The word Wushu was once used to denote Chinese martial arts. However due to the influence of the West the word kungfu is being used to denote traditional Chinese martial arts. Hence, kungfu and Wushu were same in ancient times. But in modern times kungfu and Wushu are different. After the establishment of People’s Republic of China in 1949, the Chinese government formed a new sports variant of the traditional art. This was named Wushu.

The Chinese government has been taking many steps to promote this modern Wushu. Old forms have been revised and new routines were created and incorporated with gymnastics and acrobatic movements. Wushu is included on the physical training programme of primary and secondary schools. There are different routines or patterns that we learn in Wushu containing kicks, punches, crouches, dodges, leaps, turns etc. Kungfu (traditional Wushu) remains very much a traditional art and keeps the traditions and treasure of knowledge, which were inherited over the centuries. Modern Wushu overshadowed traditional Wushu (kungfu). Modern Wushu has its relevance as a sports event. As Wushu is an international sport it should have universal standard for training and competition. So Wushu is modernized and certain compulsory patterns and rules are imposed so as to become an Olympic sport.