Wushu

Contemporary wushu is an exercise system that contains two different disciplines: taolu (forms) and sanda (sparring). Taolu is similar to artistic gymnastics, as it involves subjective judgement and a points system for the manoevres performed by competitors. Sanda has many of the charcteristics of taolu but is also influenced by Chinese boxing and Chinese wrestling, with points scored for hits. Despite their differences, sanda competitions are often held in conjunction with more artistic taolu competitions. These two disciplines allow participants to practise wushu for their own purpose of either form or combat. Contemporary wushu events are separated into three categories: barehanded (involving fist movements), short weapons (involving short swords), and long weapons (involving spears). Wushu can be done individually or in a choreograped duilian (two people) or group event.

Wushu has its origins in the People’s Republic of China, as an attempt to standardize Chinese martial arts unde Mao Zedong’s Communist Party government. Wushu was brought to Canada by the Chinese ethnocultural community as they immigrated to Canada in the 1970s and 1980s, and Sunny Tang started the first official governing body in 1987.

There are periodic competitions for high-level wushu practitioners, though for many, it is a year-round activity.

Traditionally practiced by the Chinese community, wushu has now expanded into the non-Chinese community due to mainstream exposure in action films. In the 1990s, 95% of wushu participants were Chinese, but increasingly there are non-Chinese wushu coaches and practitioners.