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