The Benefits of Kung Fu Training

One of the bigger regrets I have in life is that I discontinued my official kung fu training back in 2008.  The main reason then was I was beginning a new side hustle of teaching golf.

Ultimately, I moved away from the area where I trained, and my overall training program would not be able to include attending a school several times each week.

With that said, I still could’ve trained more regularly with the material I learned, but I did not.

As a result, I am quite rusty with my techniques and forms, and I definitely feel like could move better if I had been more consistent with my training.

So, this leads me to the topic of this post… the benefits of kung fu training.

Kung Fu practice is great exercise

Kung Fu stance work

Training in kung fu is excellent exercise, especially when you really focus on performing each movement or technique to the best of your ability.

This is particularly the case when you practice forms.

Forms are effectively a sequence of movements that typically involve dealing with an incoming attack and following up with a counterattack.

You move through the form with various foot work and stances, and that is where the money can be found.

Kung fu stances are a way to train your legs for strength and muscle endurance.  Therefore, when you perform each stance within a form to the best of your ability, as well as the blocks, kicks and strike, you will get a great workout.

Some forms can take several minutes to complete, and by the end, you will definitely be huffing and puffing.

When you practice your punches and kicks on a heavy bag, or in the air, you will also be exercising, and that beats sitting on your butt!

Ultimately, the exercise you get when training in kung fu is great for your overall health, including your strength and cardiovascular conditioning.

Kung Fu will improve your mobility

Another significant benefit to kung fu training is that it improves your mobility and flexibility.

This is particularly true when you are practicing your kicks, and performing exercises to improve your kicks.

These dynamic movements are far more effective for improving your flexibility than static stretching where you simply hold a position for 15 seconds or more.

The forms training and stance work also go a long way toward improving your mobility when you work hard to get into your stances as low as possible.

That stance work allows your connective tissues to get stronger and more supple.  This is a particular benefit to your hips, which can get very tight if you spend a lifetime sitting at a desk!

Kung Fu will improve your physical skills and abilities

I am not a proponent of training in kung fu as a means for self defense.  For that, I highly recommend combatives training, such as that offered by Lee Morrison at Urban Combatives.

However, training in kung fu will help you develop skills that are necessary for self defense.

If you train regularly, you will develop kicking and punching skills that are definitely useful in dealing with street violence.

You will also be able to move with better agility and speed as well.

Kung Fu will help you sharpen your focus and relax

A significant part of kung fu training involves meditation.

Regular meditation will allow you to become more focused on the task at hand, and will give you greater ability to relax during tense situations.

We typically practiced meditation at the beginning of every class, to empty our minds from the rest of the day’s events, in preparation for the training for the rest of class.

Because of all of these significant benefits, I thought I wanted to offer people who don’t have time to train in a traditional school setting the opportunity to learn some kung fu.

While I am certainly no kung fu master, I am able to teach the movements and techniques well.

As such, kung fu training is included in my Barbells and Kung Fu fitness program.  I believe it is the most complete fitness program you will find anywhere online.

Thanks for reading!