What is Wushu? Roshibina Devi clinches Silver for India at Asian Games in a Sport that had War purpose, goes back 3500 Years

India's Roshibina Devi has created history at the Asian Games, securing her third Wushu medal at the event.

The Indian was scintillating at the Asian Games as well, fighting her way through to the final of the competition. And in the final, she lost to her Chinese opponent Zhang Xiaoyu.

Despite that, the Manipuri Wushu athlete has now won her third consecutive Asian Games medal, creating history for India in the discipline.

Although Wushu has become popular in the Northeast region of India, it has deep and ancient Chinese routes, which date back thousands of years.

What is Wushu?

Wushu is the collective name for the diverse martial arts that originated and developed in China. Its roots stretch back thousands of years, although it is more accurate to describe its history as a gradual evolution of fighting systems rather than the history of a single sport. The International Wushu Federation (IWUF) traces early forms of wushu to the Bronze Age, when humans developed techniques for survival, self-defence and warfare.

What are the Historical connections of the Game?

During the Shang Dynasty (c. 1556-1046 BC) and the subsequent Warring States period (481-221 BC), Chinese martial practices became increasingly sophisticated. Both armed and unarmed techniques developed, while wrestling and contests of strength, including jiaodi, contributed to the evolution of Chinese combat traditions. Wushu also began to serve purposes beyond warfare, including physical conditioning, self-defence and entertainment.

The development continued through successive Chinese dynasties. The Shaolin Temple, established in 495 AD, became associated with the development and preservation of particular Chinese martial arts traditions. During the later Qing Dynasty, the growing use of firearms reduced the military importance of traditional close-combat weapons, while martial arts increasingly flourished among civilians. Numerous styles, including Taijiquan, Xingyiquan and Baguazhang, developed within this broader tradition.

Wushu began its transition into organised modern sport during the 20th century. The Shanghai Jing Wu Physical Culture Society helped popularise martial arts through training and demonstrations. The Chinese National Wushu Games were held in Shanghai in 1923, while a Chinese wushu delegation demonstrated the art at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

After the establishment of modern competitive rules and standardised teaching methods, the International Wushu Federation was founded in 1990. The first World Wushu Championships followed in 1991.

How is Modern Wushu played?

Modern competitive wushu is divided into Taolu, featuring judged routines performed bare-handed or with weapons, and Sanda, a full-contact combat discipline using punching, kicking, throwing and wrestling techniques.