Official Site of the Canadian Wushu Movement

Wushu

1985
Formation of the international Wushu federation preparatory committee
At the invitation of the Chinese Wushu Association (CWA), formed in 1956 in Beijing, leading members of Wushu organizations from France, the federal republic of Germany, Italy, Mexico, the Philippines, Singapore, Sweden, the United States, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Macau were invited to watch China’s National Wushu Tournament in 1984. Following discussions on the memorandum was signed and it was unanimously agreed that China would take the lead in preparing for the formation of an international Wushu organization at an early date.

In August, 1985, the international Wushu Federation Preparatory Committee (IWTPC) was formed at a meeting held in Xi’an, China. It was attended by representatives from 17 countries and regions, namely Belgium, Canada, the Philippines, France, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Macau, Mexico, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, the United States and China. The United Kingdom, China, Italy, Japan and Singapore were elected as members of the IWFPC, while the rest of the Wushu organizations of participating countries and regions were coordinators. A Secretariat for the IWFPC was then set up in China to pursue further matters.

1985
Formation of the European Wushu federation
After the formation of the IWFPC, the European Wushu Federation was formed in Bologna, Italy, in November 1985 with the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy as its members.

The First European Wushu Championships were held in Belgium in May 1986, with 70 athletes from eight participating member countries. In November of the same year, the Federation recruited four new members. The Second European Wushu Championships were held in Barcelona, Spain, in June 1987. The ‘Taolu’ and ‘Sanshou’ Competitions of the Third European Wushu Championships were held separately in Italy and Sweden in 1989. In April 1992 the Fourth European Wushu Championships were held in London, in the United Kingdom. Thereafter, various countries took turns to organize the events to this day.

1987
Formation of the Wushu federation of asia
On September 25, 1987the Wushu Federation of Asia (WFA) was officially formed in Yokohama, Japan where the First Asian Wushu Championships (AWC) was held. The WFA held an inaugural meeting attended by representative s of Wushu organizations from 11 countries, namely China, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, the Philippines, Nepal, Malaysia, Macau, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

A special appeal for the inclusion of Wushu as an official competitive sport in the 11th Asian Games was held in Beijing in 1990. A resolution to hold the 2nd Asian Wushu Championships (AWC) in Hong Kong (1989) was unanimously adopted by all WFA members. It was also agreed to hold the AWC on a 4-yearly basis beginning with the 3rd AWC in Seoul in 1992. Following that, the AWC has since been held in Manila (4th AWC 1996), Hanoi (5th AWC, 2000) and Yangon (6th AWC, 2004).

Through the efforts of the World Federation of Asia (WFA) and its member associations, Wushu has since been successfully included as an official competitive sport the 11th Asian Games in Beijing (1990), the 12th Asian Games in Bangkok (1998), the 14th Asian Games in Busan, Korea (2002), and will be in the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar in 2006.

With the support of Wushu organizations in South East Asian (SEA) countries and the blessings of WFA, Wushu was for the first time officially apopted as an official competitive sport at the 16th SEA Games in Manila in 1991. Since then, Wushu has been in every SEA Games which are held every two years. Last year, Wushu was an official event in the Manila SEA Games.

Over the past two decades, many countries like the USA, Canada, Africa, Australia, the Gulf Sates, West Asia, Middle East, East Asia, and South East Asia have formed their respective national and regional Wushu federations and become members of the IWUF. Examples include the formation of the USA Wushu Kungfu Federation in 1993, South Africa Wushu Federation in 2002, and Australia Kungfu (Wushu) Federation in 1983.

Wushu has now developed into a sport that spans across five continents. Its membership in the international Wushu Federation (IWUF) currently includes over 100 countries and it’s still growing.

1990
Formation of the international Wushu federation
During the Wushu competition at the 11th Asian Games in Beijing in 1990, the international Wushu Federation (IWUF) was officially formed on 3 October.

The IWUF held an inaugural meeting that was attended by representatives of Wushu organizations from more than 30 countries. Wushu organizations from 38 countries and regions were inducted at the meeting as IWUF members, and a eight-member Executive Committee was elected, namely: President Mr. Li Meng-hua (China), Vice-President Dr. Lim Keng Yaik (Malaysia) and Mr. Raymond Smith (The United Kingdom), Secretary General Mr. Zhang  Quande (China), Executive Members, Mr. Lee Khoon Choy (Singapore), Mr. Giuseppe Falconi (Italy), Mr. Nick Gracenin (USA) and Mr. Amrane Djamel (Algeria).

