The terms Wushu and Kung Fu
To describe exactly what Wushu is, you can fill many libraries. There are many different views, definitions, styles and divisions. The aim of this article is therefore not to present the reader with an absolute definition. It doesn't exist. Wushu is complex and interpreted in different ways, but herewith a simple and as generic introduction:
We use the term Wushu to describe the Chinese Martial Arts. But most people have never heard of Wushu (武术), yet have heard of Kung Fu (功夫). That's because the term Kung Fu has become known mainly through movies and pop culture. In most cases however, the two terms mean the same thing and often Wushu is the more correct term.
Confused already? Very well, keep reading :)
First of all, the literal meanings in Chinese:
Wushu = “Martial Art” or “Martial Art”
Kung Fu = “Mastery” or “Skills obtained with time and effort”
(By the way, Kung Fu is an old way of writing. In modern Pinyin you write it as Gong Fu. Just like Beijing used to be written as Peking)
In the last few decades, outside of China, the term Wushu has mainly been used to describe the modern Wushu Sport. Read on to find out why this is.
Traditional Kung Fu
When people talk about Traditional Kung Fu (or Traditional Wushu), they usually describe the Chinese styles, forms and techniques that were practiced before Wushu became a modern sport. This includes all forms, styles, families and clans within Chinese martial arts (such as Shaolin, Wudang, Shuaijiao (Chinese wrestling), Wing Chun, Piguaquan, Bajiquan, Chaquan etc.). Nowadays there are also modern variants of many of these styles, which are practiced at competitions.
So when is something traditional?
Opinions are divided on this, so the answer is not entirely black and white, but it is important to know that traditional does not mean "old". The main purpose of Traditional Kung Fu is that you can apply it in combat. It's a martial art after all. So almost any movement in a traditional form is an exercise to prepare for an attack or defense. However, there are also moves that refer to a piece of Chinese culture and are not directly applicable in a fight.
Traditional Kung Fu
Modern Wushu
In China, there has been a long history of simplifying and categorizing the many styles, but the most obvious tipping point where Wushu became modern occurred in the 1960s and 1970s during the Cultural Revolution. During this time, many old traditions (including Traditional Kung Fu) were banned and often replaced by 'modern alternatives'. At the time, the traditional form of Wushu was turned into a sport. As with Karate in Japan, styles were categorized and simplified. Forms (Taolu) were made which could be judged for correctness during competitions on certain criteria. The forms consisted of movements derived from traditional techniques, combined with acrobatics from Chinese opera. Full-contact fights were called Sanda or Sanshou (Chinese Kickboxing).
Modern Wushu
So which is better?
There is a lot of discussion worldwide about which is better; modern or traditional. The answer is very simple: It doesn't matter!
Modern Wushu is a wonderful sport to practice where you train the whole body and focus on strength, flexibility, speed and endurance. It increases your concentration, improves your balance, increases your perseverance, reduces stress…. and it's just really fun to do! Whether you want to participate in competitions or not.
Traditional Kung Fu is just as much fun to practice. It's less acrobatic, but more focused on defense and attack. It has a longer history and includes many more techniques and styles.
At Yunde Wushu we love both Modern and Traditional. We like to practice modern sport, but we also think it's important to know where that modern sport comes from. That is why you can practice both Modern Wushu and Traditional Wushu with us.
Tai Chi and Qigong
Was the above not complex enough? Then there's also Tai Chi (太极) and Qigong (气功). We will not go too deeply into these topics here, but will stick to a brief introduction.
Tai Chi was also once developed as a martial art, where almost any movement of a form can be used in combat. Performing these forms is slow and focuses on balance, concentration and breathing. Over time, people came to realize that practicing poses in this way brought many health benefits and that is why Tai Chi is mainly practiced for health today. Like Wushu, Tai Chi has undergone a modernization during the second half of the last century and nowadays you can also see Tai Chi with acrobatic movements at competitions.
Qigong is more static than Tai Chi and is not designed for combat, but purely for health. Qi Gong is beautiful in itself, but unfortunately mystified by many people and confused with 'magic tricks' of bad teachers and special effects in movies. Contrary to what you can see in some movies, “Qi” is not a magical energy source with which you can generate inhuman powers. Qi means “Air” or “Energy” in Chinese and is used to describe different ways of breathing and using energy. With the right balance between concentration, breathing, tension and relaxation, it is possible to generate a lot of power. It is good for health and can even be used in martial arts, but it is by no means a mysterious source of energy. Anyone can learn it.
Qigong has also been modernized in the last 20 years with the aim of making it a popular and accessible form of health exercise. This movement is called Health Qigong (健身气功).