창 Wushu 우슈 武術

 

This is Wushu

 

As a traditional sport, Wushu is a cultural heritage of the Chinese people,

which has been enriched down through the ages. With its graceful movements

and salubrious effects on health, it has a strong appeal to a vast multitude

of people. In New China, Wushu has been studied and edited on the principle

of weeding through the old to bring forth the new, and that it may better

improve the people's health.

 

Odd as it may seem, the term "Kung Fu" is strictly a Western expression. In

Chinese it denotes ability or proficiency, but not much more. One can be

said to have "good Kung Fu" if one's handwriting or cooking or needlepoint is

exemplary. The proper term for martial arts is Wushu (War Art).

 

Legend has that the Shaolin temple in China developed a unique exercise,

Wushu, "to promote health and discourage bandits." In fact, however, the art

extends much further into Chinese antiquity than does the Shaolin temple -

Back, in fact, to the very roots of Chinese culture.

 

Through hundreds of years Wushu changed, shaped by time and varying cultural

emphasis. It absorbed new techniques, branched into numerous styles and

eventually became the foundation of martial arts systems throughout East Asia.

Despite the art's changing outward appearance, however, it remained

underpinned by three basic goals - to promote health, to produce an

art - form of aesthetic value and to produce fighting ability.

 

The new government established the people's Republic of China (PRC) brought

about drastic cultural changes. Basically, the Chinese retained their

traditional heritage in Wushu but shifted the major emphasis to making it

available to as many people as possible. The Chinese pooled their resources,

revamped the Wushu styles and edited the traditional routines according to

the needs of the new society. Blinding dance; Chinese acrobatic; Peking Opera;

gymnastics; philosophy; medicine; and several of boxing styles makes this

resulted in a hybrid art form with distinctive qualities of its own. In the

PRC Wushu soon became a highly standardized national sport.

 

Wushu is usually classified into three main categories: a) shadow boxing or

barehanded exercises, b) exercises with weapons and c) combat exercises.

 

A. Shadow boxing

Shadow boxing is a spectacular, acrobatic martial art, generally

suitable for young people in good physical condition who wish to

challenge their athletic capabilities. Its leaping kicks, punches,

stamps and turnovers are a remarkable visual and physical experience.

There are over hundred different kinds of boxing.

 

1. External boxing

a) Northern Styles: People are bigger than southerner and

also, have to fight in the field; therefore, they rely on

long rang and high jumps. As a result, long shadow boxing

is most suitable for them. Changquan (long shadow boxing)

is the general term for several styles of Chinese boxing

including Cha Quan, Hua Quan, Pao Quan, Liu Ho Quan, and

Northern Shaolin Quan. It synthesizes chief features and

movements of these styles. New changquan routines have

been devised, combining the chief features of these

schools - sweeping hand movements, high jumps, quick body

turns and powerful kicks and blows. Vigorous and

demanding, they have found great favor with young people.

 

b) Southern Styles: People are smaller than northern and

often fight on the boat; jungle; etc. Therefore, people

rely on shorter range. Nanquan, mostly for a great variety

of hand forms, steady footwork, low body position and

closely - knit combination of vigorous and rhythmic

movements is popular in China's southern provinces of the

Yangtze River, including Guangdong, Fujian, Hunan,

Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Sichuan Provinces. Occasionally,

the performer utters a cry to accentuate an explosive

action.

 

c) Traditional boxing: Noncontemperary styles.

 

d) Imitation boxing: Boxing that has blinded with animal

imitations.

1. Houquan (monkey shadow boxing) bears striking

resemblance to a frolicking monkey both in form

and spirit. To ape this witty yet mischievous

animal, the performer walks on tiptoe or skips

about with his back rounded, shoulders relaxed,

body drawn up, hands hooked and eyes blinking

alertly.

 

2. Shequan (snake shadow boxing) is performed with

one hand cupped like a snake's head. With a

series of movements that blend "hardness" with

"softness," the performer brings out the image of

a snake now sticking out its forked tongue, now

coiling round a tree, now raising its head to

defy an approaching enemy.

 

3. Tanglanquan (mantis shadow boxing), created in

the 17th century on the basis of the Shaolin

School, is characterized by a quick succession of

aggressive, springy actions involving both arms

and legs.

 

4. Zuiquaqn (drunkard's shadow boxing) describes a

drunken man engaged in a fight - now wobbling to

dodge a blow,now faking left to hit right, now

falling on his back only to spring up with a

powerful kick against his foe. He is said to be

"intoxicated in body but not in mind."

 

5. Others: Eagle; Tiger; and five animal boxing.

 

e) Optional boxing

1. Fanqiquan (continuous-attack shadow boxing) is

made up of eight main postures in which blows are

delivered at lightning speed. It was first

mentioned in the Book of Martial Arts written by

Qi Jiguang (1528 - 1587), a famous general of the

Ming Dynasty.

