Modern Wushu is a relatively modern invention, created in the late 1950s by the People’s Republic of China as an effort to standardize and promote traditional martial arts.
Changquan, or “Long Fist,” is based on styles found across northern China like Cha-Quan, Hua-Quan, and Shaolinquan.
Nanquan, or “Southern Fist,” is based on five major family styles of southern China: Hong, Cai, Li, Liu, Mo. Known for a stable “horse,” steady footwork, short-range punches, and a hard “bridge.”
Four Main Weapons
Taijiquan or Tai Chi, is the internal representation. Mainly based on Yang style Taijiquan, it also has aspects of the five major styles of Tai Chi: Chen, Yang, Wu, Wu (Hao), Sun.
Staff is considered the “Grandfather of all weapons”
The saber or broadsword is considered the “general of all weapons.
The sword or straightsword is considered the “gentleman of all weapons.”
The spear is considered the “King of all weapons”
Southern Weapons
The southern staff is based on several different methods of southern staff play, switching from single headed staff or double headed staff methods.
The southern saber or southern broadsword is a newer invention. When compiling a routine for the new batch of compulsory routines, it was difficult to decide which routine to base it of and which weapon to use (Podao, 9 ring saber, Kan Dao, Buttlerfly knives, etc.), instead they created this new weapon that takes characteristics from the Kan Dao, the S-guard, and the shape of the blade is that of the buttlerfly knives.
Tai Chi Weapons
Tai Chi Sword or Taijijian, was instroduced to Yang and Chen lineages through “Miracle Sword” Li Jinglin, who learned Wudang Sword from Song Wei-Yi. Sun style’s Taijijian is based on San Cai Jian, a routine whose origin is unclear, it’s considered a Xingyi sword form, but sometimes it’s creation is attributed to Sun Lutang or Li Jinglin.
While there are other weapons in Tai Chi, some of the distinct ones are:
Tai Chi Broadsword
Tai Chi Spear
Tai Chi Fan