The Evolution of Wushu – What You Need to Know

11181973_904064972984245_1548545286_o Very often, I receive feedback from students and parents about them being confused over the different types and classifications of Wushu. Hence, in this post, I shall attempt to provide an overview of the history of Wushu in a concise manner as much as possible. So, here we go!

Wushu, otherwise known as the Chinese martial arts, is widely practised by many around the world. From a system of defence and attack, Wushu has since evolved into a form of philosophy and eventually, progressed to become a modern sport.

Today, Wushu can be classified into 2 major categories, namely:
1. “Taolu” – routine made up of a series of choreographed movements.
2. “Sanda” – duel involving combative techniques of the Chinese martial arts.

The “Taolu” category is further classified into 2 sub-categories of “Traditional” and “Contemporary”.

During the ancient days, the need for hunting, self-defence and military attributed to the birth of Traditional Wushu. Some people imitated movements of animals or subjects to develop combative techniques while others created systems of defence and attack based on philosophies and principles, contributing to the wide variety of styles in Traditional Wushu we see today.

Besides the fist routines such as the Eagle Claw, Drunken Fist, Fanzi Quan and Baiji Quan, Traditional Wushu also includes the different weapon routines such as the Long Tassel Sword, Double Broadsword, Pu Dao and Nine Section Whip.

However, for Wushu to be recognised as a competitive sport and to be included into major sporting events such as the Olympics Games, standardisation of routines, rules and regulations were required. As such, this led to the formulation of Contemporary Wushu which narrowed the diverse styles into 3 main branches of Changquan, Nanquan and Taijiquan.

The routines of Contemporary Wushu can also be sub-divided into 2 levels, namely:
1. “Compulsory” – fixed and regulated.
2. “Freestyle” – choreographed according to a fixed set of rules and guidelines.

Other than the individual fist and weapon routines which are commonly seen in competitions such as the Asian Games and the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Freestyle routines also include duel and group events.

With the rapid evolution and rise in popularity of Contemporary Wushu, it is often argued that the original value of Wushu is loss as athletes today tend to place more emphasis on perfecting acrobatic movements and jumps to earn high scores in competitions rather than mastering the practical applications of Wushu.

Today, this argument has remained as one of the most debatable controversial topics in the world of Wushu.
Frequently Asked Questions @ Martial House
Q1. What style and classification of Wushu does Martial House teaches?
The Martial House Wushu training curriculum focuses “Taolu”, inclusive of both Traditional and Contemporary Wushu.
Q2. What type of Traditional Wushu does Martial House teaches?
Being an affiliate, Martial House adopts the Traditional Wushu syllabus from De Wu Pugilistic Association which expose students to a wide variety of styles including Gong Li Quan, Lian Bu Quan, Cha Quan and Baji Quan.
Q3. Should I learn Traditional or Contemporary Wushu?
This depends on your training objectives. For Wushu enthusiasts who are keen to understand the practical applications  of Wushu, Traditional Wushu may be your preferred choice. For aspiring athletes who aim to practise Wushu as a competitive sport, Contemporary Wushu may suit you better.
Q4. If I learn Traditional Wushu, can I also go for competitions?
Yes. There are competitions which include Traditional Wushu routines as well.