 

2. Ditangquan (tumbling shadow boxing) is composed

of falls,dives, rolls and somersaults, which are

used as feints in striking an adversary.

 

3. Piguaquan (arm swing shadow boxing) dates back to

the Ming Dynasty. Composed of circular arm

movements and quick blows and parries, the routine

calls for regulated breathing which helps to

summon up strength and qi(vital energy).

 

4. Ba Ji contains uppercuts, elbows, holds, circular

parries and bent elbow-locks.

 

5. Fan Zi is characterized by short routines with a

series of simultaneous, consecutive movements.

 

6. Tung Bi is popular in the northern provinces. It

consists of five basic movements: the backhand

blow, the slap, the thrust, the palm cut and the

corkscrew blow - all closely interwoven with each

other. Executed with the shoulders relaxed, the

movements are quick and powerful.

 

7. Qin Na is a set of movements based on the method

of twisting locks, including holds, counter-holds

and escapes. Locks and holds are applied on the

wrist,throat, elbow, neck, etc.

 

2. Internal boxing

 

a) Taijiquan (Grand fist boxing), one of the major forms of

Chinese traditional boxing, is especially popular in China

today. Taiji is popular for its health promoting

qualities; the movements are practiced slowly and

smoothly. Attention is given to proper control of the

breath. The style moves in intricate patterns of circular

motion. Originated in Wenxian County, Henan Province,

more than tree centuries ago. With slow and gentle

movements done in circular paths, it is suitable for the

aged and the weak. Taijiquan may be practiced individually

or in-groups. Finally,Taiji was born when both combination

of Chinese boxing, wresting, and chi-qong blinded in one.

5 major schools: Yang, Wu, Woo, Sun, and Chen. Yang is

easy to learn. However, it's hard to master. Chen is an

original tijiquan and it's very hard to perform. Overall,

yang style is the most popular in China and other nations

today.

 

Tuishow (Push-hands), its auxiliary form, it meant for two

persons who stand face to face while performing circular arm

movements in an effort to throw each other off his balance.

Based on the theory of "overcoming the hard with the soft,"

this seemingly easy exercise involves both strength and

skills.

 

Tiji Sword: Short tasseled-sword, is played in tiji mode.

 

b) Xingyiquan (five-element boxing) has a dual meaning:

"form and will shadow boxing" in which all body movements

are guided by the mind, and "imitative exercises" that

describe the movements of the dragon, tiger, monkey,

chicken, bear and other animals with 5 element fists. It

emphasizes speed, vigor, simplicity and compact structure.

Finally, Xingyi was born when the spear technique was

converted in the fist form.

 

 

 

c) Baguazhang (eight-diagram shadow boxing): has 8 different

fundamental palms involves walking movements in eight

directions as marked out in the Eight Diagrams described

in the Book of Changes, a classic work on divination.

Also, there are front leading kick and palm strikes.

The performer is required to "move like a swimming dragon,

stare like a watchful monkey, sit like a crouching tiger

and turn like a hovering eagle."

 

STYLES PHILOSOPHY FOOTWORK (DIRECTIONS)

 

Tijiquan TaoismBack and forth

Heal to toes

 

XingyiquanFive elements & Straight and zigzag.

twelve animal postersShovel digging steps

 

BaguazhangI-Ching Jet landing steps.

Walking the circles

 

Also, Qi Gong(meditation and exercise) and Liu He Ba Fa is another internal

excercises. Qi Gong (Chinese Yoga): (Qi) is a form of energy. The ancients

considered Qi to be the vital energy of life. (Gong) is defined as method,

way, skill, technique, capability, attainment, theory or science.

Qi Gong is a comprehensive science of the way to nurture life. It is a

collection of mental and physical exercises and techniques for gathering,

nurturing, focusing and directing Qi. By utilizing breathing, movement and

visualization one can collect manipulate and regulate the Qi.

Qi Gong is practiced to improve health, resist illness, and increase

longevity. Interest in Qi Gong is developing rapidly throughout the world.

By combining discipline of mind, body and spirit, one can reduce stress,

generate more energy, and increase well being and confidence. In China and

many other parts of the world Qi Gong is used to treat disease and to develop

wisdom.

 

B. Exercise with weapons

 

1. Short weapons

a) Straight sword: is known as the mother of weapons and

traditionally includes some sixteen methods of use.

Wushu styles traditionally adapt the sword to their own

principles of boxing, making the weapon an extenuation of

their particular techniques. Sword techniques fall into

four general categories: single sword, double sword, long

tasseled sword, and short tasseled sword.

 

b) Broad sword: is primarily a slashing or cutting weapon.

