What is Wushu?

वुशू चीनी मार्शल आर्ट कुंग फू से प्राप्त एक मार्शल आर्टस खेल है। 1949 के बाद इसे चीन में पारंपरिक चीनी मार्शल आर्ट के अभ्यास को मानकीकृत करने के प्रयास में विकसित किया गया था, हालांकि विभिन्न विकेन्द्रीकृत मार्शल आर्ट परंपराओं को पहले की तारीखों में बदलने का प्रयास किया गया था, जब सेंट्रल गुओशू संस्थान की स्थापना 1928 में नानकिंग में की गई थी। वुशू चीनी भाषा का शब्द है जिसका मतलब है “मार्शल आर्ट्स” (“वू” = सैन्य या मार्शल, “शू” = कला)। समकालीन समय में, अंतर्राष्ट्रीय वुशु फेडरेशन (IWUF) के माध्यम से वुशू एक अंतरराष्ट्रीय खेल बन गया है, जो हर दो साल में विश्व वुशू चैंपियनशिप आयोजित करता है; 1991 में बीजिंग में पहली बार वुशू विश्व चैंपियनशिप आयोजित की गई थी जिसे युआन वेन किंग ने जीता था।

वुशू प्रतिसर्धा में दो भाग है: ताओलू फॉर्म्स (स्टाइल्स) और सान्शू या सांडा (स्पैरिंग)।

ताओलू फॉर्म्स में मार्शल आर्ट के पैटर्न और युद्धाभ्यास शामिल हैं, जिसके लिए प्रतियोगियों को विशिष्ट नियमों के अनुसार अंक दिए जाते हैं। ताओलू फॉर्म्स में बेसिक मोमेंट्स (स्टांस, किक, पंच, बैलेंस, जंप, स्वीप और थ्रो) शामिल हैं और किसी की ताकत को उजागर करने के लिए प्रतियोगिताओं में इसे बदला जा सकता है। प्रतिस्पर्धी ताओलू फॉर्म्स में समय सीमाएं होती हैं जो 1 मिनट, 20 सेकंड से लेकर पांच मिनट तक हो सकती हैं। आधुनिक वुशू प्रतियोगी में 540, 720- और यहां तक ​​कि 900-डिग्री जंप किक्स जोड़ी गयी है जिससे वुशू खिलाड़ी अधिक कठिनाई और स्टाइल्स के लिए तेजी से प्रशिक्षण करें।

सांडा (जिसे कभी-कभी सान्शू या लेई ताई भी कहा जाता है) जो आधुनिक युद्ध पद्धति और पारंपरिक चीनी मुक्केबाजी (शुआई जिआओ और चिन ना) से प्रभावित खेल है। इसमें वुशु के सभी युद्धक पहलू हैं। सांडा काफी हद तक किक बॉक्सिंग, मुआय थाई की तरह है, लेकिन इसमें और भी कई तकनीकें शामिल हैं। ताओलू फॉर्म प्रतियोगिताओं के साथ-साथ सांडा प्रतियोगिताओं को भी अक्सर शामिल किया जाता है।

Wushu History

In 1958, the Chinese Government established the All-China Wushu Association as an umbrella organization to regulate martial arts training. The Chinese State Commission for Physical Culture and Sports took the lead in creating standardized forms for most of the major arts. During this period, a national Wushu system that included standard forms, teaching curriculum, and instructor grading was established. Wushu was introduced at both the high school and university level. This new system seeks to incorporate common elements from all styles and forms as well as the general ideas associated with Chinese martial arts. Stylistic concepts such as hard, soft, internal, external, as well as classifications based on schools such as Shaolin, Taiji, Wudang and others were all integrated into one system. Wushu became the government sponsored standard for the training in martial arts in China. The push for standardization continued leading to widespread adaptation. In 1979, the State Commission for Physical Culture and Sports created a special task force to teaching and practice of Wushu. In 1986, the Chinese National Research Institute of Wushu was established as the central authority for the research and administration of Wushu activities in China.

Changing government policies and attitudes towards sports in general lead to the closing of the State Sports Commission (the central sports authority) in 1998. This closure is viewed as an attempt to partially de-politicize organized sports and move Chinese sport policies towards a more market-driven approach. As a result of these changing sociological factors within China, both traditional styles and modern Wushu approaches are being promoted by the International Wushu Federation.

