Wushu

Origins of the term

According to Kang Gewu in its work “practical Collection of Chinese martial arts”, the term of “wushu” appears for the first time during the Period Liang of the Dynastie Nan (502-557), in the collection of the texts of Xiao Tong (501-531), which is not other than the oldest son of the emperor Liang Wudi, Xiao Yan. The term indicates there the military techniques in general which were named before “technical of warlike combat” (jiji) and “arts” (wuyi). The concept of military techniques is included/understood like means of preserving a kingdom, of preserving the dynasty and of preserving the physical integrity of the leader.

The term “wushu” was not very used during Chinese antiquity, it was really spread only at the end of the Qing dynasty and after the advent of the Chinese Republic in 1911. In 1915, My Liang publishes its famous handbook of drive which it names “new Chinese martial arts”. As from this time, the term “wushu” loses of its direction of techniques of safeguardings in military matter to indicate rather a type of traditional sports activity. This change takes into account the contribution of the Western design of the sport (hygiene physical and rationality anatomo - physiological) and the Chinese traditional medical designs . The used definition of wushu in the handbooks becomes then: manner of practicing and of using arts of combat, the practices and techniques related (gymnastic, sporting hygiene, etc) and esthetic or gymnic codified sequences.

External boxings and internal boxings

This distinction was built in China at the end of the 19th century and fits generally in confrontation between the Western designs of the body (medical, anthropological, biomechanical, etc) and the energy designs (Buddhist taoist and ) of traditional Chinese medicine.

In Europe, this distinction interns/external consists in considering that the external styles use the physical force and speed like principles of drive and the styles internal the control of breathing, relaxation and slowness to guide energy (IQ). This design rests on a knowledge of the internal styles which stops in Taiji style yang popularized in China after 1956 (Taiji with therapeutic function), to the ignorance of the other internal styles such as Shunshi quan, Xingyi quan, Bagua zhang, Liuhebafa quan, and with martial dimensions of these styles. This erroneous design also rests on the ignorance of specific IQ gong to each Externe style. The popularity of this distinction is undoubtedly to bring closer to the desire to intellectualize a body practice by concepts not belonging to the scientific disciplines but to the médico-monk fields.

The examination of the martial applications of the internal styles and the external styles shows that the basic principles are identical and that only the practices differ. We by convenience preserved this distinction even if, for the Chinese teachers of the traditional styles, it does not have any direction.

External boxings: waijia 外家

They are classified in “Boxings of North” and “Boxings of the South”. But, for better losing itself in the innumerable Chinese styles, a boxing bearing the same name in the south and north, is often practiced in a completely different way.

It is necessary to distinguish the generic name from the style and its alternatives (branches):

Example: the Tang Lang quan (style of the religious mante) which is subdivided in Taiji Tang Lang, meihua tang Lang, etc is approximately 20 styles all different of Tang Lang quan.

Some styles:

Bai He quan : box white crane, boxes south (province of Fujian). This style is subdivided in five principal styles: Feihe quan, Minghe quan, Zonghe quan, Shihe quan, Suhe quan.

Baimei quan : box created by the monk Baimei taoist of the province of Sichuan and which lived under the dynasty of Qing (1644 - 1911).

Baji quan : box of the eight extremes, also called Kaimenbaiji quan (boxes of the eight directions of opening of the doors) or Yueshanbaiji quan (boxes of the eight directions of the Yueshan mount) would be originating in the County of Cangxian province of Hebei. This boxing of inspiration taoist was transmitted primarily within the Muslim community as of Hui. Writings report the trace of a Moslem “Wu Zhong” (1712-1802) teacher of Baji quan in the MengCun village of the County of Cangxian/Hebeï.

Cha quan : box of the Cha family, created by Cha Mier (1568 - 1644), traditional style of the north of China practiced within the Hui community (Moslem Chinese). This style is subdivided in three distinct branches: Yang, Zhang and Li. A branch of synthesis at summer created recently as well as an alternative close to modern Chang quan.

