During the early development of Martial Arts in Okinawa the Japanese attempted (in vain) to copy the Chinese circular techniques.  Due to physical build, mental attitude to fighting, and other ethnic  diferences  a harder and more linear  technique was developed.  This was known through names such as:

NAHA TE
OKINAWAN TE 
AND   

SHURI TE   

well known
place names
in Okinawa

Ed Parker crushes incoming attack from Robert Gemmell. Note the head was raked prior to arm strike. Included in this maneuver is bicep, then elbow strike, and wrist lock.;

Naha Te, Okinawan Te, and Shuri Te, were place names on the Island of Okinawa.  Te simply means hand.  Shaolin Kempo was also known as Shorin Ryu, short for Shorinji Kempo.  The Japanese shortened the circle even further to produce a faster, snappier punch and block combination, and this became known as "KARATE" -  Japanese word meaning:

"Empty Hand".

The art changed over time.  Though many of the Chinese Kung Fu styles that evolved over the centuries favoured long range or long circular movements, not all did so.
The  Shaolin Temple,  regarded as the birth place of many of the martial arts known today, developed two main styles of fighting. One for long range known as Shaolin Chuan Chang and  one for short range,  Shaolin Chuan Fa.  Chuan Fa (Kempo) was regarded as an effective Self Defence application   against closer  range, grab, punches or holds etc.
Chuan Chang on the other hand was a highly sophisticated fighting system modelled after the movements of animals. This flowery and graceful

art  looked  very different to the close range system, in terms of small or large circles, but was still an integral part of Kempo/Kenpo.

Chuan Chang used the deeper lower stances to transfer power across the entire body, not just the area of attack and defence.  This method of fighting generally made use of larger circles more suitable for multiple attackers which required increased ground space for manoeuvring.  A combination of Shaolin Chuan Chang and Chuan Fa was considered a formidable fighting system.
I have also used the theory of the large diameter drive wheel to a smaller wheel, widely used in engineering   technology (Right)  to help visualise the transfer of power when both large and small circles are combined.

Likening this to the fighting systems we can utilise the stance for leverage and access to power source. Then directing the power through the waist, we can reduce the circle diameter at the point of impact to increase our power and speed.

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