Wushu shows various aspects of combat sport

Korean wushu competitors Kim Myeong-jin, left, and Yoo Sang-hoon pose at the Taereung National Training Center in eastern Seoul in this file photo in August. They are said to be strong medal contenders in the upcoming Incheon Asian Games. / Yonhap

This is the fourth in a series of stories that will introduce unique or relatively unknown sports to be featured at the Incheon Asian Games. ― ED.

By Baek Byung-yeul

Wushu, better known as kung fu, looks similar to other martial arts such as taekwondo, karate and judo. But the Chinese-origin martial art has developed into a unique sport that allows spectators to enjoy various aspects of other combat sports at one time.

In the Asian Games, wushu consists of two sub-categories ― sparring “sanda” and exhibition “taolu,” similar to karate.

Different from the Japanese martial arts sport, however, wushu allows athletes to directly punch or kick their opponent, just like taekwondo.

But it is also different from the Korean combat sport as it allows athletes to grapple with each other.

“Wushu's sanda event is a weight class sparring event in which competitors strike each other using punches and kicks while wearing protective gear and gloves,” An Heui-man, the head coach of the Korean national wushu team, said.

“Seemingly, it looks pretty much like taekwondo or other martial art sports, but it is a little bit different as wushu athletes can grapple with each other in competition,” he said.

In the sanda competition, comprised of three two-minute rounds, the player winning more points takes a round.

Meanwhile, in the Taolu competition, athletes can perform bare-handed or using a short or long weapon and are required demonstrate their technique like gymnastics.

There are one chief and nine assistant referees, and the player receiving close to a maximum of 10 points wins.

In the Asian Games, 15 gold medals are available in wushu ― nine for men and six for women. All athletes competing are required to wear traditional costumes.

Korea will send a delegation of 13 athletes for the event ― four men and three women in taolu and four men and two women in sanda.

China has been a powerhouse in wushu. Chinese athletes have won 53 medals ever since the martial art became an official Aisiad event in 1990. In 2010, they earned nine of the 15 gold medals.

But Iranian practitioners have emerged as strong medal contenders in sanda.

“In the sanda event, it is very important to command techniques better than the opponent, but competitors’ physiques are also important. In that sense, Iranian athletes have an advantage as they usually have better physiques in the same weight class,” An said.

With fierce competition expected from the Chinese and Iranian representatives, the head coach added that he expects at least two golds, pointing to Kim Myeong-jin, 26, in the men’s sanda 76kg class, and Yoo Seung-hoon, 24, in the men’s 70kg class as strong candidates for gold.

In the Incheon Asian Games, the wushu competition will take place from Sept. 20 to 24 at the Ganghwa Dolmen Gymnasium.