Wushu words · Beginner

The sport form of Chinese martial arts. International competition, run by the International Wushu Federation (IWUF), has two branches: taolu (judged routines) and sanda (full-contact fighting).

The routine branch of wushu. An athlete performs a set sequence of movements, bare-handed or with a weapon, and panels of judges score it out of 10 points. The branch has optional and compulsory routine events, choreographed sparring (duilian) and group (jiti) events.

The set sequence of movements a taolu athlete performs. It has a time limit set for the event, for example 1 minute 20 seconds to 1 minute 35 seconds for an adult optional changquan routine.

Taolu events performed with a weapon. Short weapons are the jian (straight sword), dao (broadsword), nandao, taiji sword and taiji fan; long weapons are the qiang (spear), gun (cudgel) and nangun.

The salute of wushu: one hand open, one hand in a fist. A taolu athlete gives it to the head judge on being called, on finishing and when the score is shown. Sanda fighters give it to each other, their coaches and the platform judge.

The full-contact fighting branch of wushu, with punches, kicks and throws, fought on a raised platform. A bout is three rounds of two minutes, and the winner is the first to win two rounds.

The raised platform on which sanda is fought. A competitor who falls off the platform twice in a round loses the round, and if both fall off at once no points are given.

A sanda match of three rounds of two minutes with a one-minute rest, junior bouts may use rounds of 1 minute 30 seconds. The winner is the first to win two rounds.

The bodyweight division a sanda fighter registers in. A fighter in the 75 kg class must weigh over 70 kg and no more than 75 kg at the weigh-in, which is held for each class within one hour.

The head, the torso and the thighs. The back of the head, the neck and the groin are prohibited areas. Hits on the shoulders, arms, lower legs and feet score nothing and are not fouls.

A fighter who stays standing when the opponent is knocked down, thrown, or falls through their own error scores 2 points. A punch to the head or torso, or a kick to the thigh, scores 1 point. A strike has to be clear and have effect: judges look at the attack, the defence, the displacement and the sound. Other scoring actions are in the full rules.

The platform judge's calls, "Ting" for stop and "Kaishi" for start. Attacking before Kaishi or after Ting is a foul.

The gear every sanda fighter must wear, such as gloves and a gum guard, plus the red or blue shorts and vest. Gear that is missing is a technical foul. A glove that falls off is treated as loosening gear on purpose.