| The practise of Chinese martial arts can be | | | | are more spectacular to watch, thereby |
| divided into two categories - Taolu and | | | | gaining favor during exhibitions and |
| Sanshou. Most styles of Chinese martial arts | | | | competitions. The mainland Chinese government |
| contain practice of the application of | | | | has especially been criticized by |
| techniques (both as prepared drills and as | | | | traditionalists for "watering down" the wushu |
| free sparring), but also the practice of what | | | | competition training it promotes. Appearances |
| is known as forms, or taolu in Chinese. Forms | | | | have been important in many traditional forms |
| are a pre-choreographed series of techniques | | | | as well, seen as a sign of balance but not |
| and movements, performed alone or with one or | | | | the most important requirement of successful |
| more partners. | | | | training. Some martial artists have looked |
| | | | for supplementary income by performing on the |
| Another important part of the training, as in | | | | streets or in theaters, although in the most |
| most other physical activities, is what is | | | | traditional schools such performance is |
| referred to as basics , these basics | | | | forbidden. |
| condition the "beginner" for further | | | | |
| training. | | | | Another reason why the martial techniques |
| | | | might look different in forms is thought, by |
| Basics | | | | some, to come from a need to "disguise" the |
| | | | actual functions of the techniques from |
| Basics are a vital part of the training, as a | | | | outsiders (from rival schools or from the |
| student cannot progress to the more advanced | | | | authorities as legend has it happened in |
| stages without them; without strong and | | | | Okinawa). The intention was to leave the |
| flexible muscles, many movements of Chinese | | | | forms in such a state that they could be |
| martial arts are simply impossible to perform | | | | performed in front of others without |
| correctly. Basics include such things as | | | | revealing their actual martial functions, |
| stretching, strengthening of muscles, bones | | | | while retaining their original functionality |
| and tendons, stamina training, and basic | | | | in a less obvious form. However some forms |
| stances, kicks and punches. Some styles also | | | | were created for other reasons other than |
| consider jumping, jump-kicks and acrobatics | | | | combat and martial application, some forms |
| basics. In addition, many styles teach a few | | | | were created to help martial artists to |
| basic techniques as well, before moving on to | | | | develop certain qualities. For example |
| forms. These techniques are normally the most | | | | acrobatics blended into martial arts helps |
| common techniques of the specific style, | | | | martial practitioners develop strength, |
| found in many of the style's forms. | | | | balance and flexibility as well as looking |
| | | | aesthetic. |
| Chinese martial arts pay considerable | | | | |
| attention to stretching. Common stretching | | | | As forms have grown in complexity and |
| exercises include general warm-up stretching, | | | | quantity over the years, and many forms alone |
| stretching in pairs, and various types of | | | | could be practiced for a lifetime, styles of |
| stretch kicks, usually practiced with speed. | | | | modern Chinese martial arts have developed |
| As many Chinese martial arts are formed to | | | | that concentrate solely on forms, and do not |
| suit children and higher-level students who | | | | practice application at all. These styles are |
| have been practicing since childhood, they | | | | primarily aimed at exhibition and |
| can include basic exercises that require very | | | | competition, and often include more acrobatic |
| high flexibility in order to be possible to | | | | jumps and movements added for enhanced visual |
| perform at all. | | | | effect compared to the traditional styles. |
| | | | Those who generally prefer to practice |
| Forms | | | | traditional styles, focused less on |
| | | | exhibition, are often referred to as |
| Forms or taolu are series of techniques put | | | | traditionalists. Many traditionalists |
| together after one another so they can be | | | | consider the evolution of today's Chinese |
| practiced as one whole set of movements. Some | | | | martial arts as undesirable, saying that much |
| say that forms resemble a choreographed | | | | of its original value is lost. |
| dance, though martial artists often argue | | | | |
| that a general difference is the speed and | | | | Application and Sparring |
| explosiveness seen in most external styles, | | | | |
| and that the movements are actual fighting | | | | Application training or sparring refers to |
| techniques. | | | | the training of putting the martial |
| | | | techniques to use. When and how applications |
| These forms sought to incorporate both the | | | | are taught varies from style to style, but in |
| internal and external of kung fu. A kung fu | | | | the beginning, most styles focus on certain |
| form needs to be both practical, usable and | | | | drills where each person knows what technique |
| applicable as well as promoting flow, | | | | is being practiced and what attack to expect. |
| meditation, flexibility, balance and | | | | Chinese martial arts usually contain a large |
| coordination. Often kung fu teachers are | | | | arsenal of techniques and make use of the |
| heard to say "train your form as if you were | | | | whole body, efficiency and effectiveness is |
| sparring and spar as if it were a form". | | | | what the techniques are based on. However |
| | | | many chinese martial arts appear to be |
| Types of forms | | | | flowery and 'fancier' than other arts but the |
| | | | movements are very meaningful in terms of |
