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Kung Fu / Wushu

Hundreds of Chinese styles under one word – from Shaolin forms to modern competition wushu and sanda.

Origin
China
Region
East Asia
Founded
centuries of regional styles; modern wushu standardised from the 1950s
Category
Traditional
Ink painting of Bodhidharma, the bearded Buddhist patriarch, wrapped in a robe, by the Japanese painter Unkoku Tōgan.
Bodhidharma by Unkoku Tōgan, late 16th century. Metropolitan Museum of Art, public domain.

“Kung fu” (功夫) means skill acquired through effort; “wushu” (武术) means martial arts. Both words cover a huge family of Chinese systems: northern and southern styles, internal arts such as tai chi and baguazhang, animal styles, and the temple-linked Shaolin traditions. From the 1950s the People's Republic standardised modern wushu as a performance sport, and the International Wushu Federation (founded 1990) organises competition in forms (taolu) and full-contact fighting (sanda).

Character

  • Forms (taolu): Long sequences that train coordination, power generation and stance work.
  • Sanda / sanshou: Chinese kickboxing with throws – the fighting side of modern wushu.
  • Traditional styles: Each with its own stances, weapons and strategy; Wing Chun, Hung Gar and Choy Li Fut are well-known southern examples.
  • Weapons: Staff, broadsword, straight sword and spear are the classic four.

Who is it for?

Anyone who wants depth, variety and a strong cultural thread. Because the umbrella is so wide, the school matters more than the name: ask whether training is forms-only, includes sanda, or both.

Further reading: Kung Fu / Wushu on Wikipedia

Kung Fu / Wushu

History

Kung Fu / Wushu

Compared with other arts