Wushu, also referred to as kungfu, is the collective term for the martial art practices that originated and developed in China. Over its long history, Wushu has developed into numerous distinct styles and systems, each incorporating their own techniques, tactics, principles and methods, as well as the use of a wide variety of traditional weaponry.

Competitive Wushu is categorized into two main categories, namely Taolu (Routines Competition) and Sanda (Free-fighting Competition). The World Games 2022 will have competitions in the Taolu discipline.

Taolu is a non-combat discipline that is more performative with the blend of martial arts. Taolu routines consist of a continuously connected set of pre-determined techniques, choreographed according to certain principles and philosophies, which incorporate techniques and stylistic principles of attack and defence.

The winner is decided by the highest score after completion of the routine(s).

- There will be no qualifying round. All athletes to compete in the finals.

- Athletes perform one (Changquan) or two routines per event.

- Rankings are established at the end of all routines. The best athletes will receive Gold, Silver and Bronze.

Athletes demonstrate aerial techniques such as 540 and 720-degree jumps and kicks to add more difficulty to their forms. These include hand techniques, leg techniques, jumps, sweeps, stances & footwork, seizing, throwing & wrestling, balances etc.

Routines of Changquan, Nanquan, Jianshu, Qiangshu, and Daoshu last no less than 1 minute and 20 seconds. Routines of Taijiquan and Taijijian last between 3 and 4 minutes.

Changquan (Long fist)

Comprising styles that originated and are popular in the northern geographic areas of China, this style is defined by open and long-range strikes, and a wide variety of leg techniques and circular motions. Changquan utilizes open and expanded postures, high-speed techniques as well as many aerial and acrobatic techniques. It is a fast, dynamic, and exciting style, that incorporates many breathtaking movements.

Nanquan (Southern fist)

Comprising styles that originated and are popular in the southern geographic areas of China, Nanquan is defined by low stances with fewer leg techniques and a focus on short, powerful arm strikes often accompanied by vocal articulation. Focusing on a solid stance and stability, Nanquan has relatively fewer acrobatic techniques, but rather concentrates on generating extremely powerful techniques with intricate and highly developed hand techniques. It is a fierce and powerful style whose practitioners exude a strong spirit.

Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan)

The most widely practised and popular martial art in the world today, Taijiquan is characterized by its slow and graceful motions and its combination of both hard and soft techniques. Taijiquan is defined by slow motions, coupled at times with explosive bursts of force, which require total harmony of motion, breath, concentration, and coordination of the body and spirit in continuous practice.

Daoshu (Broadsword)

As one of the prominent short-bladed weapons in Chinese history, the broadsword was widely practised throughout China. It is a single-edged curved blade, and its practice is characterized by vigorous attack and defensive techniques. Its fierce and powerful movements primarily utilize wrapping and entwining techniques with relentless hacking, upper-cutting, slashing, blocking, thrusting and circling. Its performance requires great strength and coordination between the practitioner’s body and the weapon.

Jianshu (Straight sword)

The straight sword is one of the most widely practised short-bladed weapons in Chinese history. It is a double-edged straight-bladed sword and its practice is characterized by graceful, elegant, brisk, agile, and naturally flowing motions. It focuses on a harmonious balance between hard and soft techniques with flexible changes in speed. Its primary techniques include thrusting, pointing, tilting, shearing and sweeping combined with intricate footwork, and flexible body work.

Tied scores

Tied scores in individual events with degree of difficulty movements will be solved in the following ways:

- The athlete who achieved higher degrees of difficulty score will be ranked higher;
- The athlete who successfully completed the higher-grade Degree of Difficulty (including both the Degree of Difficulty technique and the Degree of Difficulty connection) will be ranked higher.
- The athlete who successfully completed higher grade Degree of Difficulty techniques (including both the Degree of Difficulty technique and the Degree of Difficulty connection) more times will be ranked higher;
- The athlete with a higher score for Overall Performance (B Group) will be ranked higher;
- If the tie remains, the tied competitors shall share the place.

