Geographical classifications

Northern styles

Northern styles feature deeply extended postures such as the horse, bow, drop, and dragon stances connected by quick fluid transitions, able to quickly change the direction in which force is issued.

In general, the training characteristics of northern styles put more focus on legwork, kicking and acrobatics. Some say this is because the northern Chinese were generally taller than those living in southern China, and such training take advantage of their greater range of motion, especially in their legs. Others claim that the terrain of northern China is more suitable to kicking techniques, or that the cold of the northern Chinese winter caused any focus upon hand techniques to be physically damaging to the practitioner's hands. Still others suggest that jump kicking techniques were developed to fight Mongolian horseman who used "very short stirrups". Regardless of the reason, Northern styles include many illustrious styles such as. Ch?ngqu?n is often identified as the representive Northern style and forms a separate division in modern Wushu curriculum.

Southern styles

Southern Chinese martial arts features low stable stances and short powerful movements that combines both attack and defense. In practice, Nan Quan focus more on the use of the arm and full body techniques rather than high kicks or acrobatic moves. There are various explanations for those characteristics. Some suggest that the physical stature of the Southern Chinese are responsible. In general, the Southern Chinese are generally shorter in contrast to the Northern population and as a result the Southern styles are generally short, direct and powerful. Similarly, it is speculated that the dense urban population and its humid climate made focusing on close-quarter hand techniques more practical then the kicking techniques of the North. Still other suggest that the Southern styles focus on practical fighting techniques that can be master in a short time because Southern styles were founded and used by Chinese rebels. from Nanquan (Southern Fist) became a separate and distinct component of the current Wushu training. It was design to incorporate the key elements of each major Southern styles.

External and Internal

This classification scheme is only a reminder of the initial emphasis of a particular style and should not be considered an absolute division.

External styles

External styleare often associated with Chinese martial arts. They are charcterized by fast and explosive movements and a focus on physical strength and agility. External styles includes both the traditional styles focusing on application and fighting, as well as the modern styles adapted for competition and exercise. Examples of external styles are nanchuan and chang chuan, with its direct explosive attacks and many Wushu forms that have spectacular aerial techniques.

Internal styles

Internal styles focus on the practice of such elements as awareness of the spirit, mind, qi (breath, or energy flow) and the use of relaxed leverage rather than unrefined muscular tension. The reason for the label "internal," according to most schools, is that there is a focus on the internal aspects earlier in the training, once these internal relationships are apprehended they are then applied to the external applications of the styles in question. In the older schools, however, much time is spent on basic physical work, such as stance training stretching and strengthening of muscles, as well as on empty hand and weapon forms which can contain quite demanding coordination from posture to posture Some forms in internal styles are performed slowly, though some also include sudden outbursts of explosive movements, such as those of TaiChi is famous for teaching earlier than some other styles.

Free Fighting & form exercises :

There are many movements to practice Chinese Wushu exercises. The following methods are often used :

1) Forms & classifications exercises : Wushu forms that exercises by arm or empty arm , or fighting together composition of receive a blow with the fist , tread , shooting. also known as putting over hand , persons hand , striking hand , or parrying hand , is an exercise for two persons by means of warding off , squeezing , pressing .pushing , splitting , elbow striking , shoulder striking and rolling back .

2) Empty Wushu exercises : Empty hand competition involves the performance of a sequence : Chang Chuan , Taichi Chuan
Non Chuan , Baquazhang , Baji Chuan , Shaolin Chuan.

3) Weapon Forms : sometimes a practitioner will combine two weapons in a form or do a variation involving two of the same weapons . some instances of forms often seen in competition are Broad sword , Straight sword , Spear , Staff , Kwan sword , double sword , double ended spear , nine section whip , rope dart , chained hammer ,3 sectional staff , 2 sectional staff , daggers , double short staff , etc .

4) Sparing Competition : Bare hand sparring with or without protective equipment . Empty hand sparring stationary , moving free sparring .

5) Sanshou is full contact fighting and represents the more combat applicable side of Wushu while similar in appearance to kickboxing , also includes are range of throws , sweeps and take downs , in addition to the usual strikes . It is perfect for those seeking self defense skills .