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This site is, in the first place, made for admirers of Chinese Martial Arts (Wu Shu) but I hope that it will be interesting to admirers of all the other Martial Arts and to all of those who favour sports and healthy life style. 
Introduction: Wu Shu stands for: WU (武) - militant, martial, warlike SHU ( 术 ) - method, technique, skill (art) Therefore, freely translated Wu Shu means Martial Art. The term Martial Art refers to hundreds of styles (fighting/martial systems) that have developed throughout history on the territory of National Republic Of China. Some of these styles have completely lost their martial aspect (e.g. T’ai Chi and other similar styles). The larger group of martial styles within Wu Shu is known by the name Kung Fu. (Kung- virtue, merit, accomplishment; Fu - man). For the purposes of popularization of Wu Shu, it is classified into three large groups in modern China: Nan Quan (southern fist) - includes Southern Chinese martial styles
Chang Quan (long fist) - includes Northern Chinese martial styles
Tai Ji ("immense") - this style is focused on inner energy (qi-ch’i) in the first place, and nowadays it is very popular as a means of improving and maintaining physical and mental health.
This classification enabled standardization of the competition rules (unique competition system), it also enabled standardization of assigning rank and advancements and passing tests for different levels. And the standardization enabled Wu Shu to be accepted as an Olympic Sport and it will be one of the martial disciplines on the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008. On the other hand, popularization has its negative effects. One of the side effects is that numerous Wu Shu styles that were not able to fit in above mentioned classification and per scripted rules were discriminated, and as a result of such discrimination we have a large sub-group that can be called traditional Kung Fu- Wu Shu. Many people believe that styles belonging to this sub group are the real representatives of the original Chinese martial arts, that is to say representatives of the original Kung Fu because they remained true to their own training system. Some of the more famous styles from this sub group are: Hong Quan, Wing Chun, Nan Quan (traditional school), Qin Na, Tang Lang, Ba Kua, White Crane, Choy Li Fut and various Shao-lin schools and styles as well as hundreds of other styles and sub styles developed throughout China. That would be a brief introduction… on these pages you will learn a lot about Kung Fu and T’ai Chi, you’ll be able to find information about the club where I keep my trainings, see photos and a lot more, I hope. (Links, forums, chat, online courses…) Have a nice surf… Ivan Persaj |
