Potential Crisis, Theoretical Introspection, and Breakthrough Pathways of the Research Paradigm for Chinese Wushu

In response to the potential crisis in the research paradigm of Chinese Wushu, research methods such as literature review, expert interviews and field investigations are used to reveal the three major crises in the contemporary Wushu research paradigm from three dimensions: the weakening of practical learning characteristics based on physical practice, the lack of application of technical literature and excessive reliance on quantitative analysis, and the cognitive predicament of cultural nationalism and western-centrism. To solve the problems above, it is necessary to clarify three major aspects at the theoretical level: physical cognition can provide a pivot for Wushu to return to technical practice; the living heritage materials of Wushu can provide reasonable support for practical cultivation experience; historical dynamic thinking can dissolve cultural conservatism and blind following. Based on theoretical introspection, the following breakthrough path is further proposed: attaching importance to physical practice of Wushu to return to the origin of Wushu techniques, accumulating Wushu experience and perception and rely on multiple pieces of evidence for mutual verification; grasping the diverse characteristics of history and boost confidence in Wushu research.