Chang quan : “long fist” - traditional style of the north of China. Not to confuse with CAT read named chang quan of Shaolin, nor the modern style chang quan created in 1956 on the initiative of the Institute of the Sports of Nanjing and which mixes several traditional styles of the north of China (Cha quan, Hong quan, Hua quan…).

Choy Lee Was or Tsai Li fo: synthesis at the 19th century of three styles of the south: Choy gar , Lee gar and Was gar .

Ditang quan : box collapse.

Fan quan : box swivelling/integrated system into various styles: cha quan , tang Lang quan (fan che), Shaolin quan.

Fanzi quan : box revolving, also called boxes of continuous attack. Subdivides itself in many other styles. Style practiced especially in the community Today.

Gou quan : box dog.

He quan : box crane. Generic term to indicate very many styles in connection with this bird: Yongchun baihe quan , Baihe quan , Xiaja quan , LAMA quan , Shizihou quan …

Hongjia quan : box of the Hong family. Box south of China and more precisely practiced with Canton.

Hou quan : box monkey. Subdivides itself in several distinct styles in north and the south.

Hung Gar : box of the Hung family, style of synthesis between Tigre and Crane. It is especially applied to the south of China.

Huxing quan : box tiger.

Keijia quan : box of the family of Keijia. They are communities of the north of China come to settle in the provinces of the south. They practice styles which theirs are clean: Diaojiao jiao , Lijia jiao , Niujia jiao , Yujia jiao , Zhoujia jiao , Zhujia jiao .

Liu He Men : Box of six coordinations. This style of Kung fu is a boxing originating in the north of China. This boxing of six coordinations was transmitted to the beginning of the 20th century by the Master Zhao Xin Zhou and Wan Laisheng

Liuhe quan : box of the six unions, also called boxes of the six combinations. Three styles of boxing carry this name, all originating in the north of China and especially practiced in the Hui community. Like all boxings of the north of the community Today, they are characterized by the use of the flexibility of the spinal column, the rotation movements of the size and the force in whip at the time of the impact.

Three boxings bearing this name would go down, according to the legend, of the monastery of Shaolin de Songshan.

*Le “liuhe quan” of the province of Hebei was transmitted by Tian Chunkui to the 19th century. It is composed of four sequences without weapon.

*Le “liuhe quan” distinct from the first (above) date of the 17th century and was transmitted by CAD Zhenpeng. This style is practiced still today by the Hui community of Cangsian.

*Le “liuhe quan” of the province of Sichuan was transmitted by Yu Zhenlin at the beginning of the 19th century.

Liuhebafa quan : box of the six combinations and the eight techniques. Being claimed style of the monk taoist Chen Xiyi at the beginning of the dynasty of Song (960 - 1127). The examination of the techniques, the combinations and the principles of this style show that it is much more recent and contemporary of other boxings having same affinities (Cha quan, Liuhe quan, Tongbei quan…). This style is also classified in the styles Interns

Long quan or “Long Zhuang”: box dragon of the province of Fujian. This style goes back to Peng Decheng of the end of the dynasty of the Qing.

Long Ying Mo Kiu : “The shape of the Dragon which sticks and crosses the distance”. Traditional martial art of the area of Guanggong. Built at the beginning of the century by the buddhist monk Dayu. Is characterized by a work of the power and speed and by an explosive force for the confirmed practitioner.

Meihua quan : box flower of Mei. Subdivides itself in many alternatives.

Mizong quan : box lost trace. Also called “Yangquin quan” of the name of a hero of a novel of the 12th century “Shui Hu Zhuan”. Style originating in the province of Shandong. Subdivides itself in eight different alternatives.

Nan quan : generally indicate the styles of the south of China. Since 1956, indicates a “modern” boxing elaborate starting from several styles confined whose sequences ( CAT read ) are used as standards of competition.

CAM quan : today box fist gun/integrated system into various styles ( cha quan , Shaolin quan , Taiji style Chen ) and disappeared as an autonomous style.

