Chinese Martial Arts

Chinese martial arts is a general term for numerous fighting systems originating in China. In English they are called "Chinese martial arts", but the world knows them mainly by the terms "kung fu" and "wushu". These systems employ strikes, kicks, grappling, throws and use of handheld weapons such as swords, staffs and spears.

The various systems are not all the same. They comprise hundreds of schools with their own training methods, philosophical approaches and distinct theories. Some emphasize strength and speed, others focus on breathing, balance and flowing movement.

Terminology

The word "wushu" means "the art of combat". It is the official name used in China today, particularly for the sport form. "Kung fu" (gongfu) originally meant a skill acquired through long work and practice; Western languages have used it specifically for unarmed combat. Another term is "quanfa", meaning "the way of the fist".

History and Origins

Training in Chinese unarmed combat has a long history tied to the military, village defense and religious practice. Oral traditions link some systems to monasteries in the Shaolin tradition in Henan province, and also to Wudang mountain. Historians of the subject note that many of these accounts contain legendary elements and cannot be fully verified by historical record.

Classification of Systems

These systems are commonly divided into two broad categories: "internal" styles (neijia) such as taijiquan, xingyiquan and baguazhang, which emphasize breathing, coordination and qi (vital energy as understood in Chinese tradition); and "external" styles (waijia) based on muscular strength, speed and rigorous physical training. This division is a conventional one rather than a scientific one; many schools blend both approaches.

Forms and Training

A central part of training is "taolu" — choreographed sequences of movements practiced for defense, posture changes and balance. There is also two-person training, controlled sparring, and strength and conditioning work. Some schools teach training with traditional weapons.

Sport and Global Spread

In the twentieth century, China developed a competitive wushu sport with standardized rules and scoring. There are two disciplines: taolu (form demonstration) and sanda (contact sparring with strikes and throws). Hong Kong and Chinese films, along with famous performers, made Chinese martial arts a global phenomenon, leading to the opening of schools in many countries.