Discover the art of Wushu: A fusion of combat, performance, and Chinese martial art

Naorem Roshibina Devi won the silver medal in the women's 60 kg Wushu sanda event.

Wushu is a sport based on Chinese martial arts that combines elements of fighting, performance and culture. It has a long and rich history in China and it is recognized as an official event in many international competitions. Wushu is the modern term for Chinese martial arts.

Martial arts have been practiced in China for thousands of years, as a way of self-defense, health and spiritual cultivation. Over time, different styles and techniques emerged, reflecting the diversity and creativity of Chinese culture.

Wushu was developed in 1949 as a way to standardize and promote the practice of traditional Chinese martial arts. The Central Guoshu Institute was established in 1928 to organize and regulate the various martial arts schools in China. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the government supported the development of Wushu as a national sport and encouraged its spread to other countries and regions.

Wushu has two main categories: Taolu and Sanda. Taolu is the performance aspect of Wushu, where athletes demonstrate their skills and abilities in a choreographed routine. Taolu routines can be performed individually or in groups, with or without weapons and with different degrees of difficulty and style. Taolu routines are judged by a panel of referees based on criteria such as difficulty, quality, coordination, speed, power, expression and overall impression.

Taolu containing exposed weapons and weapons structures, has 11 distinct schedules that fall under four fundamental classes. All schedules can be drilled as standard or with levels of trouble and all have explicit time ranges.

Categories

Barehanded, Short Weapons, Long Weapons and Traditional weapons routines.

Judging is based on a maximum of 10 points being scored:

Group A Judges (quality of movement) – total score of 5 points

Group B Judges (overall performance) – total score of 3 points

Group C Judges (degree of difficulty) – total score of 2 points

Sanda is the combat aspect of Wushu, where athletes spar with each other using punches, kicks, throws and grappling techniques. Sanda is also known as Sanshou or Chinese kickboxing. Sanda matches are held in a ring or on a platform and are divided into rounds. Sanda matches are supervised by a referee who can stop the fight or award points or penalties. Sanda matches are decided by knockout, technical knockout, points, or decision.

Wushu is governed by the International Wushu Federation (IWUF), which was founded on 3rd October 1990 and has over 150 member countries and regions. The IWUF organizes the World Wushu Championships every two years, as well as other continental and regional events. The IWUF also works to promote Wushu as an Olympic sport and to improve the standards and quality of Wushu around the world.

Some of the famous Wushu athletes are Daria Tarasova from Russia, who has won numerous international competitions and medals in Taolu events. Yuan Wenqing from Hong Kong, is known for his expertise in the Chenguang style. Jet Li from China, is one of the most successful Wushu players of all time and a popular actor.

Wushu is also an official event at the Asian Games, East Asian Youth Games, Southeast Asian Games, World Combat Games, and other multi-sport events. Wushu was also an unofficial sport at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where 128 athletes from 43 countries participated in a demonstration event. Wushu has gained popularity and recognition among athletes and spectators alike, as it showcases the beauty and strength of Chinese martial arts.

At the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023, Naorem Roshibina Devi, hailing from Manipur, won a silver medal in the women's 60 kg Wushu Sanda event after losing against Wu Xiaowei, a Chinese Wushu player. After winning the medal, the 22-year-old dedicated her trophy to the people of Manipur.

“I would like to dedicate this medal to the people of Manipur. Manipur is burning. Fighting is going on in Manipur. I can't go to my village. I want to dedicate this medal to those who are protecting us and suffering there,” she said after the final match to PTI.

Wushu is not only a sport but also a cultural expression of China's history, philosophy, and aesthetics. Wushu also reflects the values of courage, discipline, respect and morality that are essential for martial artists. Wushu is a way of life that enhances one's physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.