AI overview
Wushu is a Chinese martial art and sport that encompasses various fighting techniques and philosophical traditions developed over centuries in China. It matters because it represents an important part of Chinese cultural heritage and is practiced both as a competitive sport and as a means of physical fitness and self-discipline worldwide.
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Article
Wushu (traditional Chinese: 武術; simplified Chinese: 武术; pinyin: wǔshù) (/ˌwuːˈʃuː/), or kung fu, is a Chinese martial art. It integrates concepts and forms from various traditional and modern Chinese martial arts, including Shaolin kung fu, tai chi, and Wudangquan. "Wushu" is the Chinese term for "martial arts" (武 "Wu" = combat or martial, 術 "Shu" = art), reflecting the art's goal as a compilation and standardization of various styles. To distinguish it from traditional Chinese martial arts, it is sometimes referred to as 'Modern Wushu'.
Wushu is practiced both through forms, called taolu, and as a full-contact combat sport, known as sanda. It has a long history of Chinese martial arts and was developed in 1949 to standardize the practice of traditional Chinese martial arts, though attempts to structure the various decentralized martial arts traditions date back earlier when the Central Guoshu Institute was established at Nanjing in 1928.