Wushu (sport)

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This article is about the modern sport Wushu. For information on other types of Chinese martial arts, see Chinese martial arts. For the meaning of the word, see wushu (term).
Gun (staff) event at the 10th All China Games
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Gun (staff) event at the 10th All China Games

Wushu (Chinese: 武术/武術; pinyin: wǔshù; literally "martial arts"), also known as modern wushu or contemporary wushu, is both an exhibition and a full-contact sport derived from traditional Chinese martial arts. Created in the People's Republic of China after 1949, wushu has spread globally through the International Wushu Federation (IWUF), which holds the World Wushu Championships every two years; the first World Championships were held in 1991 in Beijing.

Wushu is composed of two disciplines: taolu (套路; forms) and sanda (散打; sparring) [1]. Taolu forms are similar to gymnastics and involve martial art patterns and maneuvers for which competitors are judged and given points according to specific rules. The forms comprise basic movements (stances, kicks, punches, balances, jumps, sweeps and throws) based on aggregate categories traditional Chinese martial art style and can be changed for competitions to highlight one's strengths. Competitive forms have time limits that can range from 1 minute, 20 seconds for the some external styles to over five minutes for internal styles.

Contents

[edit] Events

A Jian dual event (sparring)
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A Jian dual event (sparring)
  • Short Weapons
    • 刀 Dao (single-edged sword)
    • 劍 Jian (double-edged sword)
    • 太極劍 Taijijian (Taiji double-edged sword)
    • 南刀 Nandao (Southern single-edged sword)
  • Long Weapons

Most events were first set up in 1958.

These events are performed using compulsory or individual routines in competition. Compulsory routines are those routines that have been already created for the athlete, resulting in each athlete performing basically the same set. Individual routines are routines that an athlete creates with the aid of his/her coach, while following certain rules for difficulty, number of acrobatics, etc.

In addition to events for individual routines, some wushu competitions also feature dual and group events. The dual event, also called duilian (对练), is an event in which there is some form of sparring with weapons, or without weapons or even using bare hands against weapons. The dual event is usually spectacular and actions are choreographed before hand. The group event, also known as jiti (集体), requires a group of people to perform together and smooth synchronization of actions are crucial. Usually, the group event also allows instrumental music to accompany the choreography during the performance. The carpet used for the group event is also larger than the one used for individual routines.

Previously, international wushu competitions most often used compulsory routines, while high-level competitions in China most often used individual routines. However, after the 2003 Wushu World Games in Macau it was decided to opt for individual routines in international competition with nandu (难度; difficulty movements) added for additional point bonuses.

There is some controversy concerning the inclusion of nandu in wushu because many of the movements created for the specific events are not originally movements used in those styles. In addition the number of injuries which have resulted from the inclusion of these nandu have caused many people to question their inclusion.

Those who support the new difficulty requirements follow the assertion that they help to progress the sport and improve the overall physical quality of the athletes.

Another modern form of wushu is called sanda (sometimes called sanshou), which is a modern fighting method and sport influenced by both traditional Chinese boxing, chinese wrestling methods called Shuai Chiao and other chinese grappling techniques such as Qin Na. It has all the combat aspects of wushu. Sanda appears much like kickboxing or Muay Thai, but includes many more grappling techniques. Sanda fighting competitions are often held alongside taolu or form competitions.

[edit] Main Events

Changquan refers to long-range extended wushu styles like Chaquan (查拳), Huaquan (華拳), Hongquan (洪拳; "flood fist"), and Shaolinquan (少林拳), but this wushu form is a modernized style derived from movements of these and other traditional styles. Changquan is the most widely-seen of the wushu forms, and includes whirling, running, leaping, and acrobatics. Changquan is difficult to perform, requiring great flexibility and athleticism, and is often practised from a young age.

Nanquan refers to wushu styles originating in south China (i.e., south of the Yangtze River, including Hongjiaquan (洪家拳), Cailifoquan (蔡李佛拳), and Yongchunquan (詠春拳). Many are known for vigorous, athletic movements with very stable, low stances and intricate hand movements. This wushu form is a modern style derived from movements of these and other traditional southern styles. Nanquan typically requires less flexibility and has fewer acrobatics than Changquan, but it also requires greater leg stability and power generation through leg and hip coordination. This event was created in 1960.

Taijiquan is a wushu style famous for slow, relaxed movements, and often seen as an exercise method for the elderly. This wushu form is a modern recompilation based on the Yang (楊) style of Taijiquan, but also including movements of the Chen (陳), Wu (吳), Wu (武), and Sun (孫) styles.

Dao refers to any curved, one-sided sword/blade, but this wushu form is a Changquan method of using a medium-sized willow-leaf-shaped dao (柳葉刀).

Jian refers to any double-edged straight sword/blade, but this wushu form is a Changquan method of using the jian.

