Wushu is the general term for martial arts in the Mandarin dialect. Technically, wushu does not refer exclusively to the Chinese martial arts, as ribenwushu describes Japanese styles of karate, judo, aikido, etc., or faguowushu can be used to refer to French Savate. In practical usage, however, wushu is used primarily in reference to zhongguowushu-the many forms of Chinese martial arts.

Wushu contains hundreds of styles of boxing and an equally staggering number of weapons forms. Of these diverse schools and systems the most popular is undeniably taijiquan, the grand ultimate fist. In the West we have come to associate wushu with the athletic, sometimes actobatic style called changchuan or long fist.