End of the 12th National School Games Wushu Championships 2016

IMG_1741 The 12th National School Games Wushu Championships 2016 has finally come to an end after the conclusion of the group events competition at Toa Payoh Sports Hall! IMG_1737 Congratulations to the students from the following schools who have outperformed their competitors in the highly-competitive group events to achieve top 4 placings: Group Quanshu – B Boys: Victoria School – Silver Beatty Secondary School – 3rd Runner-Up Group Quanshu – B Girls Beatty Secondary School – 3rd Runner-Up Group Quanshu – A Boys: Meridian Junior College – Gold Anderson Junior College – 3rd Runner-Up Group Quanshu – A Girls: Anderson Junior College – Bronze Group Weapon – C Boys: Victoria School – Bronze Group Weapon – B Boys: Victoria School – Silver Group Weapon – A Boys: Anderson Junior College – Bronze Meridian Junior College – 3rd Runner-Up Group Weapon – A Girls: Anderson Junior College – Bronze IMG_1732 Martial House is pleased to announce that our athletes have attained 23 Gold, 33 Silver, 20 Bronze & 24 3rd Runner-Up medals in this competition, summing up to a grand total of 100 medals! 12th National School Games Wushu Championships 2016 Martial House would also like to congratulate the following schools for attaining overall division placings: Meridian Junior College: A Division Boys – Champion A Division Girls – 3rd Runner-Up Victoria School: B Division Boys – 1st Runner-Up C Division Boys – 2nd Runner-Up IMG_1728 These achievements would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our athletes and coaches! Not forgetting the overwhelming support from the teachers, parents and alumni who were present during the competition to help our athletes to do their make-up, style their hair, look after their well-being, cheer for them, etc. Without the support from the Martial House family, the athletes would not be able to focus and perform during the competition at ease! A big thank you to all the heroes behind-the-scene who made everything possible!

Winners of the Martial House Movie Tickets Giveaway Contest

5862dca332f808fc221dda616af01ab2 Congratulations to the winners of the Martial House Movie Tickets Giveaway contest! Each winner will bring home a pair of movie tickets! 1. esthermoonz FullSizeRender-16 2. danialfarhan.22 IMG_1767 3. lin_yingg IMG_1768 4. chloecloudy IMG_1769 5. oliviacarradine FullSizeRender-17 To all winners, kindly reply us (via Instagram direct message) the following so that we can give you more information on your prize. a. Full Name b. Contact Number c. Home Address d. Email Address We will need this information to verify your identity so that we can mail your prize to you. Kindly come back to us with your details by 13 April 2016, 10:00pm, so that we can prepare your prize for you. We won’t be able to guarantee that your prize will still be available if we receive your details later than that, so please be sure to reply us before then. Do follow us on Instagram (@martialhouse) for more exciting updates and contests!

Day 6 of the 12th National School Games Wushu Championships 2016

IMG_1707 Day 6 marks the last competition day for individual events! It was held at Toa Payoh Sports Hall where athletes strive to impress the judges in the long weapons events! 0cfb35bb9e7099d580fd04ddac7e7c37 The following athletes have performed outstandingly well to attain medals in their respective events: 5-Duan Cudgel – C Boys: Ng Shinn (Anglo-Chinese School (International)) – 3rd Runner-Up Nan Gun (1st Intl) – B Girls: Josephine Lee Sze Min (Anglican High School) – Gold Tan Shi Ling (Beatty Secondary School) – 3rd Runner-Up Cudgel (1st Intl) – C Boys: Ong Pang Jan (Victoria School) – Gold Bryan Ng Jun Han (Victoria School) – Silver Cudgel (1st Intl) – B Boys: Ong Pang Zan (Victoria School) – Gold Brandon Lee Jing Wei (Pei Hwa Secondary School) – 3rd Runner-Up Cudgel (1st Intl) – A Boys: Ng Geng Jui (Meridian Junior College) – Silver Deng Min Long (Meridian Junior College) – Bronze Cudgel (1st Intl) – A Girls: Zhou Yu Shan (Meridian Junior College) – Bronze Spear (2nd Intl) – A Boys: Adrian Tan Kai Xi (Meridian Junior College) – Gold Cheong Nigel (Hwa Chong Institution) – Silver Cudgel (2nd Intl) – B Boys: Teo Jun Wei, Tobias (Victoria School) – Silver 5-Duan Spear – C Girls: Yeo Olivia (Beatty Secondary School) – Silver Spear (1st Intl) – B Boys: Tay Kai Jie, Wordon (Victoria School) – Silver Spear (1st Intl) – B Girls: Loh Yan Ping (Junyuan Secondary School) – 3rd Runner-Up Spear (1st Intl) – A Girls: Ho Lin Ying (Hwa Chong Institution) – Gold Sim Xin Yi Jocelyn (Meridian Junior College) – 3rd Runner-Up Spear (2nd Intl) – B Boys: Ryan Teh Hao Qing (Victoria School) – Silver Cudgel (2nd Intl) – A Boys: Tan Guan Ren, Melvin (Meridian Junior College) – Silver Congratulations to all athletes on your achievements! Well done! IMG_1702 Do forward to our next post to find out how the Martial House athletes fared in the group events and in the 12th National School Games Wushu Championships 2016!

