@largemoose It was always "Wushu" (characters meaning Wu=war, battle, Shu=art). "Kung Fu" means effort or hard work. What PRC did was they made Wushu into a sport
Now, Im not historian on the subject, but my understanding is that it wasn't the communists who first outlawed martial arts: there was a point in imperial china that it was outlawed, too. Where did the martial artists go? into Chinese Opera. It became flowery to survive, keep people entertained, stay alive.
the important thing is: never use a weapon a traditional way... i mean u can use a bo/gun with two or one hand, no problem.. and you should vary - otherwise enemies start to know you -> you'll lose
Its interesting you say the stances are too wide, because my teachers are very insistant about a good, low, horse stance with feet right below knees. yeah, we do bow stance, but even at times they tell me not to be so wide. then "drop stance" do you dont end up on the ground. No, its not the most practical martial art, but if we went only be "practical", then MaiThai would be the only one we could do. Do you bitch about capoera, too?
@largemoose Wushu is various traditional martial arts and what your watching is Wushu the sport composed of Taolu (forms) and Sanda (sparring) and ilik is right The People's Republic of China created Wushu (the sport) they didint rename Kung Fu
When I hear someone say "aint" in a comment regarding Martial Arts, I REALLY begin to wonder if you have the slightest clue what the fuck you're talking about.... And no, the first guy had it right. The term "Kung Fu" refers to a wide variety of Martial Arts. Wushu happens to be 1 form of Kung Fu. THERE.
Wushu is various traditional martial arts and what your watching is Wushu the sport composed of Taolu (forms) and Sanda (sparring) and ilik is right The People's Republic of China created Wushu (the sport) they didint rename Kung Fu
...haha i wanted to see the three part staff bend and hit that staff dude in the face then i be laughing (me no skill in staff at all but sword i'm ok)