Why is the movie called Karate Kid if it is actually Kungfu?

Answer 1

The script was a re-make of the original movie called "Karate Kid" and was attempting to leverage the name of the three successful movies. And most people would not have a clue that the martial art was different.

Additionally - The term "Karate" is used in Asia, and throughout the world as a generic term for all unarmed combat, particularly the systems that focus on striking with the hands. "Karate" is more accurately defined as a Chinese Martial Art related to Kung Fu than for the hand fighting of Okinawa portrayed in the first series of "Karate Kid" movies.

Historically speaking, when the ancient hand fighting of China was brought onto the Ryukyu islands now known as Okinawa, the inhabitants of Okinawa are believed to have indigenous hand fighting called "te" (pronounced "tay"). The modern term "Okinawa-te" refers to the "hand technique of Okinawa." In order to distinguish between their refined method, and the earlier Chinese hand fighting, the Martial Artists of Okinawa used the Japanese term "Kara" (written in Chinese as 唐) which refers to anything of "ancient China" specifically during the T'ang Dynasty.

The original use of the term "Kara-te" (唐手) on the islands of Okinawa was defined as "T'ang Hand" or "China Hand." The later Korean terms "Tangsudo" or "Tang Soo Do" denoted the influence of the "China Hand" fighting in Korea ("su" meaning "hand").

Contrary to the explanation given in the first "Karate Kid" movie, it was not Miyagi's ancestor who changed the name to "empty hand." The term "Kara-te" (唐手) meaning "China Hand" already existed in Okinawa when it was brought to Tokyo, Japan by renowned expert Gichen Funakoshi. With controversy over naming a Japanese Martial Art "Kara-te" ("China Hand") several leading masters, including Funakoshi, suggested changing the first character of the Chinese script from "Tang" (唐) to "empty" (空).

Therefore, "Karate" can refer to the ancient "Tang Hand" of China with the same roots as kung fu, gong fu, or wushu, and it can also refer to the Japanese "empty hand," but technically not the "Okinawa-te." In modern times, "Karate" refers to any unarmed combat, and it is the individual school (ryu) that is attributed to a particular teacher, country, or curriculum.