The Difference between Traditional and Modern Wushu

 Traditional Wushu is Wushu practiced prior to the communist take over of China. It stresses on combative use and also development of internal energy. The training found in traditional Wushu is both mentally and physically challenging. It also stresses on training the "yi" or intent to deliver your chi to the different extremities, then converting them into jing, internal energy, used for combat. It is not as pretty as the modern version since it's main focus was combat.
    As for modern, it is the wushu practiced after the communist take over. Modern Wushu is a mixture of floor gymnastics, dance, and Wushu (primarily Changquan, Long Fist). Where the traditional stress combat usage, modern stress on competitions. The modern Wushu is perhaps the most popular form of Wushu because of its visual appealing techniques. It stresses on very acrobatic based techniques and requires a lot of physical atheletic ability.
    There are many styles found in both Wushu. You can classify them as
Internal (Xing I Quan, Baguazhang, and Taijiquan, External (Northern Shaolin, Southern style, and Internal/External (Bajiquan, Pikuazhang, Tong Bei Quan). In traditional methods there are literally dozens of forms for each style. In the modern, there is a compulsary form and movements for each style.