Day 5 of the 12th National School Games Wushu Championships 2016

f4068f62709c921703d4c45df3bb116a Day 5 marks the last competition day at Chung Cheng High School (Main)! The Martial House athletes have done us proud by attaining a total of 2 Gold, 7 Silver, 5 Bronze & 3 3rd Runner-Up medals today! Well done! 214e4e26bf79b7337f977e92ac5da2cf The medallists for today include: Nanquan (1st Intl) – C Boys: Delson Kim Ding Jie (Victoria School) – Silver Nanquan (1st Intl) – B Girls: Josephine Lee Sze Min (Anglican High School) – Gold Low Pei Yi Esther (Beatty Secondary School) – Bronze Nanquan (1st Intl) – A Boys: Low Shun Quan Benette (Meridian Junior College) – Gold Sean Ng (Meridian Junior College) – Silver Nanquan (1st Intl) – A Girls: Tan Li Shan (Meridian Junior College) – 3rd Runner-Up 5-Duan Changquan – C Boys: Javier Ng (Victoria School) – Silver Justin Poon Junjie (Anderson Secondary School) – Bronze 5-Duan Changquan – C Girls: Yeo Olivia (Beatty Secondary School) – Silver 24-Style Taijiquan – C Boys: Koh Hao Xuan (Victoria School) – Silver Lim Zhengwei, Beltran (Chung Cheng High School (Main)) – Bronze 24-Style Taijiquan – C Girls: Melissa Mak Ziqi (Ngee Ann Secondary School) – Silver Changquan (2nd Intl) – B Boys: Teo Jun Wei, Tobias (Victoria School) – Silver Changquan (2nd Intl) – B Girls: Amanda Seah Yi Jun (Pei Hwa Secondary School) – Bronze Abigail Poh Jia En (Pei Hwa Secondary School) – 3rd Runner-Up Changquan (2nd Intl) – A Boys: Cheong Neville (Meridian Junior College) – Bronze Ng Geng Jui (Meridian Junior College) – 3rd Runner-Up 69e9e2fd29f0b23faed7e369c930eaae We are left with 2 days of competition! Tomorrow’s competition is held at Toa Payoh Sports Hall from 10:30am onwards where athletes will compete in the individual Long Weapon events! Martial House wishes all athletes the very best!

Day 4 of the 12th National School Games Wushu Championships 2016

IMG_1688 It is day 4 of the 12th National School Games Wushu Championships 2016 and we are halfway through the competition! Once again, the Martial House athletes have done us proud by attaining a total of 5 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze & 3 3rd Runner-Up medals! IMG_1673 The prize winners for today were: 42-Style Taijiquan (1st Intl) – C Boys: Brandon Wong Jyn Kid (Beatty Secondary School) – Gold 42-Style Taijiquan (1st Intl) – C Girls: Cheong Vanessa (Nanyang Girls’ High School) – Gold Shannon Eu Ying Xuan (Ngee Ann Secondary) – 3rd Runner-Up 42-Style Taijiquan (1st Intl) – B Boys: Tay Yu Xuan (Victoria School) – Gold Tay Kai Jie, Worden (Victoria School) – Bronze 42-Style Taijiquan (1st Intl) – B Girls: Loh Yan Ping (Junyuan Secondary School) – 3rd Runner-Up 42-Style Taijiquan (1st Intl) – A Boys: Neo Boon Swee (Meridian Junior College) – Bronze Lai Nok Fong (Anderson Junior College) – 3rd Runner-Up 42-Style Taijiquan (1st Intl) – A Girls: Ho Lin Ying (Hwa Chong Institution) – Gold Changquan (1st Intl) – C Boys: Ong Pang Jan (Victoria School) – Silver Changquan (1st Intl) – B Boys: Ong Pang Zan (Victoria School) – Gold Changquan (1st Intl) – A Boys: Adrian Tan Kai Xi (Meridian Junior College) – Silver Cheong Nigel (Hwa Chong Institution) – Bronze IMG_1671 Martial House would like to give a special shoutout to our Taiji athletes for attaining medals in all 42-Style Taijiquan (1st Intl) & 42- Style Taijijian (1st Intl) events across the 6 divisions! In fact, our athletes have attained 7 out of the 12 possible Gold medals in the 42-Style Taiji events! IMG_1687 Tomorrow marks the last competition day Chung Cheng High School (Main)! Martial House would like to wish all athletes the best of luck!