Shaolin quan : boxings of Shaolin. Under this name various boxings are gathered of which some do not have a relationship with the Temple of Shaolin. Name makes reference to a method or system and not with an origin. Subdivides itself in many distinct styles and many branches.

She quan : box snake. Subdivides itself in several distinct styles in north and the south.

Tang Lang Hu Shi : box tiger and religious mante. Style of synthesis of the south of China.

Tang Lang quan : box religious mante - Boxing originating in the province of Shandong. Subdivides itself in very many styles.

TongBei quan : literally, the boxing of the crossed back. Box developed especially by the Hui community. The arms and the legs are used lengthened and completely slackened, they are launched by a movement of whip of the spinal column. Very flexible style, very sharp and which is accompanied by slappings of the hands on the arms and the thighs. Subdivides itself in three styles: Baiyuantongbei quan , Piguatongbei quan and Wuxingtonbei quan .

Wing Chun : Yong Chun Quan, in pinyin Mandarin. Literally boxes radiant spring - boxes south created at the 18th century by a Buddhist nun: Ng Mui, initially practicing style of the White Crane. Subdivides itself in several alternatives and a branch specific to Vietnam.

Ying quan : box eagle. Subdivides itself in several distinct styles in north and the south

Yuanyan quan : box mandarin duck. Style originating in the north of China. Its principles and its movements are close to Cha quan.

Ziran men : box or natural style, boxes inspiration taoist constituting a synthesis between the styles of north and the south.

Zui Jiu quan : box of the drunk man.

Internal boxings: neijia

They are numerous. Most known are:

Ringed zhang (Pa Kua chuan): palm of the eight Trigramme S. is subdivided in five principal styles: Cheng, Yi, My, Song, Liu. There exist other styles of Ringed Zhang which were not listed or are regarded as “incomplete”.

Da Cheng quan or “Great famous achievement of the gasoline of boxing” Yi quan in 1949: box great compilation. This style declares being the synthesis of the internal styles.

Taiji quan (Tai Chi chuan): Tài Jí Quán in Pinyin. Box Supreme Ridge. Subdivides itself in several distinct styles: style Chen, Yang (most known), Wu, Sun, Li, etc Each one of these styles subdividing themselves in alternatives.

Xingyi quan (Hsing I Chuan): box body and spirit. Subdivides itself in several other styles.

Liuhebafa quan : box of the six combinations (see in external boxings).

Shunshi quan : style originating in the province of Hunan. It is characterized by very lengthened postures and the alternation of slow and fast movements.

Boxings of the Mount Wudang : in fact boxings taoists would be originating in the monasteries of the mount Wudang (province of Hebeî). Currently, under this name, are practiced styles of recent creation which mix Bagua quan, Taiji quan and exercises of gymnastics taoists.

Techniques common to the various styles

Basic postures

Note : The postures described below are practiced in several styles taught in Europe. It is however possible that there exist alternatives from one school to another, as well in the name of the posture, as in the posture itself. Also the names and descriptions of the following positions are presented only as an indication.

