The Beijing 2008 Wushu Tournament, an international martial arts competition to be held on the sidelines of the Beijing Olympic Games next year, will involve players from five continents.

Wushu is both an exhibition and a full-contact sport derived from traditional Chinese martial arts. It was created in the People’s Republic of China after 1949, in an attempt to nationalize the practice of traditional Chinese martial arts.

Most of the modern competition forms were formed from their parent arts by government-appointed committee.

Modern wushu is composed of two disciplines: taolu and sanda.

Taolu forms are similar to advanced gymnastics.

Sanda (sometimes called sanshou or Lei Tai) is a modern fighting method a bit like kickboxing or Muay Thai but includes many more grappling techniques.

The tournament will be held from August 21 to 24 next year at Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium during the Beijing Games and will feature 10 events for taolu (the routines) and five for sanda (the fights).

China’s wushu officials have always had a goal of making wushu an Olympic sport. Though wushu has been ruled out for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and 2012 London Games they still hope for the future.

The illustration is Spanish athlete Raul Esteveelopee during the 9th World Wushu Championships.