Wushu is a type of Chinese martial art, sometimes called kung fu.
It combines many different fighting styles into one.
"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.
People sometimes call it Modern Wushu to tell it apart from older styles.
Wushu has two main parts: forms called taolu, and a fighting sport called sanda.
Taolu includes things like solo movements and weapon fights.
Sanda is like kickboxing but also includes grappling moves.
Wushu has a long history, stretching back a long time.
Efforts to organize Wushu started long before 1949.
The government created rules in the 20th century to unify the styles.
This made Wushu the official way to learn martial arts in China.
Wushu is now a big international sport played worldwide.
The International Wushu Federation organizes Wushu competitions.
Wushu is part of major sporting events like the Asian Games.
There are competitions for Wushu forms and for the fighting sport.
Organizations promote both traditional and modern Wushu styles.
