The kung fu and tae kwon do is teaching people who take the course to control their temper and it helps to relax too. It also teaches self defense in case of emergency, for example if 5 or 6 guys are jumping on you then you can use your kung fu or tae kwon do.
The martial arts equipment could be a weapon to teach you how to use it. It could be the part of the training. The martial arts supplies are of course the kimono and belts and sometimes it's boards to help you with concentration.
The martial arts training sometimes could be painful to teach you to manage the pain it's like that in aikido. The kick boxing is also kind of martial arts but it looks like boxing too. Kung fu and tae kwon do and also kick boxing are practiced by a lot of people not only to defended themselves but also to stay in shape.
You can always look at video clips or books to help you to learn the martial arts but it's better to be at the course it self. My favourite martial arts are kung fu and aikido.