Martial Arts or Wushu, have been created and developed for self-defense and survival throughout human history. Correct Chinese Wushu training improves physical ability, health and willpower. It gives an individual an excellent method of exercise, a personal art form, a competitive sport and a basis for self-defense and sparring.Total martial training includes Ti (kicking), Da (punching), Shuai (throwing), Na (controlling), Gi (hitting), Ci (thrusting), etc. Related to each style are basic forms, or sequences, which may involve defense strategies, offense, retreat, mobility and immobility, speed and slowness, hard or soft postures,  emptiness and fullness, with or without weapons.
Wushu (literally, "martial methods") was historically termed "Wu-Yi" or martial arts.Fairly recently, the Chinese government changed the term to "Guoshu," or "national method". The term most popular in North America is "Kung-fu" which actually means one's ability in any skill, not necessarily martial.
Ancient Chinese history records that during the "Spring and Autumn" and the "Warring States" periods (770 BC - 221 AD), the King of the Zhou kingdom ordered a sword contest. A young woman by the name of Yu Niu emerged from three thousand swordsmen as the ultimate victor in a seven-day contest. Her sword methods and philosophies were passed  down for a thousand years.Some of her writings expound timeless Wushu philosophies. For example:
"When fencing, though highly alert,
The appearance is as calm as a fair lady's
But when in action, a vicious Tiger emerges.
On a similar note:
"Weak and exposed in appearance;
But powerful when unleashed.
One's reactions may start afterwards,
But the response arrives there first.
Since the Zhou Dynasty, which ended in 771 BC, practical Wushu training has included basic skills such as strength training, fencing, staff sparring, spear training, etc. and it has also included training by using forms, such as the Shaolin Eight Methods, with the basic form supplemented by weapons forms, two-man forms, staff forms, etc.
The emphasis and importance of this type of martial training has played an important role throughout Chinese history During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), which was one of the most powerful periods of Chinese history, warriors were actually chosen through martial competition and officers were promoted through this same sort of competition Since at that time communications were well established with many neighboring countries; Chinese Wushu had a pronounced impact on these countries and was called "Tang Su Do," or the "Way of the Chinese Hand" During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), various forms of Wushu were well established in Korea, Japan, Tibet and many other countries What is called "Karate" is actually a descendent of Southern Chinese boxing forms and similarly, Judo can trace its origins to the importation of Chinese wrestling and Qinna, the precursor of Jiu-jitsu.
Traditionally, Chinese martial arts are classified by one of three methods:
- Internal or External styles.
- Southern or Northern styles.
- As "Shaolin" or "Wudang" or "Ermei."
Roughly speaking, the difference between internal and external styles can refer to whether the strength is from the torso and legs (internal) or whether the strength is derived from training of the more specific arm and leg muscles (external). The word "internal" often connotes a more pliable martial style. Southern or Northern styles naturally refer to the general origin, but finer distinctions are often made about style differences of these two schools.
Shaolin boxing styles are generally said to be derived from the form of fighting practiced at the Shaolin Temple in Henan province. Similarly, Wudang is the name of a mountain used by Taoists in Hubei province and Ermei is a significant religious mountain in Sichuan province.
WEAPONS COMPETITION
Although there are more than 400 different types of ancient Chinese weapons and  many usages of each, there are only about 18 standard weapons that you will usually see in Wushu competition. 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: Broadsword, straight sword, spear, staff, Kwan-sword, double-swords, double straight-swords, double hook-swords, double-ended spear, nine-section whip, rope-dart, chained hammer, 3-sectional staff, 2-sectional staff, daggers, double short-staff, etc.
QIGONG (CHI-KUNG)
The category of Qigong involves demonstrations of internal power and strength. Practitioners of this esoteric art demonstrate the powers that internal strength training and breath-training have given them.
In recent years, many of China's excellent Wushu teams have demonstrated their skills in foreign countries. These displays of finely-honed martial ability have caused a stir wherever they go. Although these teams have exhibited the performance side of Wushu, many of the other beneficial aspects of Wushu have not bee n equally extolled. In fact, some detractors of Wushu relegate it to at best a form of gymnastic exhibition, having little to do with actual martial arts. Such thinkers usually assign the term "Kung-Fu" to what they believe contains true, functional martial arts, i.e., if a form is pretty, it is probably not useful.
In many North American martial-arts competitions it becomes fairly obvious that the distinction between "Wushu" and "Kung-Fu" is even less clear than in China. In reality, "Kung-Fu" is "Wushu," the major difference being that Wushu training has not only traditional fighting sets, but also difficult tumbling and rigorous basic training of skills. Wushu 
Martial Art and Chinese Culture
Martial arts are a genuine native sport of China. The Chinese people take pride in it, both because of its age and many aspects of Chinese culture that it reflects. Martial arts incorporate traditional Chinese philosophies, aesthetic sense, ethics and medical science.
 Development
Ancient Chinese martial arts are different from modern ones. The ancient martial arts were developed for military use. Not until after the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) did martial arts begin to incorporate sophisticated aspects of ancient Chinese culture.
The precise origin of martial arts is too remote to identify When the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC) conquered contending states and united China 2000 years ago, the ruler ordered all weapons be put in storage. Discouraged by the Qin government, Chinese martial arts developed very little during this period.
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