Gun refers to a long staff (wooden, not made of bamboo as it will split) as tall as the wrist of a person standing with his/her arms stretched upwards, but this wushu form is a Changquan method of using the gun.

Qiang refers to a flexible spear with red hair attached to the spearhead, but this wushu form is a Changquan method of using the qiang.

Taijijian is an event using the jian based on traditional Taijiquan jian methods.

Nandao is a weapon that appears to be based on the butterfly swords of Yongchunquan, but has been lengthened and changed so that only one is used (as opposed to a pair). This event is a Nanquan method, and was created in 1992.

Nangun is a Nanquan method of using the gun. This event was created in 1992.

[edit] Other routines

The majority of routines used in the sport are new, modernized recompilations of traditional routines. However, routines taken directly from traditional styles, including the styles that are not part of standard events, may be performed in competition, especially in China. These routines generally do not garner as many points as their modern counterparts, and are performed in events separate from the compulsory routine events. Among these, the more commonly seen routines include:

  • Baguazhang (八卦掌) - Eight-Trigrams Palm
  • Bajiquan (八極拳) - Eight Extremes Fist/Boxing
  • Chaquan (查拳) - Cha Fist/Boxing
  • Chuojiao (戳腳) - Poking Feet
  • Ditangquan (地躺拳) - Ground-Prone Fist/Boxing
  • Fanziquan (翻子拳) - Overturning Fist/Boxing
  • Houquan (猴拳) - Monkey Fist/Boxing
  • Huaquan (華拳) - Hua Fist/Boxing
  • Paochui (炮捶) - Cannon Punch
  • Piguaquan (劈掛拳) - Chop-Hitch Fist/Boxing
  • Shequan (蛇拳) - Snake Fist/Boxing
  • Taijiquan (太极拳） - Supreme Ultimate Fist/Boxing
  • Tantui (弹腿）- Spring Leg
  • Tanglanghushi (螳螂虎势) - Praying Mantis and Tiger Style
  • Tanglanquan (螳螂拳) - Praying Mantis Fist/Boxing
  • Tongbeiquan (通背拳) - Through-the-Back Fist/Boxing
  • Wing Chun (Yongchuquan) (永春)
  • Xingyiquan (形意拳) - Shape-Intent Fist/Boxing
  • Yingzhaoquan (鷹爪拳) - Eagle Claw Fist/Boxing
  • Zuiquan (醉酒拳) - Drunken Fist/Boxing

Similarly, there is also a traditional weapons category, which often includes the following:

  • Changsuijian (長穗劍) - Long-Tasseled Sword
  • Shuangshoujian (雙手劍) - Two-Handed Sword
  • Jiujiebian (九節鞭) - Nine Section Whip
  • Sanjiegun (三節棍) - Three Section Staff
  • Shengbiao (繩鏢) - Rope Dart
  • Dadao (大刀) - Great Sword
  • Pudao (撲刀) - Pu Sword
  • Emeici (峨嵋刺) - Emei Daggers
  • Shuangdao (雙刀) - Double Broadsword
  • Shuangjian (雙劍) - Double Sword
  • Shuangbian (雙鞭) - Double Nine Section Whips
  • Shuanggou (雙鈎) - Double Hooksword

[edit] Competitions

List of major international and regional competitions featuring wushu:

[edit] Notable practitioners

For Sanda competitors, see the article on Sanshou.
  • Jet Li (李連杰) - possibly the most famous wushu practitioner in the world. He started wushu as a competition sport and gained fame as he took the National Wushu Champion of China title five times, later demonstrating his wushu on the silver screen. Many of his old teammates have also appeared on-screen with him, especially in his older movies.
  • Wu Jing (吳京) - Also known as Jacky Wu. Chinese actor who was sent to the Beijing Sports Institute at Shichahai in Beijing when he was 6 years old. Like Jet Li he competed as a member of the Beijing Wushu Team in national level wushu competitions in China. Both his father and grandfather were also martial artists [2]
  • Ray Park - Showcased his skills in wushu in several major films, including his portrayal of Darth Maul in 1999's Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and as stunt-double for Robin Shou and James Remar in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.

[edit] Wushu as an Olympic event

The IWUF placed a bid to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to have wushu included in future Olympic Games, but so far did not meet with success. However. the IOC has allowed China to organize an international wushu event during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, but this event is not one of the 28 official Olympic sports, nor is it a demonstration event. Instead, it will be called the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Wushu Tournament. [3]

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ www.iwuf.org front page.
  2. ^ Jacky Wu's Bio Jacky WU Jing
  3. ^ Rogge says wushu no "Olympic sport" in 2008

[edit] References

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

 Wikimedia Commons has media related to:


Contemporary Wushu
Main Taolu Events
Sparring
Changquan • Dao • Qiang • Jian • Gun Sanda
Nanquan • Nandao • Nangun
Related
Taijiquan • Taijijian International Wushu Federation
edit World Wushu Championships
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