1991
The world Wushu championships
In October 1991, the First World Wushu Championships (WWC) were held in Beijing, China. It was attended by about 500 athletes and officials from 35 countries. This was then the greatest gathering of the international Wushu community. During the championships the number of IWUF members reached 43.

Following the success of the 1st WWC in Beijing, (China) in 1991 and the 2nd WWC held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1993, there was yet another gathering of the new group of Wushu athletes from the international Wushu community. For the first time, a new discipline or ‘Sanshou’ (‘Free Sparring’) was introduced as an official competitive sport at the World Championships.

1994
Formation of the south east Asian Wushu federation
The South East Asia Wushu Federation (SEAWUF), currently with nine member countries, was set up in 1994 in Jakarta to promote Wushu in South East Asian countries. Mr. Benito Lim from the Philippines was elected as its first President.

As Wushu was not included as an event is the 18th SEA Games in Chiangmai, Thailand, South East Asia Wushu Federation (SEAWUF) decided to organize the 1st SEA Wushu Championship (SEAWC) in 1995 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Likewise, when Wushu was not a competitive sport in the 20th SEA Games in Brunei (1999), the Myanmar Wushu Federation with Mr. Khin Maunglay as the new President of SEAWUF, organized the 2nd SEAWC in 1999 in Yangon. Dato’Swri Kee Yong Wee, President of Wushu Federation Malaysia took over the seat as SEAWUF President in 2001 and by convention, Vietnam took over the SEAWUF chair in 2003 and 2005’s presidential seat went to the Philippines.

2002
Official entry of Wushu into IOC
In 1994, International Wushu Federation (IWUF) was accepted as a member of the General Association of International Sports Federation (GAISF). This body is a recognized association formed by both the summer and winter Olympics Federation for international sports federations to discuss common problems and decide on their sports events calendars.

In 1999, the IWUF was provisionally recognized by the international Olympic Committee (IOC) and finally, in February 2002, the IWUF was fully recognized by the IOC. Like all sports, the opportunity for Wushu routines to reach its fullest potential is intrinsically linked to the IOC and the high ideals of the Olympic Movement. The IWUF and its member federations are fully committed to comply with all IOC directives.

In the recently concluded 10th China National Games held in Nanjing in October 2005, Jacques Rogge, President of the IOC, announced that there will be a Wushu competition in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, all medals awarded for Wushu will not be included in the overall Games medal tally. Nevertheless, this is good news for IWUF and its member countries and the millions of Wushu practitioners and supporters worldwide.

The IWUF now awaits formal confirmation from the IOC on this announcement. The IWUF and the international Wushu fraternity are most hopeful that this will be the prelude for Wushu to be accepted as an official Olympic sport in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

From traditional ‘martial art’ forms to an international sport
As a traditional art form sport, Wushu has been actively promoted and practiced by millions of people all over the world for various benefits. It is suitable for people of all ages from pre-school to senior citizens.

Today, some people practise Wushu for self-defence, but many practise it as a form of exercise. Wushu, whether in a slow or rigorous form, is practised mainly for good health and general well-being. Regular practice of Wushu is known to develop and improve one’s health, fitness and physical well-being. It’s also beneficial for the muscles, bones, nervous system, respiratory system and cardiovascular system, to name a few.

Over the last 20 years, Wushu has grown into an internationally recognised competitive sport, thanks to the International Wushu Federation (IWUF), the Chinese Wushu Association (CWF) and the Chinese Wushu Research Institute. All three were set up in 1986 as a standard body for conducting academic technical researches on Wushu. IWUF and the CWA standardised international Wushu competitions and judging rules and regulations.

These standards now from the basis for Wushu as a competitive sport at national, regional and international competitions. At international level competitions, a standard network computerized scoring system is adopted. Scoring is based on judges’ assessment on the athletes’ overall performance within a set time limit. Equal emphasis is also placed on styles, flow, rhythm, levels of difficulty and others. The penalties are awarded for omission and mistakes, if any, for the various routines (‘taolu’) in order to minimize and eliminate the occasional bias that may arise in all international subjective sports that do not have clear ‘goal scoring’ and ‘finishing line’ systems.

The different aspects of Wushu as a competitive sport, in learning and coaching at practical and theoretical levels, are being constantly promoted and reviewed. These have culminated into a standardized system for Wushu as an international sport comprising of two disciplines, namely, ‘Taolu’ (routine styles and ‘Sanshou’ (free sparring or hand combat) for both the Men’s and Women’s Categories.