Whats the difference between kung fu styles?

Like tiger style, snake style, crane style etc....|||There are dozens and dozens of various kung fu styles.





Generally speaking kung fu is divided into a %26#039;hard style%26#039; and a %26#039;soft style%26#039; and in northern China kung fu emphasizes kicks and leg techniques, while in southern China hand techniques are emphasized.





A lot of the kung fu styles emulated the motions of animals so the Crane Style had a stance on one leg while blocking with an upheld knee and striking with extended fingers like flapping wings. Tiger style emphasized powerful opened handed palm strikes with fingers, Snake style emphasized crouching low to the ground with eyestrikes.





Shaolin Kung fu, a Buddhist style, was a hard style of kung fu with strong punches and kicks; while Wudang kung fu, a Taoist style, was a soft style of kung fu with a lot of blocks and counter-strikes and counter-kicks.





http://www.wudang-kungfu.com/





http://www.chinashaolintemple.com/|||the styles were derived by watching and immitating the movements and fighting styles of various animals. You can get the general idea of what the style entails by looking at the name of the animal. Bear style will focus on power and breaking bones, tiger will rip skin and break bones, crane will focus on balance, snake will focus on quick, fluid strikes, and etc. You can research on google for more details if you%26#039;d llike, but that%26#039;s the basic gist of it.