Finnish Wushu Federation
Taijiquan - Wushu Kungfu - Health Qigong
Since its foundation in 1991, the Finnish Wushu Federation has been promoting wushu and advancing the knowledge of the community in these Chinese martial arts and health sports in Finland. The federation has helped to bring success for Finland in international competitions, organized national competitions, and provided courses and training camps to improve the skills of the community.
Video from a past event
What is Wushu?
Wushu is an important component of the cultural heritage of China, with a rich content that has remained untamished over the centuries. Literally translated, "wu" is military, "shu" is art. Wushu therefore means the art of fighting, or martial arts.
Although still in budding stages in many countries, wushu is an established international sport. In 1990, wushu was inducted as an official medal event in the Asian Games. From 1991 the World Wushu Championships have been held once in every two years.
Previously, wushu figured significantly in the simple matter of survival through China's many wars and political upheaval. Today, wushu has been organized and systematized into a formal branch of study in the performance arts by the Chinese. It reigns as the most popular national sport in the country of 1.2 billion people, practiced by the young and old alike. It's emphasis has shifted from combat to performance, and it is practiced for its method of achieving health, self-defense skills, mental discipline, recreational pursuit and competition. There are professional wushu teams in every province, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shanxi, Guangdong etc. All the major sports universities have a wushu department, for example Beijing Sports University and the Sports University of Shanghai, etc. There are professors and students doing wushu research and studies and thousands of students graduate each year.
To describe wushu, it is best to understand the philosophy of its teaching. Every movement must exhibit sensible combat application and aestheticism. The wealth of wushu's content, the beauty of wushu movements, the difficulty factor, and the scientific training methods are the song of the elements that set wushu apart from martial arts. Routines are performed solo, paired or in groups, either barehanded or armed with traditional Chinese weaponry. In short, wushu is the most exciting martial art to be seen, felt, and ultimately practiced.
Branches
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In the member associations and clubs of the FiWuF are practiced three major branches:
Taijiquan
Taijiquan, often referred to as Taiji, is a Chinese martial art that originated as a self-defense practice. It incorporates slow, deliberate movements and emphasizes principles like balance, relaxation, and internal energy flow. Taijiquan is not only a martial art but also a holistic exercise system that promotes physical health, mental well-being, and spiritual development. Taijiquan has gained popularity worldwide for its health benefits, stress reduction, and meditative aspects.
Wushu Kungfu
With Wushu Kungfu we refer to the external styles in Wushu. These have become popular through movies and are what people often call "Kungfu". The external styles emphasize developing the external aspects of martial prowess, including muscular strength, speed, and endurance. Two prominent examples of external styles in Wushu are the Changquan (from northern China) and Nanquan (from southern China).
Health Qigong
Health Qigong is a Chinese exercise practice that combines gentle movements, controlled breathing, and mindfulness to enhance overall well-being. Its slow and flowing motions contribute to improved flexibility, balance, and coordination. Rooted in Chinese culture, this holistic approach to exercise is accessible to individuals of varying ages and fitness levels.