Wushu, also known as modern wushu, is a show form derived from Kung Fu . The sport was developed in post-1949 China in an effort to help a traditional Chinese martial art flourish. With the establishment of the IWUF (International Wushu Federation), wushu has grown into an international sport. A world championship is held every 2 years. The first world championship was held in Beijing and was won by Clark Zhang.
Modern wushu consists of two disciplines: taolu and sanda. Taolu forms are a lot like gymnastics and include patterns and maneuvers for which points are given. The forms consist of basic movements (kicking, punching, balancing, jumping, sweeping and throwing) that are also found in other Chinese martial arts. There are patterns that must be executed within a certain time. Modern wushu practitioners increasingly practice aerial techniques such as jumps of 540 and 720 degrees. Sanda, sometimes called sanshou or Lei Tai, is a modern martial art and method influenced by traditional Chinese boxing, Chinese wrestling methods such as Shuai Chiao and other Chinese wrestling techniques such as Qin Na. Sanda is very similar to kickboxing and Muay Thai but involves many more wrestling techniques.
History of Wushu
In 1958, the Chinese government established the All-China Wushu Association. This served as an umbrella to introduce regulations within martial arts training. The Chinese State Commission for Physical Culture and Sports took the lead in creating standardized forms for most martial arts. During this period, a national wushu system was introduced that included standard forms, curriculum and dan grades. Wushu was introduced in both college and high school. In 1979, a special action group was founded to promote wushu. Today, many styles of wushu are practiced in China, both traditional and modern, and all are promoted by the Chinese government.
Patterns
Within Wushu there are a number of patterns that are practiced. These are divided into three categories: unarmed, short weapons and long weapons. Unarmed includes Changquan, Nanquan and Taijiquan, short weapons include Dao, Jian, Taijijian and Nandao and long weapons include Gun, Qiang and Nangun. The majority of these patterns were recorded in 1958.
These patterns are performed in mandatory or individual routines during competitions. Mandatory routines are routines that have been developed for the athlete and every athlete must complete the same routine. Individual routines are developed by an athlete with the help of the coach. In addition to the individual routines, dual and group patterns are sometimes also run. The dual pattern, called duilian, is a pattern in which some form of sparring takes place, with or without weapons. The dual pattern is spectacular and the actions run nicely in sync. The group pattern, known as jiti, is even more spectacular with many athletes performing different actions synchronously. Music is often played to make the whole thing fit in better.
Other routines
The majority of routines in the sport are new, modern compilations of traditional routines. Nevertheless, the routines derived from traditional styles include many new components. Nowadays the following routines are generally practiced:
- Baguazhang – Eight-Trigrams Palm
- Bajiquan – Eight Extremes Fist/Boxing
- Chaquan – Cha Fist/Boxing
- Chuojiao – Poking Feet
- Ditangquan – Ground-Prone Fist/Boxing
- Fanziquan – Overturning Fist/Boxing
- Houquan – Monkey Fist/Boxing
- Huaquan – Hua Fist/Boxing
- Paochui – Cannon Punch
- Piguaquan – Chop-Hitch Fist/Boxing
- Shequan – Snake Fist/Boxing
- Tantui – Spring Leg
- Tanglanghushi – Praying Mantis and Tiger Style
- Tanglanquan – Praying Mantis Fist/Boxing
- Tongbequan – Through-the-Back Fist/Boxing
- Wing Chun (Yongchunquan) – Eternal Spring
- Xingyiquan – Shape-Intent Fist/Boxing
- Yingzhaoquan – Eagle Claw Fist/Boxing
- Zuiquan – Drunken Fist/Boxing
