Chinese Kung Fu (GungFu) is as varied in style and character as China is geographically. These other names have also been used as names for China’s martial arts: Guoji (National Skill), guoshu (National Art), Wushu (War Art), zhongguoquan (China Fist), quanfa (the Way of the Fist), and quanshu (Fist Art).
Generally, the styles of martial art in the North (aka Northern Fist) involve more kicking. The so-called Southern styles focus more on close range fighting techniques using the hands, etc.
Most arts are generalized into two categories: Hard and Soft. These are also known as External and Internal. External martial arts are said to focus primarily on physical strength and conditioning, improving the practicioner’s power from the outside of the body. Internal martial arts are said to improve the practicioner’s power and skill from the inside out – improving their organs and structure first.
Most Chinese martial arts fall somewhere between the two extremes, and cannot be held as one or the other extreme.