the Riding (My Drunk - position associated with the element with the Earth): on both sides isolated legs of the body, parallel feet, knees folded, bust forwards. 50 % of the weight rests on each foot. The basin should not rock backwards. It is the most stable position.
the Not in arc , or Arc and Flèche (Drunk Gong - position associated with the element with Wood): leg before folded, back leg tended, bust forwards. According to the styles, the angle of the feet compared to the legs can change. 70 % of the weight rests on the front leg. Offensive position, which makes it possible to strike foot and fist quickly.
Drunk Tim (position associated with the element with Fire): posture on a leg, points foot before tended, slightly with the top of the ground central bust. 100 % of the weight rests on the back leg. This position makes it possible to strike foot before very quickly.
the Héron (Ti Xi): posture on a leg, knee raised high, point of the foot tended, bust forwards or of three quarters. 100 % of the weight rests on the back leg. This position makes it possible to strike foot very quickly.
the Goat (Drunk Jorma or Yi jee ki yum my - position associated with the element Metal): typical position of the Wing Chun and other styles metal. The feet are isolated width of the shoulders), the knees and the feet slightly sunken towards the interior. Stable position, allowing to quickly mobilize arm and legs in body with body and offering a protection of the body thanks to an attitude in “closing”. This posture is called thus because the practitioner is supposed to be able to retain a goat between his thighs.
the CAT Drunk (associate with the element of Water) not of dodging on the side, the leg on the side of dodging passes to the top of the other leg and “the eye of the foot” (interior of the foot) moves to 45° towards outside. The weight rests entirely on the leg which is posed. It is a frequent position in the traditional style of the Cobra for example.
the not shaving (Drunk Pu): the front leg is tended, the folded back leg. The bust is turned of 90° compared to Drunk the Gong position. 70 % of the weight rests on the back leg. Defensive position and of dodging.
the Pas empties (Xu Bu): the back leg is folded (the foot, the navel and the head form a line), the front leg is slightly posed on the point. The bust is turned forwards. 80 % of the weight on the back leg. Position allowing to strike foot quickly, to dodge or to fold up themselves.
the Dragon (Drunk Sie) or Not Sitted: leg before slightly folded, turned foot with 90°, leg postpones slightly folded, foot on the point. The bust is unobtrusive of three-quarter. The back knee must be exactly above the front heel. 80 % of the weight rests on the front leg. Position of attack, allowing to arm a kick, or to change axis.
the Tiger (Drunk Kwai): position of reinforcement of the legs and abdominal, leg before folded like drunk gong, knee of the back leg shaving the ground with the right of the foot of the front leg, without touching the ground, support with the point of the foot or edge of the foot on the ground.

A usually practiced drive consists in going while passing from one posture to the other, the legs of support bent to the maximum.

There exist other postures, but they either are used as muscle-development exercise, or specific to certain styles.

the interest of the posture is multiple:

To reinforce the muscles, bone and articulations of the legs (and even the remainder of the body) in order to strike and to be struck without wound.
To allow fast displacements in all the directions, by exposing the least possible its vital points.
To put the body in optimal positions to connect the offensive and defensive techniques.
To forge the will by holding the same posture a long time.

Breathing

As in all martial arts, breathing is paramount in the wushu. According to the schools or philosophies (Buddhist or taoist for example), the ways of breathing can be different, but all agree however on the importance of ventral breathing and the importance to blow while striking and while blocking (being able to differ from the theories of certain internal arts). Certain schools insist on the importance, in combat, to listen to the breathing of the adversary, in order to strike it when it inspires. These same styles recommend to the combatants to mask their own breathing. Other styles on the contrary insist on the importance to release its IQ with the most violence and thus of possible noise, following the example Karate.

Certain exercises of breathing make it possible moreover to the practitioners to reinforce their internal bodies (lungs, heart, etc).

Theory of the blow

As we saw higher, the wushu is an external martial art which regards the body as a solid. The principal goal of the blow is thus to break this solid. To be done, the practitioner will have to harden the zones of striking of his body, but to also harden his weak points in preparation for the blows which it will receive. For that, the majority of the styles have techniques of reinforcement taking of the various names in their application, as the “iron shirt”. These methods of reinforcement and revitalization interns are called IQ Gong, i.e. work on the breath, vital energy.

