martial arts

Martial arts cover a broad range of activities that involve fighting techniques, physical exercises, and methods of mental discipline, among other skills. Martial arts originated in the ancient cultures of Asia, and are used today around the world for self-defense, exercise, health, spiritual growth, law enforcement, and athletic competition. In 1986, the Chinese National Research Institute of Wushu was established as the central authority for the research and administration of Wushu activities in the People's Republic. Changing government policies and attitudes towards sports in general leaded to the closing of the State Sports Commission, the central sports authority, in 1998. This closure is viewed as an attempt to partialy de-politicize organized sports and move Chinese sport policies towards a more market driven philosophy. As a result of these changing sociological factors within China, both traditional styles and modern Wushu approaches are being promoted by the Chinese government.