wushu

noun

wu·shu ˈwü-ˈshü

: Chinese martial arts

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The name of the martial art wushu derives from the Beijing dialect of Chinese, where it was formed by combining the words for "martial" or "military" ("wǔ") and "art" ("shù"). This form of hand-to-hand combat (known more familiarly as "kung fu") was highly developed in China by the 3rd century B.C.E, and it is credited with influencing other martial arts that arose within Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Modern wushu, however, has separated itself from traditional kung fu to emphasize aesthetics and performance. One of the more well-known divisions of wushu is tai chi, the ancient discipline of meditative movements practiced as a system of exercises.

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Her teachers have ranged from vogue queens to competitive wushu champions, and she’s immersed herself in both street and élite contemporary dance scenes. —Puja Patel, The New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2025 Action fans simply seeking top-drawer wushu combat should be satisfied, but general viewers may grow impatient with a repetitive plot that struggles to deliver compelling human drama from its promising elements. —Richard Kuipers, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024