Strike hand

The blow is mainly carried hand (opened or closed) or foot. A punch to be effective must be launched by a rotation movement of legs. The foot, then the hip turn, giving speed and thus of the power to the arm which will finish the movement. The “basic” punch of Chinese boxings is called Ming chuen, i.e. the “fist clearness”. The Ming character is consisted of the ideograms “the moon” and “sun”; indeed Ming chuen is direct launched closed fist, palm to the top and downwards finishes fist closed palm. It is also called “twisted punch”. Thus the fist passes through all the positions of hands since low striking to the stomach until high striking to the face while passing by short striking (Jik chuen: punch heel, much used in Wing Chun) modifiable in uppercut with the projection of the fist. This simple basic contains almost all the complexity of arts of the fist of China. One distinguishes several type from strike hands:

the simple fist (associate with Fire)
the fist “phoenix”, closed fist, striking with the second phalange of the index supported ahead by the inch. For strike precise, request a certain control.
the “leg of couguar”, opened palm, closed inch and the first two phalanges of the hand closed. Useful for the spades, the palms and the seizures (partners with Wood).
the leg of Tiger, palms ahead, fingers contracted to seize and scratch (element Wood).
the palm (associate with the Earth).
the edge (associate with Metal).
the spade (associate with Water).
the wrist, with the folded up hand (boxes of the drunk man, monkey, mante, etc)
and others still more specialized…

Strike foot

The wushu is famous for its complex and spectacular kicks, although all the styles do not exploit all these techniques. Contrary to the karate, which is practiced barefeet exclusively, the practitioner of kung fu can carry shoes. The blows thus go more with the plant of the foot, the section or the heel that with the bowl of the foot.

Strike other parts of the body

In wushu one can also strike with the elbows, knees, fingers, head, posterior, all articulations and even bite. These techniques are learned but must be useful only in the event of strict need in the street. It is the original principle of martial art.

Weapons of the wushu

China is a country where the wars stopped only to leave the place to the rebellions. It is thus logical that the most various weapons appeared in this country, and this good before the invention of the wushu. One can distinguish two main categories of weapons: the weapons which were conceived like means of killing (sword, pile or lance, etc) and them weapons which are a diversion of a use of work (agricultural tools, tools of hunting, tools of craftsmen, etc). One distinguishes also the short weapons adapted to the close combat or fights of fray (sword, saber, dagger, etc), the long weapons adapted to the remote combat (infantryman against rider for example: launch, halberd, etc) and them weapons of jet.

Certain schools of wushu use a nomenclature in which would be listed eighteen traditional weapons, others affirm that there would be 108 traditional weapons. Figures which referent only with their dimension symbolic system but taken with serious by practitioners little with the fact of picturesque constructions of the “Chinese thought”.

Mao: Lance, with or without hooks;
Chui: mass of weapons which it was possible to launch;
Gong: arc;
Naked: Crossbow (very old in China);
Chong: vouge or fauchard (lance equipped with a long blade);
Bian: blade sword very flexible and corrugated, usable like a steel whip. Possibly equipped with sections;
Jian: two types of swords with double edge and two hands. Either the section was square, or it was broader on the level of the point than towards the guard;
Lian: chain ballasted;
Yue: Guisarme. Chop furnished with a point;
Ge: short lance;
Ji: Halberd;
Feeds: Shield;
Bang: stick of weapon, shoed;
Qiang: fork of war;
Pa: rake equipped with sharp-edged blades;

Notice linguistic: there exists much of different names for the same weapon, because of the richness Linguistique of the China.

There of course exists a whole crowd of more or less exotic weapons, more or less improvised by people seeking to defend oneself with the tools or objects of the daily newspaper. Here is a nonexhaustive list:

the lance;
the halberd (lance allowing to prick and slice);
mass;
the Saber chained (saber handled by a chain fixed at its handle);
twin sabers (two in the same sleeve);
the knives butterflies (two short sabers, used for the Wing Chun, not to confuse with the knives Filipino butterflies);
the bumblebee (large ballasted stick, very appreciated by the monks of formerly);
the stool or the bench;
the sword of the taoists whose point alone was sharpened in order to tire the adversary by heavy bleeding, without having to kill it;
the chain (with links, section, ballasted or not);
the range (generally out of iron or bamboo);
the stick with three handles or tribaton;
the hooks of the tiger;
needles of launched;
very varied weapons of jet.

