On the difference between traditional Wushu routines and competitive routines

I am an amateur martial arts lover. Although time flies, I still like "martial arts" very much, which may be my lifelong hobby.

Let me talk about my understanding of Wushu routines. Of course, I may not be able to interpret the "essence of Wushu routines" well in my level, but I will tell you what I know.

The first thing is to talk to you about the practicality of Wushu routines.

Traditional Wushu routines are practical, but modern competitive routines are not necessarily practical, because traditional routines are for fighting and fighting.

Modern competitive routines are set for the needs of competitions, and their characteristics are: high, difficult, innovative, floating and beautiful. It can be said that the rules of modern Wushu routines are formulated according to the gymnastics of the former Soviet Union. At that time, some coaches deleted some martial arts attacks and replaced them with some beautiful but meaningless gymnastics movements in order to make their players get good grades.

I studied traditional mantis boxing, and I can only learn the routine of mantis boxing after I have a good basic skill. Of course, every time I learn a move, Master will give me a "boxing break" and tell me the practical methods, and then my disciples will "grab the hammer" with each other to see who can use this move in actual combat and who can use it in actual combat, which can be regarded as learning this move. This is how I learned the routine of mantis boxing.

Of course, antiques are true and false, and traditional routines are also true and false. For example, they are all traditional routines, and the movements of the boxing spectrum can be correct, but where is this fake? In fact, some real core combat techniques of the martial arts school are hidden in this routine. Of course, some people will make an action into a "straight fist", while others will become a "curved fist". Maybe some people still don't understand. It's just like traditional Tai Ji Chuan, with a flatter circle. Later, some boxers turned the "flat circle" into a circle to hide the effect of martial arts.

The Boxers of all dynasties cherished their martial arts. For example, although many people are practicing in Tai Ji Chuan, many people are actually practicing "Tai Chi calisthenics", which of course leads to the loss of many practical techniques of traditional Wushu.

It doesn't matter how many routines a scholar knows, just like the psychology of collecting stamps. It is important to understand the principle of attack and defense and apply it in actual combat. Otherwise, more routines will be "equal to zero", which will naturally lead some people to think that routines are useless.

Author and mantis boxing master Liu

Mantis fist sword character