What is the difference between kenpo, kungfu, and karate?

Karate is Okinawan and Japanese styles, originally Te from Okinawa brought to Japan as well as Japans Judo. It emphasizes linear movement, basically the shortest distance between two things is a straight lime and they usually stand deep in stances such as Shotokan and snap like a whip when they strike. It is an effective art.





Kung Fu is Chinese by History and many think that it may have migrated to China from India or Africa possibly, this is still debated today. It emphasizes more circular movements in that rather than go direct at your opponent you move around them. This uses more energy than Karate overall but it does not make it any less effective.





Kenpo can be either Chinese or Okinawan. The Chinese brought it to Okinawa with them. It is a blend of Chinese Kung Fu and Te basically to make it simple. It uses mostly circular but also uses linear as well and is based on 5 animals movements. They of all the Karate styles which this would be classified a form of Karate, use more open hand strikes than most other karate styles not that they don't use them they do. Just not as often.





TKD is also very much like Karate as is Tang So Do both from Korea but are similar not exact. They share some of the same history. They empasize much on kicking.





Then there are other styles such as Muhai Thai, Jui Jitsu, Goju and many other arts not mentioned.





If you are looking into joining one, make a list of the schools on your area and check them out personally and pick the one that you think is best for you!





Good Luck and I hope that helps explain some.|||they were developed in diferent places and time periods; however, all martial arts have influence each other throughout time. btw you should know...


It is not the system that makes the fighter but the fighter that makes the system. Find an Excellent trainer, trainer hard, and you may become great. some questions to ask your potential instructor...


1.Have you ever used your martial arts in a full contact competition?


2.Have any of your students ever competed in a full contact competition and how well did they do?


You don't want to learn from someone who has never used martial arts outside of the gym.|||John2054 - KENDO is what you are referring to, not "KENPO".





KENPO has almost no weapons training.





Kenpo is actually now more a American than Chinese. It is a nice martial art.





James|||techniques in self defense|||they are all selfdefense,i think the disipline that they apl in it.|||Kenpo is basically weapons training using swords, or replicar bamboo swords to make a sport out of sword-play. As opposed to Iaido which is swordplay focused on the application of razor sharp swords, and hence more deadly. It is from China originally. Shaolin Kungfu is also from China, and also uses swords to an extent, but appears to be more focused on punches and kicking and stances (Stalk, bow, horse) for example. Whereas Karate has international origins, forms and Kata. From Asia, through Europe to America. I will end by saying that spiritually I feel that Kungfu and Karate despite their distant origins seem like family in the sometimes aggressive, sometimes protective fraternity of todays martial arts world. As opposed to Kenpo which feels more like a distant cousin.