Wushu Contemporary Taolu Events

Wushu 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.

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 beforehand. 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) integrating a maximum 2 point nandu score into the overall maximum score of 10.

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.

Barehanded

1. Changquan (長拳/长拳 or Long Fist) refers to long-range extended wushu styles like Chaquan (查拳), Huaquan (華拳/华拳), 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 speed, power, accuracy, and flexibility. Changquan is difficult to perform, requiring great flexibility and athleticism, and is often practiced from a young age. All nandu movements must be made within 4 steps or it will not count for nandu points.

2. Nanquan (南拳 or Southern Fist) refers to wushu styles originating in south China (i.e., south of the Yangtze River, including Hongjiaquan (Hung Gar) (洪家拳), Cailifoquan (Choy Li Fut) (蔡李佛拳), and Yongchunquan (Wing Chun) (詠春拳/咏春拳). 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. All nandu movements must be made within 4 steps or it will not count for nandu points.

3. Taijiquan (太極拳/太极拳, T’ai chi ch’uan) is a wushu style famous for slow, relaxed movements, often seen as an exercise method for the elderly, and sometimes known as “T’ai chi” in Western countries to those otherwise unfamiliar with wushu. This wushu form is a modern recompilation based on the Yang (楊/杨) style of Taijiquan, but also including movements of the Chen (陳/陈), Wu (吳/吴), Wu (武), and Sun (孫/孙) styles. Competitive contemporary taiji is distinct from those traditional styles it draws from, in that it typically involves difficult holds, balances, jumps and jump kicks. Modern competitive tai ji requires good balance, flexibility and strength.

Short weapons

1. Dao (刀 or knife) 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/柳叶刀).

2. Nandao (南刀 or Southern Style knife) refers to a form performed with a curved, one sided sword/blade based on the techniques of Nanquan. The weapon and techniques appears to be based on the butterfly swords of Yongchunquan, a well known Southern style. In the Wushu form, the blade has been lengthened and changed so that only one is used (as opposed to a pair). This event was created in 1992.

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

4. Taijijian (太極劍/太极剑 or Taiji double-edged sword) is an event using the jian based on traditional Taijiquan jian methods.

Long weapons

1. Gun (棍 or staff) refers to a long staff (shaped from white wax wood) 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 white wax wood staff.

2. Nangun (南棍 or Southern cudgel) is a Nanquan method of using the staff. This event was created in 1992.

3. Qiang (槍/枪 or spear) refers to a flexible spear with red horse hair attached to the spearhead, but this wushu form is a Changquan method of using the qiang.

Wushu Other Taolu 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/八极拳) – Eight Extremes Fist/Boxing
• Chaquan (查拳) – Cha Fist/Boxing
• Chuojiao (戳腳/戳脚) – Poking Feet
• Ditangquan (地躺拳) – Ground-Prone Fist/Boxing
• Fanziquan (翻子拳) – Tumbling Fist/Boxing
• Houquan (猴拳) – Monkey Fist/Boxing
• Huaquan (華拳/华拳) – Hua Fist/Boxing
• Nanquan (南拳) – Southern Fist
• Paochui (炮捶) – Cannon Punch
• Piguaquan (劈掛拳) – Chop-Hitch Fist/Boxing
• Shequan (蛇拳) – Snake Fist/Boxing
• Tantui (弹腿) – Spring Leg
• Tanglanquan (螳螂拳) – Praying Mantis Fist/Boxing
• Tongbeiquan (通背拳) – Through-the-Back Fist/Boxing
• Wing Chun (詠春拳/咏春拳) – Eternal Spring
• Xingyiquan (形意拳) – Shape-Intent Fist/Boxing
• Yingzhuaquan (鷹爪拳/鹰爪拳) – Eagle Claw Fist/Boxing
• Zuiquan (醉拳) – Drunken Fist/Boxing

Traditional weapons routines

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

• Changsuijian (長穗劍/长穗剑) – Long-Tasseled Sword
• Shuangshoujian (雙手劍/双手剑) – Two-Handed Sword
• Jiujiebian (九節鞭/九节鞭) – Nine Section Whip
• Sanjiegun (三節棍/三节棍) – Three Section Staff
• Shengbiao (繩鏢/绳镖) – Rope Dart
• Dadao (大刀) – Great Sword
• Pudao (撲刀/扑刀) – Horse Knife
• Emeici (峨嵋刺) – Emei Daggers
• Shuangdao (雙刀/双刀) – Double Broadsword
• Shuangjian (雙劍/双剑) – Double Straight-Sword
• Shuangbian (雙鞭/双鞭) – Double Nine Section Whips
• Shuanggou (雙鈎/双钩) – Double Hook-sword

