Which is better?...?

Karate or Kung Fu?


I can't decide which one to learn. I just kinda want to learn one of them. So if anyone could help it would be great and thanks anyway.

Which is better?...?
No art is really superior to the other. The best art is one you enjoy doing and will continue to practice for the rest of your life
Reply:I would vote for Kung Fu, although finding a instructor who is skilled will be alot trickier than finding a karate instructor. There are many more forms to master in Kung Fu, and much more mental training as well. As far as martial arts go, I believe that Kung Fu is superior.
Reply:Learn jiu jitsu or Muay tai. They are much more effective than karate or kung fu
Reply:I'd go with kung fu, learning an internal art teaches you things that will improve every aspect of fighting. even if you happen to be large.
Reply:it depends what kinda person you are if you are a hard person and hit well take karate and if you are soft and have a good touch take kung fu
Reply:Out of the two I would choose kung fu since it is older, and I would enjoy learning its origins. karate is much more common and would probably be easier to find a class to join.
Reply:Neither art is superior. It depends on the fighter. If you really want to be a great fighter learn one and then the other.





Karate is more rigid. Kung Fu tends to be more fluid. Both are useful tools. You know what they say, "Power beats finesse and finesse beats power." Start with the one that most appeals to you, then move on to the next.
Reply:Why do people keep saying that all arts are equal??? THEY AREN'T. Let me try to explain to you thick headed people.





Muay Thai has been tested in the ring for many years and has proven itself to be a deadly striking art. According to you people, this martial art is equal to the one I just created, we'll call it benjitsu. In benjitsu, there is only one move, the knee-headbutt, in which you ram your face into your opponents knee. All martial arts were not created equal!





Karate and Kung Fu in general are mostly bullshido, with a couple exceptions. Kyokushin karate is pretty good, and there are a couple respected styles of kung fu as well. Just don't sign up for something ridiculous, like 5 animal praying mantis hidden dragon kung fu.





Go watch the classes. Heres some things to look out for.





Instructor has a billion billionth degree blackbelts = BAD


Medium/full contact sparring = NECESSARY, do NOT go to a school that doesn't include this!!!


Self defense techniques based on the wrist grab/lunge punch = BAD, no one actually fights like this.


Ground fighting incorporated = GOOD, NECESSARY if you do not cross train.


Anti-grapple = BAD BAD BAD!!! anti-grapple is a failed attempt at teaching ground fighting. example: "see in 9 claw monkey kung fu, we don't need ground fighting, because we will just gauge their eyes out when they are holding us over their head" there are no easy tricks that will save you from the ground game.


Instructor or majority of students are fat = BAD, athleticism is required to fight, and if all the students are fat, they aren't training properly.


Chi = BAD BAD BAD. you can't houduken people in the street, do not go to any school that wants you to throw chiballs at your opponents.





Ok I think thats about it, good luck!
Reply:It would depend more on the school then on the style.
Reply:I agree with Samurai2717........Choose the art that best fits you, and that you enjoy doing most. Efficiency in any art depends largely on the individual, the teacher, and the methods used to pass on the art. I know some bunk fighters/artists in most of the more popular arts, but on the same token, I know some excellent fighters as well. Disregard comments suggesting that one art is better than another.
Reply:Karate is more intense. Kung Fu is more spiritual
Reply:Why don't you try out a few dojos? Most will let you try a class or two before you join. Then you could see the differences between the 2. Also, you could compare instructors.... some are better than others.


Good luck.
Reply:Depends


Karate is about power and angles.


Kung Fu is about speed and balance


Go with what your best at.
Reply:ITS UP TO YOU


GO TO BOTH CLASSES AND DECIDE WHICH U FEEL MOST CONFIDENT IN AND FOCUSED ON LEARNING THE MOST,


ALSO I WOULD RECOMEND KARATE


GOOD LUCK





CHARLOTTE (14 YRS)


(2 YEARS KICKBOXING)
Reply:It's not the art, it the practitioner!





Don't select an art based on what someone else tells you, or what you hear about it. That is not important. The most important things for someone like yourself is 1) The instructor/s, 2) The school environment 3) The students 4) The schedule of classes available 5) The cost.





Check out all the schools in your area. Talk with the instructors and students. Watch a few classes. Find out when you could attend and how much it will cost. Then, based on this research, choose the instructor and school you feel most comfortable with, and the one you think you'll enjoy training at for the next six years or so :) IF you can find that, you've started your journey well.





Very few people will tough it out at a school they hate, with an instructor they don't like, or struggling to meet a class schedule that is difficult for them - no matter what the martial discipline is. Find a good fit, and it will be the best opportunity for you to excel and learn something - irrespective of the discipline.





Good luck with your search! And take your time to decide wisely.








Ken C


9th Dan HapMoosaKi-Do


8th Dan TaeKwon-Do


7th Dan YongChul-Do
Reply:ANTI GRAPPLING GOOD


A grappling style that doesn't teach counter measures to it's own technique is only half an art.You not only have to know how to enter but keep someone entering on you.Otherwise the fight will always go to the strongest not the most talented or knowledgable.


Sparring ?We spar bare knuckles medium contact .I have put more than few who tried to enter for a take down with a bare knuckle punch behind the ear in lala land.Gloves give you a false perspective.
Reply:they both do not work that well, you should try to learn MMA