kung fu training help?

[flex]

I just started taking kung fu. the style is mixed with a bit of hung gar,tiger,crane,monkey etc. the teacher said for this style we need a lot of flexibility in the waist,arms and feet as there are a lot of hand movements and turning movements in the waist and legs. right now he has us doing basic joint movements and lots of horse stance work. My question what do you guys think is the best way to build up range of motion and strength in the full range for kung fu.Thanks

[hunashaman]

Intu Flow is a great general program that will cover a lot of your needs regarding flexibility, range of motion and joint health. I would suggest you start there. The various Prasara yoga programs also will add a lot to your kung fu training and you might want to look into that (the Prasara instructional series and Flowfit® for example).

Good luck

Johan

[RWilson]

I am sure the CST Coaches will add comments here as well but these are my thoughts as a martial artist training in CST.

Intu-flow is always the place to start because it is the foundation of everything and gives you the mobility of joint movement to go farther. For martial artists it maintains joint health through hard training.

Oddly enough even for a predominately stand up system (assumption made here), I would recommend you get The Grappler’s Toolbox Reborn (and or Body Flow.) Lots of crossovers but no waste between these two.

While Grappler’s Toolbox is ground flow the shin box based movement will really address the strength of knees and feet you will need. The other moves will challenge and enhance your turning movements in the waist and legs.

We do a lot of ground fighting so I ordered the Grappler’s Toolbox and was exceptionally pleased to see the enhancements of my stand up from the attributes it developed.

For core strength development (waist etc) then Flow Fit 1 is the tool. It will also strengthen the legs with a lot of flat foot squats.

For upper body and Kung Fu uses I recommend Forward Pressure.

Be Breathed I feel is a must for all martial artists.

From there all the other material like Prasara Yoga should be on your list to keep going but more than enough to start in the above list.

I run a martial arts school teaching a flowing self protection focused Uechi Ryu which is based in Tiger, Dragon and Crane. The tools I mention are fantastic for this training.

[Coach Jones]

I agree.

Because all of CST is designed to increase range of motion and strength through that range of motion, you have your pick of materials.

IntuFlow should preceed everything else. Flowfit and Prasara will add boatloads to your game.

You really can't go wrong as your goals are those that CST emphasizes. Start off with IntuFlow and move from there.

[flex]

thanks. After checking out the store I ordered the free to move book from the intu-flow site

[wildman]

i received light years of benefit from consistant training with kb swings and cb mills and cb rev mills to help take the place of the traditional methods of kung fu weight training, the 18 weapons.

[JasonE]

A friend of mine is a chiropractor and kung fu stylist that studied with Master Gin Foon Mark (Head of Southern Praying Mantis) for 12 years. Prior to that, he was a gymnast. I introduced him to Intu-Flow and Clubbells, and he was amazed how the benefits carry over into his martial arts practice.

[flex]

update I have been doing the beginner intu-flow stuff before class with out any stretching but funny thing is without doing any stretching my legs are all most able to do a full front split. One question would it be all the kicking etc in class or the intu-flow that is making my legs so flexible?

[Coach Jones]

Hard to say not seeing the class, but I would bet it's both together. The IntuFlow works wonders, add in some kicking drills and you're learning to use that increased ROM with dynamic flexibility.