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~~~~
Wushu, meaning �martial methods� can also be described by the historical term, �Wu-Yi�
which means martial arts. Although martial arts are often referred to as Kung-fu, Kung-fu
doesn�t necessarily mean martial skill or in other words the skill doesn�t necessarily
have to be martial. ~~~~ When practiced correctly, martial arts can improve physical and mental health, physical ability, and will power. The training one has to go through includes developing skills in kicking, punching, throwing, controlling, hitting, thrusting, and a lot of other stuff that we�re not supposed to do at school (but do anyway). These are combined into techniques and sequences for several different strategies like offense or retreat. Martial arts can be with or without weapons. ~~~~ An ancient Chinese legend tells of the development of martial arts. The Zhou king called for a sword contest. A woman called Yu Niu won the seven-day contest. Her techniques and philosophies were passed down and followed for thousands of years. She taught that one should be extremely calm and passive one on the outside but �fight as a vicious tiger.� ~~~~ Wushu training has played an especially important role during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) when warriors were actually chosen for the army based on their martial skills. Officers were promoted on the same basis. Wushu was then spread to other countries and came to be known as �Tang Su Do.� During the Ming Dynasty, Wushu was brought to Korea, Japan, Tibet, and many other countries. What we know as karate is actually a form of Southern Chinese boxing. Just like most other martial arts, it can trace it�s origin to China. ~~~~ There are generally three ways to classify Chinese martial arts. For one, they can be either Internal of External. When an art is internal, then the strength used is to come from the torso and legs while if the art is external, then the strength is to come from specific arm and leg muscles. Another way to classify is by origin, North or South, which is pretty much self-explanatory. The last way of classification is between Shaolin, Wudang, or Ermei. Shaolin is a temple where fighting was at one point practiced. Wudang is a mountain used by Taoists, and Ermei is a religiously significant mountain in Suchuan province. Martial arts are often classified by these types of origins.
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