武术英语

武术英文

Wushu (

武術

or

武术

; pinyin: wu

s

hu?

) literally means

commonly used much the same way as the popular term kung fu, referring

specifically to Chinese martial arts, but is in China also used as a general

term for any martial art. Today, many also use wushu, modern wushu or

contemporary wushu as a name for the modern styles of Chinese martial arts

that are practiced solely for exhibition and competition.

Translation

The word wushu consists of two Chinese characters.

武

(wu

)

, meaning

martial or military, and

術

(

shu?

), which translates into art, skill or method.

Together these form

s

hu?

character

武

(wu

)

is actually a combination of two other characters:

止

(zhǐ)

and

戈

(ge

)

. The first means to stop or halt something, and the latter

symbolizes an ancient Chinese weapon similar to a spear. Notice that a

stroke symbolizing a dagger on the side of the character

Because of this, many consider a more detailed translation of wushu to be

Western term self- defense. This aspect plays a major role in the philosophies

that are present in many Chinese martial arts, which emphasize that the best

way to defeat an enemy is to do so without fighting, and that the easiest way

to not fight is to avoid situations that might lead to any fighting at all.

Contemporary Wushu

Wushu, modern wushu, and contemporary wushu often refer to the modern

recompilations of traditional wushu forms created in the People's Republic of

China. These are practiced as a demonstration sport, much like gymnastics,

and judged and given points according to specific rules. Similar to

gymnastics, there are separate events, the main ones being:

Barehand

長拳

Changquan (Long Boxing)

南拳

Nanquan (Southern Boxing)

太極拳

Taijiquan (Taiji Boxing)

Short Weapons

刀

Dao (Broadsword)

劍

Jian (Straightsword)

太極劍

Taijijian (Taiji Straightsword)

南刀

Nandao (Southern Broadsword)

Long Weapons

棍

Gun (Staff)

槍

Qiang (Spear)

南棍

Nangun (Southern Staff)

Most events were first set up in 1958.

Changquan refers to long-range extended wushu styles like Chaquan (

查拳

),

Huaquan (

華拳

), Hongquan (

洪拳

), and Shaolinquan (

少林拳

), but the wushu

event is a modern style derived from movements of these and other

traditional styles. Changquan is the most widely-seen of the wushu events,

and includes whirling, running, leaping, and acrobatics. Changquan is difficult

to perform, requiring great flexibility and athleticism, and is often practiced

from a young age.

Nanquan refers to wushu styles originating in south China (i.e., south of the

Yangtze river), including Hongjiaquan (

洪家拳

), Cailifoquan (

蔡李佛拳

), and

Yongchunquan (

詠春拳

). Many are known for vigorous, athletic movements

with very stable, low stances and intricate hand movements. The wushu

event is a modern style derived from movements of these and other

traditional southern styles. Nanquan requires less flexibility than Changquan,

has fewer acrobatics, and is thus easier for young adults to practice. This

event was created in 1960.

Taijiquan is a wushu style famous for slow, relaxed movements, and often

seen as an exercise method for old people. The wushu event is a modern

recompilization based on the Yang (

楊

) style of Taijiquan, but also including

movements of the Chen (

陳

), Wu (

吳

), Wu (

武

), and Sun (

孫

) styles.

Dao refers to any curved, one-sided sword/blade, but the wushu event is a

Changquan method of using a medium- sized willow-leaf-shaped dao (

柳葉

刀

).

Jian refers to any double-edged straight sword/blade, but the wushu event is

a Changquan method of using the jian.

Gun refers to a long staff slightly less tall than the user with his arms

stretched up, but the wushu event is a Changquan method of using the gun.

Qiang refers to a flexible spear with red hair attached to the spearhead, but

the wushu event is a Changquan method of using the qiang.

Taijijian is an event using the jian based on traditional Taijiquan jian

methods.

Nandao is a weapon that appears to be based on the butterfly swords of

Yongchunquan, but has been lengthened and changed so that only one is

used (as opposed to a pair). This event is a Nanquan method, and was

created in 1992.

Nangun is a Nanquan method of using the gun. This event was created in

1992.

These events are performed using compulsory or individual routines in

competition. Compulsory routines are those routines that have been already

created for the athlete, resulting in each athlete performing basically the

same set. Individual routines are routines that an athlete creates with the aid

of his/her coach, while following certain rules for difficulty, number of

acrobatics, etc.

International wushu competitions most often use compulsory routines, while

high-level competitions in China most often use individual routines. A single

event will not use both compulsory and individual routines, but one or the

other.

Traditional routines are also used in compeition in events separate from the

compulsory and individual routine events, especially in China. The routines

used are often new, modernized recompilations of traditional styles. Some of

the more commonly seen styles include:

Xingyiquan (

形意拳

) - Shape-Intent Fist

Baguazhang (

八卦掌

) - Eight-Trigrams Palm

Bajiquan (

八極拳

) - Eight Extremes Fist

Fanziquan (

翻子拳

) - Overturning Fist

Chuojiao (

戳腳

) - Poking Feet

Tongbeiquan (

通背拳

) - Through-the-Back Fist

Piguaquan (

劈掛拳

) - Chop-Hitch Fist

Chaquan (

查拳

) - Cha Fist

Huaquan (

華拳

) - Hua Fist

Paoquan (

炮拳

) - Cannon Fist

Houquan (

猴拳

) - Monkey Fist

Tanglangquan (

螳螂拳

) - Praying Mantis Fist

Ditangquan (

地躺拳

) - Ground-Prone Fist

Zuijiuquan (

醉酒拳

) - Drunken Fist

Yingzhaoquan (

鷹爪拳

) - Eagle Claw Fist

Shequan (

蛇拳

) - Snake Fist

Similarly, there is also a traditional weapons category, which often includes

the following:

Changsuijian (

長穗劍

) - Long-Tasseled Sword

Shuangshoujian (

雙手劍

) - Two-Handed Sword

Jiujiebian (

九節鞭

) - Nine Section Whip

Sanjiegun (

三節棍

) - Three Section Staff