Karate Kid Does Kung FuThe Karate Kid Does Kung Fu
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Find out why both of the fighting styles have lots of fans in Washington, D.C.
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MARTIAL ARTS
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Here's an unexpected plot twist: The remake of "the Karate Kid" isn't actually about karate. Detroit-born hero Dre (Jaden Smith) knows how to do a couple chops, but when he moves to China with his mom and finds himself in a aplayground brawl with the neighborhood bully, he realizes he needs to learn the local martial art, which is kung fu.

Many Americans -- including Dre's mom -- don't realize there's much of a difference between the two fighting styles. That's probably because in the U.S., both "karate" and "kung fu" are synonymous with beating people up, says Abdur-Rahim Muahmmad, president of the Hung Tao Choy Mei Kung Fu Leadership Institute (1351 U St. NW; 202-265-1670; Jowga.org).

"In China," he explains, "They call that 'wushu'. 'Kung Fu' is skill attained through hard work and effort." In his school, that means students don't just learn punchign and kicking, but also dragon dances, classical weaponry, culture and a moral code. "If you have fighting skills without character, you're just a gangster," adds Muhammad, echoing the reaction Jackie Chan has in the movie to the bully and his crew.

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