Its maneuvers consist of series of cuts, swings, blows,

thrusts and parries worked through an intricate set of

footwork patterns. Single broad sword and double broad

sword with two flags at the end of the handles.

 

2. Long weapons (Both sticks are made with flexible wax wood)

a) Spear: is traditionally referred to as the "king of

weapons." It is as old as China herself. Spear

techniques teach strength, agility, grace and balance,

and consist of a series of outward and inward parries and

thrusts.

b) Cudgel Stick: consists of swings, cuts, upward thrusts,

parries and rotations of the weapon.

 

3. Flexible weapons: contains three-section cudgel; rope dart;

nine-section whip; and etc.

 

4. Heavy weapons: Scimitar; double rings; double handed straight

sword; meteor hammer and etc.

 

5. Others: double dagger; spade; double hooks; and etc.

 

C. Combat exercises

 

Performed by two or more partners according to pre-arranged patterns,

the combat exercises fall into three classes: a) bare hand fight,

b) combat with weapons and c) bare hand against weapons. Whether on

the offensive or defensive, the movements in any combat exercise must

be as life-like as possible and be executed with machine like

precision and unerring collaboration between the performers. The

slightest mistake may spoil the whole thing and cause serious

injuries. That's why the combat exercises are always watched with

bated breath. So, you could see. A sword duel; the three section

cudgel versus cudgel stick; scimitar versus spear; cudgel against

broadsword plus shield; spear versus bare hands; bare hands fight

against two spears; bare hands versus two opponent, one armed with a

spear and the other with broad sword and shield and etc.

 

The different exercises are:

Individual Changquan - individually choreographed barehanded routines

based on Changquan style techniques, with defined required movements

and restrictions.

 

Compulsory Changquan - routine of Changquan defined by the All-China

Sports Federation, competitor performs this exercise without addition

or deletion of any movements.

 

Short Apparatus - individually choreographed routine of sword or

broadsword techniques.

 

Long Apparatus - individually choreographed spear or cudgel

techniques.

 

Nanquan (southern style) and Taijiquan - like individual Changquan,

these two exercises are self-choreographed to their own technical

requirements and restrictions.

 

Traditional Barehanded Exercise - all other barehanded styles, i.e.

Praying Mantis, Eagle Claw, Fanzi, etc.

 

Traditional Apparatus - all other weapons, i.e. double hooks, long

tasseled sword, 9-section whip, double spears, etc.

 

Paired Exercise - prearranged sparring routine involving two or more

persons, barehanded or with apparatus.

 

Time Requirement - The time requirement of Changquan, Nanquan and the

four main apparatuses is minimum of one minute 20 seconds for senior,

junior men and women, and minimum of one minute for boys' and girls'

divisions; Taijiquan is between five to six minutes; traditional is

minimum of one minute; paired is minimum of three minutes.

 

International Wushu Competition Routines: Designed for world standard;

therefore, it's easier than Chinese national standard scale. Wushu, as an

international competitive sport is truly developing on a worldwide scale in

leaps and bounds. There is an urgent need to standardize wushu competition

routines in order that Chinese and foreign competitors may compete on equal

footing. Thus, the Chinese Wushu Research Institute of China organized a

group of professors, specialists, famous wushu trainers and top level artists

to develop a set of seven standard competition routines.

 

Bare hands:

Changquan (Long Fist Boxing): Northern Styles including Chaquan;

Huaquan; Paoquan; LiuHoquan; and Northern Shoalinquan.

Nanquan (Southern Style Boxing): South shadow boxing.

42 Taijiquan: 5 major styles including Yang; Chen; Sun; Woo; and Wu.

 

Short weapons:

Daoshu (Broadsword Play)

Jianshu (Sword Play)

 

Long weapons:

Qiangshu (Spear Play)

Gunshu (Cudgel Play)

 

Sanshou (Fighting):

This isn't part of 7 competition routines. But, it part of

wushu. In sanshou, there are variety of techniques as such

as kicking; punching; throwing; and grappling. It looks like

combination of kickboxing; throws and takedowns. It also,

looks like a street fighting.

 

These seven competition routines, which are improved in content,

specification of movements, compact structure, routine layout, number of

movements and series of movements and competition time limits, all conform

with the international wushu competition rules.Overall, internal styles

including Tiji, Xingyi, and Bagua are the best Chinese representing martial

arts of all.

 

These contemporary art form that is aesthetically pleasing, visually

exciting, and physically demanding. Each individual styles of Wushu

performs and interpretates the flavor and spirit of each particular style

of Wushu. Often, the movements are choreographed to music to create a truly

exciting art form. Because there exists such a multitude of forms to study,

Wushu may be practiced and performed by persons of any age.

 

www.omei-wushu.com/

 

 

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