Day 3 of the 12th National School Games Wushu Championships 2016

IMG_1656 After the short break over the weekend, day 3 of the 12th National School Games Wushu Championships 2016 has resumed! Once again, the Martial House athletes have done us proud by attaining a total of 3 Gold, 5 Silver, 1 Bronze & 2 3rd Runner-Up medals! Well done! IMG_1657 The following is the list of outstanding athletes for day 3: Nan Dao (1st Intl) – C Boys: Delson Kim Ding Jie (Victoria School) – Silver Nan Dao (1st Intl) – B Girls: Josephine Lee Sze Min (Anglican High School) – Gold 5-Duan Broadsword – C Boys: Justin Poon Jun Jie (Anderson Secondary School) – Gold Nan Dao (1st Intl) – A Boys: Sean Ng (Meridian Junior College) – Silver Low Shun Quan Benette (Meridian Junior College) – 3rd Runner-Up Nan Dao (1st Intl) – A Girls: Ong Li Jing (Anderson Junior College) – Silver Chin Yuan Xin (Anderson Junior College) – Bronze 32-Style Taiji Sword – C Girls: Melissa Mak Ziqi (Ngee Ann Secondary School) – Silver Broadsword (1st Intl) – C Boys: Ong Pang Jan (Victoria School) – Silver Bryan Ng Jun Han (Victoria School) – 3rd Runner-Up Broadsword (1st Intl) – B Boys: Ong Pang Zan (Victoria School) – Gold We are left with 4 more days of competition! To all athletes, press on and all the best!

Day 1 of the 12th National School Games Wushu Championships 2016

IMG_1542 After the successful conclusion of the primary school competition, yesterday marks the first day of the 12th National School Games Wushu Championships 2016! It was indeed a great start for Martial House athletes who attained a total of 3 Gold, 5 Silver, 3 Bronze & 1 3rd Runner-Up medals! IMG_1547 The outstanding athletes for day 1 were: 42-Style Taiji Sword (1st Intl) – C Boys: Brandon Wong Jyn Kid (Beatty Secondary School) – Bronze 42-Style Taiji Sword (1st Intl) – C Girls: Cheong Vanessa (Nanyang Girls’ High School) – Gold Shannon Eu Ying Xuan (Ngee Ann Secondary School) – Silver 42-Style Taiji Sword (1st Intl) – B Boys: Tay Yu Xuan (Victoria School) – Gold Tay Kai Jie, Wordon (Victoria School) – Silver 42-Style Taiji Sword (1st Intl) – B Girls: Loh Yan Ping (Junyuan Secondary School) – Silver 42-Style Taiji Sword (1st Intl) – A Boys: Neo Boon Swee (Meridian Junior College) – Gold Lai Nok Fong (Anderson Junior College) – Bronze 42-Style Taiji Sword (1st Intl) – A Girls: Ho Lin Ying (Hwa Chong Institution) – Silver Zhou Yu Shan (Meridian Junior College) – Bronze Sword (1st Intl) – B Boys: Brandon Lee Jing Wei (Pei Hwa Secondary School) – 3rd Runner-Up Sword (1st Intl) – A Boys: Ng Geng Jui (Meridian Junior College) – Silver IMG_1544 Day 2 of the competition will resume later at Chung Cheng High School (Main) from 12:30pm onwards. Martial House wishes all competing athletes the very best!

