Wushu (武術 or 武术; pinyin: wǔshù) literally means "martial art". It is commonly used much the same way as the popular term kung fu, referring specifically to Chinese martial arts, but is in China also used as a general and formal term for any martial art. Today, many also use wushu, modern wushu or contemporary wushu as a name for the modern styles of Chinese martial arts that are practiced primarily for exhibition and competition.

Translation

The word wushu consists of two Chinese characters. 武 (wǔ), meaning martial or military, and 術 (shù), which translates into art, skill or method. Together these form "wǔshù" or "martial art". To be more precise, the first character 武 (wǔ) is actually a combination of two other characters: 止 (zhǐ) and 戈 (gē). The first means to stop or halt something, and the latter symbolizes an ancient Chinese weapon similar to a spear (notice that the stroke symbolizing a dagger on the side of the character 戈 is shelved). Because of this, many consider a more detailed translation of wushu to be "method to stop weapon" or "the art of stopping violence", more similar to the Western term self-defense. This aspect plays a major role in the philosophies that are present in many Chinese martial arts, which emphasize that the best way to defeat an enemy is to do so without fighting, and that the easiest way to not fight is to avoid situations that might lead to any fighting at all.

Contemporary Wushu

Wushu, modern wushu, and contemporary wushu often refer to the modern recompilations of traditional wushu forms created in the People's Republic of China. These are practiced as a demonstration sport, much like gymnastics, and judged and given points according to specific rules. Similar to gymnastics, there are separate events, the main ones being:

• Barehand
  • 長拳 Changquan (Long Boxing)
  • 南拳 Nanquan (Southern Boxing)
  • 太極拳 Taijiquan (Taiji Boxing)

• Short Weapons
  • 刀 Dao (Broadsword)
  • 劍 Jian (Straightsword)
  • 太極劍 Taijijian (Taiji Straightsword)
  • 南刀 Nandao (Southern Broadsword)

• Long Weapons
  • 棍 Gun (Staff)
  • 槍 Qiang (Spear)
  • 南棍 Nangun (Southern Staff)

Most events were first set up in 1958.

Changquan refers to long-range extended wushu styles like Chaquan (查拳), Huaquan (華拳), Hongquan (洪拳), and Shaolinquan (少林拳), but the wushu event is a modern style derived from movements of these and other traditional styles. Changquan is the most widely-seen of the wushu events, and includes whirling, running, leaping, and acrobatics. Changquan is difficult to perform, requiring great flexibility and athleticism, and is often practiced 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. The wushu event is a modern style derived from movements of these and other traditional southern styles. Nanquan requires less flexibility than Changquan, has fewer acrobatics, and is thus easier for young adults to practice. This event was created in 1960.

Taijiquan is a wushu style famous for slow, relaxed movements, and often seen as an exercise method for old people. The wushu event is a modern recompilization 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 the wushu event 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 the wushu event is a Changquan method of using the jian.

Gun (when pronunciated in pinyin, it sounds like gwun) refers to a long staff slightly less tall than the user with his arms stretched up, but the wushu event is a Changquan method of using the gun.

Qiang refers to a flexible spear with red hair attached to the spearhead, but the wushu event 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.

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.

International wushu competitions most often use compulsory routines, while high-level competitions in China most often use individual routines. A single event will not use both compulsory and individual routines, but one or the other.

Traditional routines are also used in compeition in events separate from the compulsory and individual routine events, especially in China. The routines used are often new, modernized recompilations of traditional styles. Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, and Taijiquan are usually classified as the internal styles. Some of the more commonly seen styles include:

• Xingyiquan (形意拳) - Shape-Intent Fist
• Baguazhang (八卦掌) - Eight-Trigrams Palm
• Bajiquan (八極拳) - Eight Extremes Fist
• Fanziquan (翻子拳) - Overturning Fist
• Chuojiao (戳腳) - Poking Feet
• Tongbeiquan (通背拳) - Through-the-Back Fist
• Piguaquan (劈掛拳) - Chop-Hitch Fist
• Chaquan (查拳) - Cha Fist
• Huaquan (華拳) - Hua Fist
• Paoquan (炮拳) - Cannon Fist
• Houquan (猴拳) - Monkey Fist
• Tanglangquan (螳螂拳) - Praying Mantis Fist
• Ditangquan (地躺拳) - Ground-Prone Fist
• Zuijiuquan (醉酒拳) - Drunken Fist
• Yingzhaoquan (鷹爪拳) - Eagle Claw Fist
• Shequan (蛇拳) - Snake Fist

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

Jet Li (李連杰) gained fame as a five-time national wushu champion, and is now a famous movie star who uses his wushu skills onscreen. Many of his old teammates have also appeared onscreen with him, especially in his older movies.

At present, China is bidding for wushu to be added to the Olympics, prompted by the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. To limit the number of medals awarded to the sport, the current proposal for wushu events is:

• Changquan (Men)
• Changquan (Women)
• Nanquan (Men)
• Taijiquan (Women)
• Dao (Men)
• Jian (Women)
• Gun (Men)
• Qiang (Women)

However, the current sets that have been created for these proposed Olympic events are somewhat different from earlier sets used for other competitions like the Asian Games. For example, the Taijiquan set includes several leaping kicks, something that is not normally seen in Taijiquan.

Another modern form of wushu is called sanda (sometimes called sanshou), which is a modern fighting method and sport influenced by both traditional Chinese methods and methods of other countries. Sanda appears much like kickboxing or muay thai, but includes many throwing methods. Sanda fighting competitions are often held alongside modern wushu form competitions.