Shito-Ryu guy

Overall I believe karate and kung fu to be the same. A human has only two arms, legs, etc. and you can only do so much with them. As far as different styles of karate and kung fu, for every style of kung fu you can probably find a similar style of karate. In Japan, my understanding is that there are hudreds of family styles that to this day are not taught publicly, as well as kung fu styles that are not taught publicly. The four major style of karate, once the basics are mastered, are very fluid, similar to the kung fu styles. One has to learn the practical applications of the kata from a teacher who knows them. If you were to apply the actual techniques(some of which are hidden techniques) the movements would resemble kung fu. The linear straight ahead kicking punching, etc. that you see at tournaments and in the training halls are the basic levels of karate. If you examine the higher level katas they are fluid, use circular motion, specialized breathing techniques to assist in ki(chi) developement(Similar to the internal styles of Kung Fu), etc. Most of the rigid and low stances in Japanese karate seem to have been developed to "Japanise" Okinowan Karate and to develope leg strength. If you examine Kendo, their stances are very high and fluid. The katas of okinowan Karate were altered by the Okinowans and Japanese, to one, make a distinction between Okinawa and Japan, and two, to be able to teach large numbers of people on the training floor. To see an example of the fluidity of karate, read Funakoshi's book "Karate-Do My Way Of Life" (I think that is the correct title). He describes walking along a dark road when a man comes running at him. He intentionally kicks the man in the thigh, causing him to fall into a ditch with a severely bruised thigh. Try doing that to some one running at you full speed without losing balance and with enough power to knock them down. You have to be very fluid and precise in your kicking. Funakoshi was attacked(when he was in his seventies) by a young hoodlum. He sidestepped the attack and grabbed the man by his testicles and held him until the police came. That is the essence of Karate and Kung fu summed up!