but very effective.