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A Beginners Guide
"Wushu" in mandarin Chinese translates literally as "military art" but is better known as “martial art”. Traditional wushu defines the Chinese martial arts and has existed for centuries in a variety of styles. In the west, people are more familiar with the term "kung fu" which actually means skill/hard work.
During the 1950's the China government decided that it's country's national sport would be born. Based on the traditional Chinese martial arts, Modern (or contemporary) wushu was to serve as the new sport for a modern society. It is a competition/performance based art which is both exciting and pleasing to the eye. The sport's main intent was the focus on athleticism, exercise, health and the ability to demonstrate wushu movements with a fighting-like spirit. Like any other art form the grace, flavour and style had to be embodied in the performance of every practicioner.
The sport is wide spread throughout the whole of China enabling the country able to develop some of the best wushu athletes the world has ever seen. This will continue to be the case as China looks to have modern wushu as an event in the Olympics. Professional wushu athletes train full time for a number of years from a young age in wushu associations and sport centers across the country. China currently has the best resources available to train up and coming athletes and will continue to do so for the forseeable future.
Standard routines were created for various levels in Chang Quan (long fist), Nan Quan (southern fist), Jian shu (sword play), Gun shu (cudgel play), Dao shu (broad sword play) as well as various other hand and weapon form routines. Wushu athletes (wushu players) compete against one another by performing their chosen routine on a wushu carpet. Qualified judges then mark and score each athlete according to a criterion. Modern wushu has "taolu"(forms) competition only however in recent years san shou (Chinese kick boxing) has been introduced.
Most people will know who Li Lian Jie aka Jet Li is from the film industry. He is one of China's most prominent Modern wushu athletes with the Beijing Wushu Team who then progressed into the film industry with his acquired wushu skills. As many wushu fans already know, the old school likes of Yuan-Wen-Qing and Zhao-Chang-Jun are just a few of the greats in the world of modern wushu.
The sport has gained mass popularity throughout the world and continues to gain in popularity as an exhilarating sport for athletes, enthusiasts and fans alike.
W1F’s aim is to help promote the sport and spread the word of new changes in the world of modern wushu.
But where is modern wushu at right now?
