| Origins: China. Modern Wushu was created to | | | | |
| standardize and nationalize the many types of | | | | Shaolin Chuan |
| Chinese martial arts. Wushu is a general term | | | | |
| that simply means martial arts, but most | | | | Tai Chi Chuan |
| often when referring to wushu one is | | | | |
| referring to contemporary or sport wushu. For | | | | Hsing I Chuan |
| the purposes of this profile, I will | | | | |
| concentrate on sport wushu. | | | | Ba Gua Zhang |
| | | | |
| Wushu is the national sport of China and has | | | | Weapon Styles: Common weapons seen in |
| spread around the world. There is sometimes a | | | | competition include |
| philosophical divide between practitioners of | | | | |
| sport wushu, specifically those who only work | | | | Broadsword |
| forms or Taolu, and traditional practitioners | | | | |
| who practice the combative aspects of the | | | | Straight Sword |
| martial arts. | | | | |
| | | | Three section staff |
| The Two Sides of Contemporary Wushu: Wushu | | | | |
| consists of two major areas of practice - | | | | long staff |
| forms, or taolu, and sparring, or sanda | | | | |
| sanshou. | | | | whip chain |
| | | | |
| Taolu or Forms: Taolu is the portion of the | | | | rope dart |
| sport that has begun to explode in popularity | | | | |
| worldwide. Wushu forms are explosive, | | | | meteor hammer |
| energetic and expressive. The forms contain | | | | |
| an impressive ebb and flow to them. Their | | | | tiger hooks (hook sword) |
| artistic and gymnastic qualities are very | | | | |
| impressive. The speed, agility and | | | | Doubled versions of the swords, chains or |
| flexibility of top level wushu athletes is | | | | tiger hooks |
| something that any athlete can admire. | | | | |
| | | | Wushu and the Olympics: Supporters of wushu |
| Sparring or San Da: The other side of | | | | have been fighting to be included into the |
| contemporary wushu is competitive sparring, | | | | Olympics as a demonstration sport, with hopes |
| also knows as sanda or sanshou. This involves | | | | of becoming a medal sport like Tae Kwon Do |
| full contact fighting with safety equipment. | | | | and Judo. The sport made it to the final |
| The fighters utilize kicks, punches and | | | | selection committee but failed to make it |
| throws in a scored match. | | | | into the 2008 Summer Olympics. This |
| | | | disappointed the many teams from all over the |
| Sub-styles: Wushu is as diverse and varied as | | | | world who had held team qualifier events and |
| the traditional Chinese martial arts. Wushu | | | | had been training with the hope of one day |
| competitions have divisions for everything | | | | being Olympic athletes. In an effort to |
| from the fast, hard and acrobatic to soft and | | | | showcase wushu to a huge international |
| slow tai chi (although the tai chi performed | | | | audience, the Chinese decided to hold a large |
| in competition is infinitely more athletic in | | | | international competition in Beijing to run |
| nature than the typical form you may see done | | | | with the Olympic Games. |
| by senior citizens in your neighborhood | | | | |
| park). | | | | The Future of Wushu: Contemporary wushu will |
| | | | continue to change and grow, but to what end |
| Empty Hand Styles: Empty hand styles include | | | | is not certain. As wushu continues its path |
| | | | towards Olympic medal sport designation, it |
| Chang Chuan (long fist) | | | | will have to become more and more |
| | | | standardized and sport-like, further removing |
| Nan Chuan (southern fist, also a broad term | | | | it from its martial history. The same has |
| that includes many styles. A common form seen | | | | happened with Tae Kwon Do and Judo, as we see |
| is a tiger/crane set) | | | | schools that focus solely on the Olympic |
| | | | versions of those sports and have very little |
| Ditang Chuan | | | | traditional combat training left in them. |
| | | | Hopefully traditional kung fu or wushu |
| Tai Zu Chuan | | | | schools will be able to fill the need for |
| | | | tradition and leave sport wushu schools free |
| Tong Bei Chuan | | | | to develop and grow into a whole new art form |
| | | | and sport. |
| Fan zi Chuan | | | | |