How does the difficulty score work in wushu taolu?
I · Intermediate · How a routine is scored · 4 of 4Difficulty is worth up to 2 points: 1.4 for difficulty techniques and 0.6 for the connections that follow them. Techniques are graded A, B or C and are worth 0.2, 0.3 or 0.4. The athlete registers them in advance. Three judges say yes or no to each, and a failed element earns nothing.
How it works
- Techniques: balances, leg techniques such as multi-turn sweeps, jumps and tumbling.
- Grades: A is worth 0.2, B 0.3 and C 0.4.
- Connections: what the athlete does on landing, such as dropping straight into a horse stance or a split. Graded A to D, worth 0.1, 0.15, 0.2 and 0.25.
- Caps: 1.4 for techniques and 0.6 for connections.
- Registered: the judges mark only the elements the athlete has declared.
- Yes or no: at least two of the three group C judges must confirm an element.
- Once only: each technique or connection is evaluated once.
- Examples in changquan: a 360-degree tornado kick is grade A, 540 degrees is B and 720 degrees is C.
- New techniques: a new element approved in advance earns a bonus of 0.1 to 0.2 on top.
The glossary has the degree of difficulty, the innovative difficulty, the judge groups, changquan, the optional routine and the appeal.
Tricky cases
An athlete lands a 720-degree jump but stumbles out of the landing stance. What is scored?
The jump can be confirmed and the connection refused. They are judged as separate elements, and the stumble is also deducted by group A.
An athlete registers techniques worth 1.6 points. Do they get 1.6?
No. Only a maximum of 1.4 is awarded for techniques.
An athlete performs a harder jump than the one they registered. Is it credited?
No. Group C confirms the "registered" elements. An element that was not declared is not on the judges' list.
How does a team get a new move recognised?
By applying in writing, with a diagram and a video, 50 days before the competition. A panel of five to seven experts must approve it by a two-thirds vote.
Why the rule exists
Difficulty rewards athletes for taking risks that others do not. Capping it at 2 points of 10 keeps the event a martial art and not a tumbling contest: a clean, strong routine still decides most of the score. The yes-or-no judgement removes argument about part-credit.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Technique grades | A 0.2, B 0.3, C 0.4; capped at 1.4 | Taolu Rules Art. 22 |
| Connection grades | A 0.1, B 0.15, C 0.2, D 0.25; capped at 0.6 | Taolu Rules Art. 22 |
| Approved new technique | Bonus of 0.1, 0.15 or 0.2 by grade | Taolu Rules Art. 20; 22 |
| Events without degree of difficulty | No group C; quality is worth 7 | Taolu Rules Art. 23 |
| Appeals | Group C judgements can be appealed | Taolu Rules Art. 12 |
From the rule book
International Wushu Federation, Wushu Taolu Competition Rules and Judging Methods (2024), Articles 12, 20, 22 and 25, and the Judging Methods, Chapter 10, Section 3, Tables 10-3-1 to 10-3-10. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: Wushu Taolu Competition Rules and Judging Methods (2024) (PDF, Chinese and English).