The training and the choice of the weapons depended on the taught style and the school (hook of the Tang Lang quan, stick of the Shaolin quan, half-moons of Ringed quan, etc) but also social status of the practitioner: sword for the aristocracy, sabers for the judge and the soldier, launches for the infantryman, stick for the monk. Some weapons were specific to a corporation: long hammer of the blacksmith, rows of the boatman.

Certain styles have specific weapons which are their specialities: short hooks of the Tang Lang quan, range of the Taiji quan, half-moons of Ringed quan, knives butterflies of the Wing chun, stick of the Shaolin quan, sword of the Chang quan, etc Whatever the taught styles, some weapons common to all and are regarded as bases making it possible to control the whole of the weapons:

the long stick;
the sword;
the saber.

The techniques of weapons (stick, sword, saber, halberd, etc) are common with their specificities to external boxings as interns.

IQ gong

The techniques of IQ gong were initially integrated into the whole of boxings. They were regarded as belonging to the wushu . Each boxing having developed the IQ gong adapted to its characteristics. Today, one tends to consider, in a very reducing way, that only the internal styles have a practice of the IQ gong.

Just like martial arts IQ Gong knows many methods and alternatives.

Zhi Neng IQ Gong (IQ Gong of Wisdom) worked out by Pang He Ming. In France, Zhou Jing Hong introduced this alternative.
Zhan Zhuang Kung (works in posture upright) elaborate by Wang Zhiang Zai and forming integral part of the Yi Quan and Da Cheng Quan
Ba duan jin: also called eight parts of Gibe
Daoyin Yangshen Gong: Modern Chinese method created by Master Zhang Guang Of for the prevention and the treatment of the diseases

Stories and legends

Dynasty Zhou (11th century - 256 BC): a kind of fight called “jiaoli” was regarded as a military sport as well as the car with the arc and the races of carriages.

The period of the wars of states (403 - 221 BC): they were the source of many strategies revealing the importance of the wushu to build a strong army. In reference to Sunzi, the first Chinese work on the art of the war: “the fight and the exercises of combat reinforce the physical capacities of the soldiers”. Among the Masters out of sword at the time, the women were not rare. One of them, Yuenü, was invited by the Goujian emperor to show very his techniques of sword, recognized on the level during many generations.

Dynasties Qin (221 - 206 BC and Han (206 BC - 220 AD): they saw growing martial arts such as the shoubo (fight) and the jiaodi at the time which the participants clashed with horns on the head. In addition, there was a theatrical dance which put in scene movements préarrangés with weapons of all kinds, like the sabers and the lances, with the image of the current figures of wushu.

Dynasty Jin (265-439) and Southern and Northern dynasties (420-581): the wushu took care of a Bouddhiste influence and Taoist. Ge Hong (284-364), a famous doctor and philosopher taoist, added to the wushu the qigong (respiratory exercises), an essential branch of Chinese traditional medicine. Its theories of “external work and intern” of the wushu are still universally recognized nowadays.

Dynasty Tang (618 - 907): their system of examination largely contributed to the development of the wushu. Indeed, the officers and soldiers were to pass from the tests of martial arts to be promoted. Titles of honor such as “warrior of courage” or “warrior of the agility” were allotted to the Masters in wushu.

Dynasty Song (960 - 1279): she saw appearing a multitude of schools of wushu. For this period, athletes carried out acrobatics in the streets, with a going repertory of “the sword against the shield” with the “lance against the shield”, and of the demonstrations with others weapons. To believe of it a chronicle of the town of Kaifeng, these spectacles of street “attracted huge crowd the every day, in summer or winter, which it rains or which it sale”.

Dynasty Ming (1368 - 1644): the wushu thrived like never before. IQ Jiguang, a general very known, retranscribed in a book sixteen styles different of exercises with naked hands and forty other styles of lance and stick, each one accompanied by explanations and detailed illustrations. It also developed a series of theories and methods of drive, thus contributing a broad share to the wushu.

During the dynasty Qing (1644 - 1911), in spite of the imperial orders prohibiting the popular practice of the wushu, the schools and the secret groups the ones appeared after the others to spread this sport. It is for this period that the schools of TaiJi, Pigua and “of the eight-diagrams” were born.

