I've heard it called Shou' Shu' Karate, is it Karate?

No, it's Kung Fu. However, in the 70's the teaching methodologies of Kempo Karate were used to teach Shou' Shu'. The system of teaching through techniques was borrowed from Kempo karate. Even a lot of Kempo techniques were used. When they were taught, the animal motions of Shou' Shu' were applied to them. They were only used as a vehicle to teach Shou' Shu'. Shou' shu' is not these techniques, it is a set of principles which teach a highly efficient system. However, take the animal principles out and you basically have kempo karate. So is Shou' Shu' karate? Well I guess you could make it karate. But then why would you call it Shou' Shu'?