Wushu may refer to:. Chinese martial arts, the various martial arts of China; Wushu (sport), a modern exhibition of traditional Chinese martial arts, created in the People's Republic of China Wushu stances, five key stances utilized in both contemporary wushu and traditional wushu; Wushu in Singapore, a successful industry in Singapore; Films. Wu shu, the Mandarin Chinese title of the. Wushu, which is also referred to as kung-fu, is the collective term for the martial art practices which originated and developed in China, and wushu is the well-spring of all Asian martial practices. Chinese martial arts can be traced back over thousands of years, however modern or contemporary wushu was developed and standardized in the late 1940s. It is the national sport of China and is both an exhibition sport (taolu) and a full-contact sport (sanda/sanshou). Wushu (武术) is a form of contemporary Chinese martial arts that blends elements of performance and martial application. Wushu training emphasizes quickness, explosive power, and natural, relaxed movement. The wushu practitioner must combine flexibility. Wushu (武 术 ), in Chinese simply means “martial arts.” In the west wushu is more commonly known as kung fu, from the Chinese “gong fu,” which refers to a skill or trade gained by discipline and hard work.
Wǔshù 武术 (n) – “Martial Art”
The term wushu is Chinese for “martial arts” (武 “wu” = military or martial, 术 “shu” = art) that is used to encompass Chinese martial arts in general, which is commonly known as kung fu in Western societies.
Modern Wushu
What Is Wushu Martial Arts
Chinese martial arts can be traced back over thousands of years, however modern or contemporary wushu was developed and standardized in the late 1940s. It is the national sport of China and is both an exhibition sport (taolu) and a full-contact sport (sanda/sanshou).
Taolu forms are more widely practiced and is comparable to gymnastics floor routines that emphasizes speed, flexibility, power and acrobatic techniques. Forms have been designed to be more aesthetically pleasing, using lower stances and higher kicks, which is also used for exercise purposes. Difficult acrobatic and aerial movements are also incorporated, gaining favor for exhibitions and competitions.
Modern wushu was made popular by Jet Li, who was a 5 time China wushu national champion before transitioning over to the big screen. Now wushu is often seen in action movies and video games. Today, wushu is officially practiced in more than 120 countries around the world.
Wushu Competitions
Contemporary wushu has emerged as a competitive sport with several international competitions held, including the World Wushu Championships held every two years with rules and regulations are set by the International Wushu Federation (IWUF).
The United States has a team trials selection competition for both the adult and junior teams, organized by the United States Wushu-Kungfu Federation (USAWKF) every two years.
Taolu forms are performed on a 14m x 8m carpet using martial arts patterns and movements either barehanded or with weapons, which are judged and given points according to specific rules. The minimum time limit for external forms is 1 minute and 20 seconds and 3-6 minutes for internal taichi forms.
Competitions are divided by these common categories:
Long Weapons: Staff (Gunshu), Spear (Qiangshu), Southern Staff (Nangun)
Group Events: Choreographed routines that focuses on synchronization and fluidity
Dulian Events: Choreographed fight sets with or without weapons
About San Diego Wushu Center
San Diego Wushu Center (SDWC) is founded by Xiaotang Liu, a professional wushu athlete and champion with over 30 years of experience and Alex Tran, a member of the USA contemporary and traditional wushu team. At SDWC, our primary focus is on the development of the student’s personal and physical growth through wushu tournaments at the local, national and international levels.
San Diego Wushu Center is a lifetime member school of the United States of America Wushu-Kungfu Federation (USAWKF)
IS WUSHU THE SAME AS KUNGFU?
Continuing the turn, Sifu Wong grips Goh's throat in a Shaolin pattern called 'Golden Cockerel Locks Throat' (Pattern 35 of the 72 Chin-Na Techniques)
QUESTION
There are wushu instructors who insist that their art is also directlyfrom the Shaolin Temple. Without a genuine point of reference such as that whichyou can provide, many enthusiasts will also be mistaken. I know that theseinstructors are wushu exponents because they confirm their adequacy bymentioning their membership in wushu teams in mainland China, bronze medalawards, etc.
— Marlene, Australia — January 2000
Answer
Modern wushu is not Shaolin Kungfu. About the 1960s the Chinese government gathered together some kungfu masters of various styleswith the objective of synthesizing the various styles into one uniform style,which is today's modern wushu. Prior to that, there were numerous kungfu styleslike Lohan, Praying Mantis, Eagle Claw, Chaquan, Huaquan, Hoong Ka, Wing Choon,Hsing Yi, Pa Kua, etc. After that, there was to be no differentiation into thesevarious styles, only wushu.
Wushu was invented solely for sports, and never as a martial art. For thepurpose of competition, wushu was divided into seven categories, namely:
Changquan, or Long Fist
Nanquan or Southern Fist
Daoshu or Knife Techniques
Jianshu or Sword Techniques
Kunshu or Staff Techniques
Chiangshu or Spear Techniques
Taijiquan or Tai Chi Chuan
The sole criterion for the award ofpoints in all wushu competitions is how graceful and elegant the performance is,and never how well a performer can defend himself or how much internal force hehas.
The wushu instructors were quite right to say that wushu was derived fromShaolin Kungfu because except for Taijiquan and aerobatic movements, virtuallyall wushu movements were taken from Shaolin Kungfu. But their statement ismisleading, as their nature and purpose are very different.
QUESTION
Also, a kungfu master insisted that Chinese martial artsare all called wushu; kungfu is only a Cantonese term meaning hard work.
Answer
From one perspective he is right, but from anotherperspective — the one we are using now — he is wrong. The sameness ordifference between kungfu and wushu has confused many people, but the followingexplanation will clear the confusion.
Wushu Kung Fu
Kungfu, used in the sense of Chinese martial art, has many terms in theChinese language. The present official term is 'wushu'. Besides this term,another term that is most commonly used for what in the West would beconceptualized as 'kungfu' is 'quanfa', often shortened to 'quan'. Thus, ShaolinKungfu is 'shaolinquan' or 'shaolin wushu' in Chinese, and Tai Chi Kungfu is'taijiquan' or 'taiji wushu'.
It is also true that in Cantonese, as well as many other Chinese dialectsincluding Mandarin, 'kungfu' literally means 'work'. But today when a personuses the word 'kungfu', he usually means 'martial art', using the term'kung-chok' for 'work'.
Complications started when the present Chinese government promoted newlyinvented modern wushu as a sport, and not as a marital art. The trend has beenso established that today when the term 'wushu' is used, especially in the West,it is conceptualized as a demonstrative sport, whereas when the term 'kungfu' isused it is conceptualized as a martial art.
In other words, we now have an interesting situation whereby although theword 'wushu' literally means 'martial art', in practical usage it is ademonstrative sport; and although the word 'kungfu' literally means 'work', itis a martial art. To say that all Chinese martial arts are wushu is like sayingall persons are men, insisting that the word 'mankind' refers to humankind.
What Is Wishus Real Name
LINKS
Reproduced from Questions 2 and 3 in Selection of Questions and Answers — January 2000 Part 3.
Please e-mail your questions to Sifu Wong Kiew Kit stating your name, country and this web page for reference. E-mails without these particulars may not be answered.