| As forms have grown in complexity and | | | | these nandu have caused many people to |
| quantity over the years, and many forms alone | | | | question their inclusion. |
| could be practiced for a lifetime, styles of | | | | |
| modern Chinese martial arts have developed | | | | Those who support the new difficulty |
| that concentrate solely on forms, and do not | | | | requirements follow the assertion that they |
| practice application at all. These styles are | | | | help to progress the sport and improve the |
| primarily aimed at exhibition and | | | | overall physical quality of the athletes. |
| competition, and often include more acrobatic | | | | |
| jumps and movements added for enhanced visual | | | | Another modern form of wushu is called sanda |
| effect compared to the traditional styles. | | | | (sometimes called sanshou), which is a modern |
| Those who generally prefer to practice | | | | fighting method and sport influenced by both |
| traditional styles, focused less on | | | | traditional Chinese boxing, chinese wrestling |
| exhibition, are often referred to as | | | | methods called Shuai Chiao and other chinese |
| traditionalists. Many traditionalists | | | | grappling techniques such as Qin Na. It has |
| consider the evolution of today's Chinese | | | | all the combat aspects of wushu. Sanda |
| martial arts as undesirable, saying that much | | | | appears much like kickboxing or Muay Thai, |
| of its original value is lost. | | | | but includes many more grappling techniques. |
| | | | Sanda fighting competitions are often held |
| Wushu, also known as modern wushu or | | | | alongside taolu or form competitions. |
| contemporary wushu, is both an exhibition and | | | | |
| a full-contact sport derived from traditional | | | | Main Events |
| Chinese martial arts. Created in the People's | | | | |
| Republic of China after 1949, wushu has | | | | Changquan refers to long-range extended wushu |
| spread globally through the International | | | | styles like Chaquan, Huaquan , Hongquan , and |
| Wushu Federation (IWUF), which holds the | | | | Shaolinquan , but this wushu form is a |
| World Wushu Championships every two years; | | | | modernized style derived from movements of |
| the first World Championships were held in | | | | these and other traditional styles. Changquan |
| 1991 in Beijing. | | | | is the most widely-seen of the wushu forms, |
| | | | and includes whirling, running, leaping, and |
| Wushu is composed of two disciplines: taolu | | | | acrobatics. Changquan is difficult to |
| and sanda . Taolu forms are similar to | | | | perform, requiring great flexibility and |
| gymnastics and involve martial art patterns | | | | athleticism, and is often practised from a |
| and maneuvers for which competitors are | | | | young age. |
| judged and given points according to specific | | | | |
| rules. The forms comprise basic movements | | | | Nanquan refers to wushu styles originating in |
| (stances, kicks, punches, balances, jumps and | | | | south China (i.e., south of the Yangtze |
| sweeps) based on aggregate categories | | | | River, including Hongjiaquan Cailifoquan , |
| traditional Chinese martial art style and can | | | | and Yongchunquan . Many are known for |
| be changed for competitions to highlight | | | | vigorous, athletic movements with very |
| one's strengths. Competitive forms have time | | | | stable, low stances and intricate hand |
| limits that can range from 1 minute, 20 | | | | movements. This wushu form is a modern style |
| seconds for the some external styles to over | | | | derived from movements of these and other |
| five minutes for internal styles. | | | | traditional southern styles. Nanquan |
| | | | typically requires less flexibility and has |
| These events are performed using compulsory | | | | fewer acrobatics than Changquan, but it also |
| or individual routines in competition. | | | | requires greater leg stability and power |
| Compulsory routines are those routines that | | | | generation through leg and hip coordination. |
| have been already created for the athlete, | | | | This event was created in 1960. |
| resulting in each athlete performing | | | | |
| basically the same set. Individual routines | | | | Taijiquan is a wushu style famous for slow, |
| are routines that an athlete creates with the | | | | relaxed movements, and often seen as an |
| aid of his/her coach, while following certain | | | | exercise method for the elderly. This wushu |
| rules for difficulty, number of acrobatics, | | | | form is a modern recompilation based on the |
| etc. | | | | Yang style of Taijiquan, but also including |
| | | | movements of the Chen , Wu Wu , and Sun |
| In addition to events for individual | | | | styles. |
| routines, some wushu competitions also | | | | |
| feature dual and group events. The dual | | | | Dao refers to any curved, one-sided sword |
| event, also called duilian , is an event in | | | | blade, but this wushu form is a Changquan |
| which there is some form of sparring with | | | | method of using a medium-sized |
| weapons, or without weapons or even using | | | | willow-leaf-shaped dao . |
| bare hands against weapons. The dual event is | | | | |
| usually spectacular and actions are | | | | Jian refers to any double-edged straight |
| choreographed before hand. The group event, | | | | sword/blade, but this wushu form is a |
| also known as jiti , requires a group of | | | | Changquan method of using the jian. |
| people to perform together and smooth | | | | |
| synchronization of actions are crucial. | | | | Gun refers to a long staff (wooden, not made |
| Usually, the group event also allows | | | | of bamboo as it will split) as tall as the |
| instrumental music to accompany the | | | | wrist of a person standing with his/her arms |
| choreography during the performance. The | | | | stretched upwards, but this wushu form is a |
| carpet used for the group event is also | | | | Changquan method of using the gun. |
| larger than the one used for individual | | | | |
| routines. | | | | Qiang refers to a flexible spear with red |
| | | | hair attached to the spearhead, but this |
| Previously, international wushu competitions | | | | wushu form is a Changquan method of using the |
| most often used compulsory routines, while | | | | qiang. |
| high-level competitions in China most often | | | | |
| used individual routines. However, after the | | | | Taijijian is an event using the jian based on |
| 2003 Wushu World Games in Macau it was | | | | traditional Taijiquan jian methods. |
| decided to opt for individual routines in | | | | |
| international competition with nandu (; | | | | Nandao is a weapon that appears to be based |
| difficulty movements) added for additional | | | | on the butterfly swords of Yongchunquan, but |
| point bonuses. | | | | has been lengthened and changed so that only |
| | | | one is used (as opposed to a pair). This |
| There is some controversy concerning the | | | | event is a Nanquan method, and was created in |
| inclusion of nandu in wushu because many of | | | | 1992. |
| the movements created for the specific events | | | | |
| are not originally movements used in those | | | | Nangun is a Nanquan method of using the gun. |
| styles. In addition the number of injuries | | | | This event was created in 1992. |
| which have resulted from the inclusion of | | | | |