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