Lesson 6 – Basic technical exercises: which & why

The exercises’ groups you will perform and why

The 5 technical groups of exercises that we are going to list (read How to train in 6DKF: specific exercises) represent the core of your training method: without them, you are losing our specific Kung Fu focus.

Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend our home study classes here Learn Kung Fu online: a beginner-to-expert course).

The first 2-3 are good for this phase, the others are for a second step (we will deepen each of them in the future lessons of this course):

  1. Fabric Cloth Training
  2. Hanging Speedball Training
  3. Poles Training
  4. Conditioning
  5. Sparring

Let’s see them in detail.

1. Fabric Cloth Training

The Fabric Cloth exercise (read Basic tools: the cloth) is probably the most important exercise of 6 Dragons Kung Fu, it is good to:

2. Hanging Speedball Training

The Hanging Speedball exercise (read Basic tools: the Hanging Speedball) stays at the base of the preparation for real combat dynamics and it has been thought to:

  • Develop reflexes
  • Develop spatial memory and intelligence
  • Develop fighting mobility
  • Develop fighting speed
  • Develop penetrating power
  • Develop fighting coordination
  • Develop precision
  • Develop dynamic balance
  • Develop stamina
  • Develop timing
  • Develop abstraction ability
  • Develop offensive automation
  • Lose weight (if necessary)
  • Reach more distant and complex targets
  • Develop the ability to recognize and manage the various fighting distances
  • Adjust the blows already unleashed to the motion of the target

3. Poles Training

The Poles exercise (read Basic tools: the pole) is a good way to understand contact-related concepts within our style, it can be performed to:

  • Develop spatial memory and intelligence
  • Develop fighting mobility
  • Develop fighting speed
  • Develop resistance conditioning
  • Develop elastic power
  • Develop fighting coordination
  • Develop precision
  • Develop dynamic balance
  • Develop stamina
  • Develop abstraction ability
  • Develop offensive automation
  • Develop defensive / offensive combinations (simultaneous, sequences, etc.)
  • Lose weight (if necessary)
  • Understand the advanced contact concepts of 6 Dragons Kung Fu (read 6DKF’s interactions: from the strong blow to the light touch)
  • Understand what truly means to face multiple opponents (read How to fight with more than one opponent at the same time)

4. Conditioning

Body conditioning (read Physical conditioning: how it works) is a specific and fundamental work of optimization of each body element aimed at:

  • Develop reflexes
  • Develop resistance
  • Develop speed
  • Develop spatial intelligence
  • Develop various kinds of power
  • Develop coordination
  • Develop muscle memory / automation
  • Develop balance
  • Develop stamina
  • Develop flexibility
  • Develop all the senses
  • Obtain advanced control of your body
  • Obtain advanced control of your mind
  • Lose weight (if necessary)

5. Sparring

Sparring (read How to do sparring) is the last step, the one where you have to connect exercises (physical / technical), theory (techniques / concepts) and personal attitude; the goals can be to:

  • Develop reflexes
  • Develop spatial intelligence
  • Develop fighting mobility
  • Develop fighting speed
  • Develop fighting coordination
  • Develop precision
  • Develop dynamic balance
  • Develop stamina
  • Develop timing
  • Develop tactics and strategy
  • Lose weight (if necessary)
  • Learn to control pain and fear
  • Understand, recognize and develop a personal fighting pace
  • Understand the physical exchanges of combat (real attacks, pain, etc.)
  • Understand the psychological aspects of combat (insecurity, errors, feints, etc.)
  • Understand what techniques work or not and why (specifically for you and in which situation)
  • Learn that the only ones who never renounce can be considered invincible
  • Partially prepare you for real self-defense scenarios (read Best martial arts for self-defense)

Final notes

A few conclusive thoughts:

  • All that is not contemplated in the 2 primary categories of exercises (the technical and physical ones) falls in the block that we have defined as “secondary” (fighting techniques, special abilities, etc.) in Lesson 3.2
  • The first 2 practices can be executed almost immediately, even with training weapons
  • The third practice needs a little more time but with the right protections can be started after a little time
  • The fourth practice is a constant in our preparation at all levels
  • The last group is mandatory only for those who want to learn to fight (not limiting the practice to the wellness / health aspects) and starts when the body and the mind are ready

In the next chapter, we will talk about one of the most profound and important aspects of Kung Fu: breathing (for power, relaxation, economy of effort, etc.).

In-depth articles

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Author: Master Kongling

Founder of 6 Dragons Kung Fu.

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