Within a single routine, an athlete may register and perform a single Degree of Difficulty Jumping Technique at most two (2) times; however, the Degree of Difficulty Connection for these jumps may not be repeated.

Judges

The jury shall be composed of three (3) judges in Group A responsible for evaluating the quality of movements, five (5) judges in Group B responsible for evaluating the overall performance, and three (3) judges in Group C responsible for evaluating the degree of difficulty of movements.

The judges in Group A will deduct points according to the errors committed by a competitor during his performance of the whole routine.

The five judges in Group B evaluate the overall performance of the routine. The highest point and the lowest point will be deducted. The average of the three middle scores will be awarded to the competitor as points for grade of overall performance.

The judges in Group C confirm the degree of difficulty techniques completed by the competitor in his or her actual performance. Degree of difficulty techniques shall be confirmed only with the simultaneous confirmation by at least two of the three judges in Group C.

Deductions

All athletes are required to execute their optional routine’s relevant compulsory/mandatory techniques, and failure to do so will result in deductions as stipulated in the rules.

- Should there be any choreographical errors found in the Taolu performance or time insufficiency/timeout for the whole duration of the Taolu routine, deductions shall be made by the Head Judge.

- When a competitor commits an error in regard to standards of movements, 0.1 point shall be deducted; and 0.1-0.3 point shall be deducted for other errors.

- Within a single routine, an athlete may register and perform a single Degree of Difficulty Jumping Technique at most two (2) times; however, the Degree of Difficulty Connection for these jumps may not be repeated.

- Each competitor shall choose the degrees of difficulty techniques according to the Competition Rules and Regulations concerned and fill out an Application and Assessment Form for the Degree of Difficulty Techniques in Optional Routines via designated website, taking into account the value of innovative degree of difficulty movements when determining the starting score for his optional routines. The Registration Form, confirmed and signed by the team coach, shall be submitted to the host organization, at least thirty (30) days before the start of the Competition.

- Unless otherwise stated within the TWG regulations/bulletin, the Wushu competition will be conducted in accordance with the IWUF Wushu Taolu Competition Rules & Judging Methods (Excerpt) 2019. The “Scoring Method and Criteria for Degree of Difficulty of Movements of Optional Routines” will be implemented.

More information can be found here.

All athletes are required to execute their optional routine's relevant compulsory/mandatory techniques, and failure to do so will result in deductions as stipulated in the Rules.

The full starting score for all events is ten (10) points, including five (5) points for the quality of movements, three (3) points for the overall performance, and two (2) points for the degree of difficulty techniques. Additional points for innovative degree of difficulty movements can be added to the count. 

Competitors’ starting score the total value they claim for the degree of difficulty of techniques, overall performance, and quality of movements.

IWUF Wushu Taolu Rules (2019) II Chapter 2

Changquan Men

1. Colvin WANG (USA)
2. Ariel Milton MANCILLA BARRIENTOS (CHI)
3. Luis Felipe ALVAREZ ROSAS (MEX)

Changquan Women

1. Junxia GU (CHN)
2. Andrea Ka Kay HUNG (CAN)
3. Natalia Estefania SOSA AVALLONE (ARG)

Daoshu Men

1. Leiming ZHU (CHN)
2. Manh Quyen NGUYEN (VIE)
3. Say Yoke NG (MAS)

Jianshu Women

1. Tianhui ZHENG (HKG)
2. Thuy Vi DUONG (VIE)
3. Brenda Dalena HATLEY (USA)

Nangun Men

1. Farshad ARABI (IRI)
2. Marcelo Massayuki HOKAMA YAMADA (BRA)
3. Takahiro KAWAGUCHI (JPN)

Nanquan Women

1. Huiying CHEN (CHN)
2. Tatiana IVSHINA (RUS)
3. Siong Lin DIANA BONG (MAS)

Taijiquan Men

1. Thanh Tung NGUYEN (VIE)
2. Yang LEE (MAS)
3. Rufei LU (CHN)

Taijiquan Women

1. Kwok LINDSWELL (INA)
2. Shin Yii NG (MAS)

• Thuy Vi DUONG(VIE): 2. in TWG2013