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Wushu History (01)
'Wushu'
literaly means martial art. However it's widely used to indicate the modern more
sports oriëntated styles.
In the
end of the 1940's, when China had become communistic, a lot of the old kung fu-
/ wushu- masters had fled to Taiwan and Hongkong, where they still
practise kung fu / wushu the 'old' way.
In the
new China however the leaders didn't see of wushu as important for its
martial values, however they saw the physical importance in it.
That's
why in the 1950's the 'State Physical Culture and Sports Commision' was created,
with as one of its tasks, to promote massive sport practition.
The most
famous wushu masters were asked to create a new form of wushu, with less the
emphasis only on the martial values, but also on a more sports-orientated side
of it all.
They created the next events :
- Barehanded
- 長拳 Changquan
(Long Fist)
- 南拳 Nanquan
(Southern Fist)
- 太極拳 Taijiquan
(Taiji Fist)
- Short Weapons
- 刀 Dao
(single-edged sword)
- 劍 Jian
(double-edged sword)
- 太極劍 Taijijian
(Taiji double-edged sword)
- 南刀 Nandao
(Southern single-edged sword)
- Long Weapons
- 棍 Gun
(Staff)
- 槍 Qiang
(Spear)
- 南棍 Nangun
(Southern Staff)
Most events were first set up in 1958.
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.
In addition to events for individual
routines, some wushu competitions also feature dual and group events. The dual
event, also called duilian (对练),
is an event in which there is some form of sparring with weapons, or without
weapons or even using bare hands against weapons. The dual event is usually
spectacular and actions are choreographed before hand. The group event, also
known as jiti (集体),
requires a group of people to perform together and smooth synchronization of
actions are crucial. Usually, the group event also allows instrumental music to
accompany the choreography during the performance. The carpet used for the group
event is also larger than the one used for individual routines.
With the
creation of standardised forms, from techniques of different styles, combined
with new 'estetic' elements, the new wushu was born.
This
doesn't mean however, that the techniques don't have a martial value anymore.
When used in the right way, the techniques of the modern wushu forms are still
lethal...
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