What the words mean
The literal meaning of the characters for wushu is "martial art" or "to stop the weapon". Kung fu (gongfu) means work, effort, a skill close to perfection. A cook who is better than the others is said to have reached the kung fu stage - that is, to surpass the rest in skill.
How the meanings changed
During the Cultural Revolution in China, martial arts masters were persecuted and the art itself was declared a relic of the past. Most of them emigrated to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia and the USA, where the largest centres of traditional Chinese martial arts are found today.
Gradually the two terms took on new meanings:
| Wushu | Kung fu | |
|---|---|---|
| Character | China's modern national sport | traditional fighting styles |
| Goal | competitions and championships | unity of body and spirit |
| Forms | many changes to the traditional forms | techniques are kept unchanged |
| Spread | fast, like taekwondo, karate and sambo | through schools and lineages |
Wushu is a combat sport, and kung fu is a martial art.
Where Fei Jing stands
Fei Jing is a traditional style of kung fu that has kept its techniques and original form. At the same time, the club was a member of the Bulgarian Wushu Federation and took part in its championships, in separate Fei Jing events with and without weapons. See the competitions.