Wushu Sanda (sparring)

The other major discipline of contemporary Chinese Wushu is 散打 Sǎndǎ, or 运动散打 (Yùndòng Sǎndǎ, Sport Free-Fighting), or 竞争散打 (Jìngzhēng Sàndǎ, Competitive Free-Fighting): A modern fighting method, sport, and applicable component of Wushu / Kung Fu influenced by traditional Chinese Boxing, of which takedowns & throws are legal in competition, as well as all other sorts of striking (use of arms & legs). Chinese wrestling methods called Shuai Jiao and other Chinese grappling techniques such as Chin 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. Sanda represents the modern development of Lei Tai contests, but with rules in place to reduce the chance of serious injury. Many Chinese martial art schools teach or work within the rule sets of Sanda, working to incorporate the movements, characteristics, and theory of their style.

Chinese martial artists also compete in non-Chinese or mixed combat sports, including Boxing, Kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts. Sanda is practiced in tournaments and is normally held alongside taolu events in wushu competition. For safety reasons, some techniques from the self-defense form such as elbow strikes, chokes, and joint locks, are not allowed during tournaments. Competitors can win by knockout or points which are earned by landing strikes to the body or head, throwing an opponent, or when competition is held on a raised lei tai platform, pushing them off the platform. Fighters are only allowed to clinch for a few seconds. If the clinch is not broken by the fighters, and if neither succeeds in throwing his opponent within the time limit, the referee will break the clinch. In the U.S., competitions are held either in boxing rings or on the raised lei tai platform. Amateur fighters wear protective gear.

“Amateur Sanda” allows kicks, punches, knees (not to the head), and throws. A competition held in China, called the “King of Sanda”, is held in a ring similar to a boxing ring in design but larger in dimension. As professionals, they wear no protective gear except for gloves, cup, and mouthpiece, and “Professional Sanda” allows knee strikes (including to the head) as well as kicking, punching and throwing.

Some Sanda fighters have participated in fighting tournaments such as K-1 and Shoot Boxing. They have had some degree of success, especially in Shoot boxing competitions, which is more similar to Sanda. Due to the rules of Kickboxing competition, Sanda fighters are subjected to more limitations than usual. Also notable competitors in China’s mainstream Mixed Martial Arts competitions, Art of War Fighting Championship and Ranik Ultimate Fighting Federation are dominantly of wushu background. Sanda has been featured in many style-versus-style competitions. Muay Thai is frequently pitted against Sanda as is Karate, Kickboxing, & Tae Kwon Do. Although it is less common, some Sanda practitioners have also fought in the publicly viewed American Mixed Martial Arts competitions.

Wushu Competitions

List of major International and Regional Competitions featuring wushu include:

• World Wushu Championships
• World Junior Wushu Championships
• World Games
• World Combat Games
• Asian Games
• East Asian Games
• Southeast Asian Games
• European Wushu Championships, organized by the European Wushu Federation
• National Games of China
• South Asian Games
• Mediterranean Games
• Lusofonia Games

Wushu is not a Summer Olympic sport; the IWUF has repeatedly backed proposals for Wushu to be added to the Olympic programme, most recently as one of eight sports proposed for the 2020 Summer Olympics. However, it failed to reach the final shortlist, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ultimately voted for the re-inclusion of wrestling instead. In March 2015, IWUF executive vice president Anthony Goh stated that the Federation was planning to propose Wushu again for the 2024 Summer Olympics. As part of new IOC rules allowing host committees to accept proposals for new sports to be added to the programme (allowing the addition of sports of local interest to the Olympic programme under an “event-based” model), in June 2015, Wushu was shortlisted again as part of eight sports proposed for inclusion in the 2020 Games in this manner. However, it did not make the final shortlist of five.

Owing to its cultural significance in China, the IOC allowed the organizers of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing to hold a Wushu tournament in parallel with the Games as a separate event—the first time that the IOC has allowed such an event.