QandAs: Buzz

What Is Wushu?

Answer:
Wushu is defined as the general term for martial arts and a specific discipline of full-contact sport.

Wushu has become an international sport since 1991 through International Wushu Federation (IWUF) that holds World Wushu Championships in every two years. In ancient times, Wushu style was developed as a means of promoting healthy exercise as well as a means of survival fighting methods during warfare in China. Today, Wushu is being divided into numerous disciplines like taijiquan and kung fu.

Wushu is designed for flexibility in use and can be performed barehanded, or with short weapons, or with long weapons. The commonly used weapons of Wushu are staffs, single-double-edged swords and spears. In competitions, the two types of forms that are usually performed are taolu (similar to gymnastics) and Sanda Wushu (similar to wrestling and boxing). Some forms of Wushu can be performed either solo, by pairs, or even in large groups.