The organization of the wushu in China at the 20th century

After the proclamation of the Republic of China in 1912 by Sun Yat-SEN (Sun Zhongshan in Mandarin), the country opens with the Western influence in fields various: so sporting scientists, techniques but.

There is an attempt to reconsider traditional Chinese martial arts from the “modern” point of view more: physical preparations, specificities of the heating, hygiene of the sportsman, gymnic designs of the movements, etc I.e. to set up the bases of a “physical education” of martial arts.

1909 : creation of the “Athletic Association of Martial Knowledge” (Jingwu Tiyu Today) in Shanghai.
1911 : Jingwu Tiyu Hui opens schools in all China but also with Saigon (Vietnam), with Singapore, in Malaysia,…
1927: foundation of the “Central Institute of National Art” (Zhongyang Guoshou Guan) with Nanjing (Nankin)
1928: with Nanjing, organization of the first national competition of Chinese martial arts by the Central Institute of National Art
1950: first political wills of unification of the wushu with an aim of contributing to pubic health, at a great meeting of all the provinces of China under the aegis of the Chinese Communist party.
1953 : creation of the first official festival of Gong fu Wushu of the Popular republic of China.
1954 : first courses of wushu at the University of the Sports of Nankin.
1956 : the “National Commission of Physical education” (Guojia Ti Wei) carries out a synthesis of several boxings of the north of China in order to create a “sporting” boxing more. This boxing was called Chang quan (long fist or boxes long). This modern Chang quan wanted to be an official synthesis several Moslem boxings: Cha quan, Hooted quan, CAM quan and Hong quan, all selected for their gymnic qualities (tonicity, stretching) and choreographic.

Official creation of the section wushu at the National center of the Sports of Beijing (equivalent of our Federation) and of twelve leagues in the provinces. Development policy of the wushu by the installation of demonstrations with classification according to the level of practice.

1957 : installation of competitions with established rules, from where emergent first recognized champions. On this occasion, the first payment is published: “Jing Saï CAT Lu” on the Chang quan, the Nan quan and the Taiji quan.

In parallel, a second book is published in order to promote these disciplines, to encourage youth to develop “a healthy mind in a healthy body”. This book describes the practices of competition to naked hands and with weapons, according to the levels.

1968 : during “the Cultural revolution” the schools of wushu are closed, the professors are shown to propagate a feudal art and envoys in rehabilitation, many files are destroyed.
1972 : after excesses and destruction of the Cultural revolution, is decided a great national census of the styles, schools and professors of wushu by the Institutes of the Sports of Province. Approximately 200 styles are listed and of many other unclassable or incomplete are not indexed. Cinematographic documents, writings, photographs are collected and give place to road shows. These files “sleep” in the libraries of the Institutes of the Sports and would require to be used.

With the introduction of the competitions, the National center of the Sports had to find common rules with the multitude of the styles practiced in China. All the traditional styles of north were gathered under the term of “Chang quan” and all those of the south, under the term of “Nan quan”. Each one of these two disciplines took again the common criteria and the relevant characteristics of the old styles concerned, to show quintessence of it.

1990 : for ideological or conclusive reasons (?) the modern styles Chang quan and Nan quan lose their martial characters and derive towards gymnic and lifting practices. The same change appears in the styles of animalist imitations, the styles of Shaolin or the internal styles of competition. The fracture between traditional styles and modern styles seems today completely institutionalized by creation in China of a Chinese Federation of Traditional Martial arts.

The wushu is today a sporting discipline with an international federation (IWUF), federations continental and national federations (FFW.aemc: French federation of Wushu and Arts Energy and Martial Chinese) all recognized by the International Olympic committee (CIO). The championships of the world take place every two years. Three competitions take place during the international championships: competition of San Da, competition of Taolu (sequences) and competition of Taiji quan. The first championship of the world of wushu took place with Beijing in 1991.

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