[Updated] Day 2 of the 12th National School Games Wushu Championships 2016

IMG_1581 Day 2 of the competition has come to an end. The Martial House athletes have done us proud by attaining a total of 4 Gold, 4 Silver, 2 Bronze & 6 Runner-Up! IMG_1586 The medallists for today were: 5-Duan Sword – C Boys: Basil Koh-Reuben (Victoria School) – 3rd Runner-Up 5-Duan Sword – C Girls: Yeo Olivia (Beatty Secondary School) – Bronze Sword (1st Intl) – C Boys: Javier Ng (Victoria School) – Silver Koh Hao Xuan (Victoria School) – 3rd Runner-Up Nan Gun (1st Intl) – C Boys: Delson Kim Ding Jie (Victoria School) – 3rd Runner-Up Nan Gun (1st Intl) – A Boys: Sean Ng (Meridian Junior College) – Gold Low Shun Quan Benette (Meridian Junior College) – Silver Nan Gun (1st Intl) – A Girls: Ong Li Jing (Anderson Junior College) – 3rd Runner-Up Broadsword (1st Intl) – B Girls: Ng Bin Hui Christabel (Ngee Ann Secondary School) – Gold Broadsword (1st Intl) – A Boys: Tan Guan Ren, Melvin (Meridian Junior College) – Gold Deng Min Long (Meridian Junior College) – Silver Broadsword (2nd Intl) – B Boys: Teo Jun Wei, Tobias (Victoria School) – Bronze Broadsword (2nd Intl) – A Boys: Cheong Neville (Meridian Junior College) – Silver Lau Yi Hang (Meridian Junior College) – 3rd Runner-Up Sword (2nd Intl) – A Boys: Adrian Tan Kai Xi (Meridian Junior College) – Gold Cheong Nigel (Hwa Chong Institution) – 3rd Runner-Up IMG_1583 Congratulations to all medallists! We hope that all students can take a really quick break over the weekend before gearing for the competition which resumes on 4 April 2016 at Chung Cheng High School (Main). All the best!

End of the 12th National Primary Schools Wushu Championship 2016

IMG_1520 A total of 1,430 student athletes from 103 primary schools participated in the 12th National Primary Schools Wushu Championship 2016! The inter-school competition has officially come to an end yesterday after the group events were competed at Toa Payoh Sports Hall.  IMG_1522 The students from Gongshang Primary School & Hong Wen School have done us proud by achieving 1 Bronze and 2 3rd Runner-Up in the group events! Group Quanshu (Senior Girls): Hong Wen School – 3rd Runner-Up Group Weapon (Senior Girls): Gongshang Primary School – 3rd Runner-Up Group Weapon (Senior Boys): Gongshang Primary School – Bronze IMG_1518 As such, the Martial House student athletes have attained 27 Gold, 19 Silver, 20 Bronze & 19 3rd Runner-Up, summing up to a grand total of 85 trophies! 12th National Primary Schools Wushu Championship 2016 Martial House would also like to congratulate De La Salle School & Gongshang Primary School for bringing home the Junior Boys Overall Champion & Senior Boys Overall 2nd Runner-Up titles! IMG_1515 These achievements would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our athletes and coaches! Not forgetting the overwhelming support from the teachers, parents and alumni who were present during the competition to help our athletes to do their make-up, style their hair, look after their well-being, cheer for them, etc. Without the support from the Martial House family, the athletes would not be able to focus and perform during the competition at ease! A big thank you to all the heroes behind-the-scene who made everything possible! Now that the primary school competition is over, let’s wish the athletes who are participating in the 12th National School Games Wushu Championships 2016 the very best which has commenced today at Chung Cheng High School (Main)!