By: Jim LaHart

I choose chinese martial arts because it is a big part of China’s culture and a lot of people do that.

Martial arts is also called Wushu

It was created and developed for self-defense and survival

Correct Wushu training improves physical ability, health and willpower

Is an excellent source of exercise

Some consider it a personal art form

Total martial art training includes: Ti (kicking) Da (punching) Shuai (throwing) Na (controlling) Gi (hitting) Ci (thrusting)

Related to each style are basic forms which involve: defense strategies offense retreat mobility and immobility speed and slowness hard or soft postures emptiness and fullness with or without weapons

Will use defense simulation, such as two-man choregraphed sequences for beginning training

There are also internal and external body training methods

Those training methods help strengthen the body to withstand strikes and blows

In the advanced stages of training, a student begins full-contact training by sparring with semi-control

That is to add realism to the training

Wushu was was historically termed "Wu-Yi" or martial arts

The Chinese government changed the term to "Guoshu,“

Ever since the Zhou Dynasty, which ended in 771 B.C., practical Wushu training has included basic skills

Those included strength training, fencing, staff sparring, spear training, etc.

also included training by using forms, such as the Shaolin Eight

Methods,

To attempt to classify Chinese Wushu is very difficult because of the number and variety of styles in the

enormous country of China Traditionally, Chinese martial

arts are classified by one of three methods 1. Internal or External

styles. 2. Southern or Northern styles.

3. As "Shaolin" or "Wudang" or

"Ermei."

Empty hand competition involves the performance of a sequence, usually traditional, demonstrating the function and essence of a particular martial style. Competition normally falls into the following subdivisions:

1. Long Fist -- Styles such as Zha, Wa, Wha, Pao, Hun, Fangzi

2. Bagua -- Basic Ba-Gua, Innate Ba-Gua, Latent Ba-Gua, Ba-Gua Consecutive Palm, Close-body Ba-Gua, Ba-Gua Dragon Form

3. Imitating Styles -- Preying Mantis, Eagle Claw, Monkey, Tiger, Leopard, Drunken-Style, Drunken Eight Fairies, Duck, Snake. Rooster

I think that China is a very interesting spot to visit because there are many things to do and see there.