| There are two types of forms in Chinese | | | | application. Gradually, fewer and fewer rules |
| martial arts. Most common are the solo forms, | | | | are applied, and the students learn how to |
| performed alone by one person, but there are | | | | react and feel what technique to use, |
| also "sparring" forms, which are a type of | | | | depending on the situation and the type of |
| choreographed fighting sets performed by two | | | | opponent. |
| or more people. | | | | |
| | | | Nowadays, many Chinese martial arts choose |
| Many styles consider forms as one of the most | | | | not to practice much application at all, as |
| important practices, as they gradually build | | | | the need for self-defense has become less |
| up the practitioner's strength and | | | | significant in the societies of today. The |
| flexibility, speed and stamina, and teach | | | | introduction of firearms has made the |
| balance and coordination. They also function | | | | traditional weapons and empty-handed martial |
| as a tool for both the students and the | | | | arts lose much of their power, as even a |
| teacher to remember the many techniques | | | | completely untrained person can kill a master |
| taught by the style, and sort them into | | | | of any style by firing a gun from a safe |
| various groups. | | | | distance. Before guns existed, however, |
| | | | knowledge of martial arts could save both |
| A style can have many compartments, both | | | | your and your family's life. Because of this, |
| empty-handed and with weapons. In most | | | | the applications of the techniques were often |
| styles, empty-handed techniques are the most | | | | considered sacred, and were commonly kept |
| common, but many styles also contain forms | | | | secret from all but family and the closest |
| using a wide range of weapons of various | | | | friends. Today, the views on this tradition |
| length and type, utilizing one or two hands. | | | | of keeping things secret are very mixed, and |
| There are also styles that only practice a | | | | some schools openly teach applications to |
| certain weapon, containing only forms with | | | | anyone willing to learn. Others still require |
| the specific weapon. | | | | the students to show that they are worthy |
| | | | before teaching applications, "worthy" |
| Forms are meant to work the body. Once a | | | | usually meaning that the students can be |
| basic structure is able be maintained in the | | | | trusted that they will not use their |
| body forms are then used to work that | | | | knowledge to a bad purpose. It must be |
| structure. Forms develop a sensibility of | | | | pointed out in fairness that some of the |
| moving from position to position. This | | | | masters were in fact members of the criminal |
| teaches the body to react. | | | | underworld (although they may have perceived |
| | | | themselves as righteous) and that some of the |
| Some forms focus specifically on punching and | | | | actual skill and applications of the various |
| kicking, while others focus on joint | | | | systems were developed in real and extremely |
| manipulation, grappling, jump kicking, or | | | | violent confrontations both armed and |
| weapons. Still other forms focus on different | | | | unarmed. This dichotomy did and still does |
| styles of movement, or on using specific hand | | | | exist. |
| configurations. Often, forms will combine | | | | |
| several of these attributes. | | | | There are also modern styles that practice |
| | | | application and even focus solely on them. |
| Appearance of forms | | | | Aimed mostly at modern competition, they are |
| | | | rarely found being practised and taught |
| Even though forms of Chinese martial arts are | | | | alone, and normally found alongside |
| based on martial techniques, the movements | | | | traditional Chinese martial arts. One such |
| might not always be identical to how the | | | | style that has grown quite popular is called |
| techniques they symbolize would look when | | | | Sanda (or Sanshou). Many schools of Chinese |
| applied in combat. This is due to the way | | | | martial arts schools teach sanshou and work |
| many forms have been elaborated, on the one | | | | to incorporate its movement, characteristics |
| hand to provide better combat preparedness | | | | and theory into sanshou's modern context. It |
| and on the other hand to look more beautiful. | | | | is popular as a competition event and allows |
| One easily understood manifestation of this | | | | martial practioners to both practise and put |
| tendency toward elaborations that go beyond | | | | their skill to use in a friendly, non-hostile |
| what most often might be used in combat is | | | | environment. It is similar to Muay Thai and |
| the inclusion of lower stances and higher | | | | is a type of sparring competition where the |
| kicks. The regular practice of techniques | | | | competitors wear protection and gloves, and |
| while using lower stances both adds strength | | | | get points when scoring a hit on the opponent |
| to the same techniques when used with higher | | | | or performing a successful throw. Sanshou |
| stances, and also facilitates using the same | | | | involves both stand up striking and |
| techniques in the lower stances when the | | | | grappling, and as a modern competition rules |
| realities of combat make doing so the most | | | | are limited for safety reasons, in turn |
| appropriate choice. | | | | limiting technique and other components of |
| | | | the martial arts. However, many of these |
| In recent years, as the perceived need for | | | | skills and techniques are still practised |
| self-defense has decreased, many modern | | | | among many sanshou practioners, such as chin |
| schools have replaced practical defense or | | | | na and ground fighting. |
| offense movements with acrobatic feats that | | | | |