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Training: effective running exercises

In this article, we want to see 5 types of running exercises for beginners.

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).

Important premises:

Do stretching before starting (read Basic soft stretching and How to correctly perform stretching)
If we are already able to run more than 6 minutes and if we do not exaggerate with the intensity (speed, height difference, obstacles, etc.) these exercises can be performed as a warm-up (read How to correctly perform warm-up)
Train safely, do not train what is in pain and do not exaggerate, especially at the beginning and when the path provides for the lifting of the feet beyond the height of the knee (jumps, obstacles, ladders, etc., read Safe training: the 3 errors rule)
If we are overweight or completely out of practice we can reduce the difficulty (distance, time and obstacles)
Running must be synchronized with correct breathing (read The 6DKF s combat breathing)
Let’s not run without the right shoes (especially if we run long and / or are not used to it)

The exercises

Exercise 1: the sprung walk

In its basic version, this exercise is for those who are totally out of shape (those who have knee problems, are overweight, have never practiced running, etc.):

We do a step forward and we completely attach the sole of the shoes to the ground
With both feet constantly on the ground, we bounce on our knees up and down 3 times (like a rapid vibration)
Then we do the next step and doing the same thing we go forward or backward
It is like a normal walk but it should be done with the right intensity and speed
This practice is also useful to train a good mobile fighting stance (read /// Subscribe (it's free!) or Login to see this content ///)

A note by Master Kongling – Let’s do not perform the subsequent running exercises if we have problems even with this one. You have all the time: be gradual.

Exercise 2: running dominated by the breath

This exercise is perfect to learn to sync and manage your breathing in relation to your movements:

We have to run normally, at the speed we want
If possible, we have to breathe with the nose only (read The 6DKF’s combat breathing)
We must control our pace syncing the breathing with our speed and muscle chain (read A breathing exercise to develop the 6DKF’s muscle chain)
With the warrior’s breathing, our nose should make the sound of an ancient steam train and move consequently
When we want to accelerate we simply have to breathe faster and vice-versa to slow down (let’s not exaggerate with the speed and the amount of air assumption)

Exercise 3: a “variation” of the skip

This exercise is good to learn the mechanics of striking (read How to kick (simple explanation)):

We have to run in a straight line
We must move forward as slowly as possible
The goal is to raise the knees higher and as quickly as possible
We have to try to keep the body straight on the line of the center of gravity and the legs as much parallels as possible
In the meantime, our shoulders should rotate accordingly on the Y-axis (as to throw small hook punches)

Exercise 4: gorilla running

This exercise is good to develop the muscle chain and to promote contact with the ground:

Let us stand squatting with our feet and hands on the ground
We must not look frontally toward the direction in which we want to move
The non-dominant knee is facing forward and the other sideways
75% of the weight is on the hands and both are more forward than the foot of the non-dominant knee
We have to run with 4 legs throwing our weight forward with the correct motion of our arms, shoulders and head
The arms move as a single big limb and must work more than the legs (otherwise the energies will end rapidly)
The leap is given by the sharing of effort between legs and arms
We must imagine ourselves clinging to the ground with our hands and pulling the rest of our body toward us
Let’s divide the session to work both with the left and the right side

A note by Master Kongling – At the beginning is not simple at all but with time we acquire the movement.

Exercise 5: inverted gorilla running

This exercise is good to prepare the body for the spiral muscle chain (read The Spiral Muscle Chain: twists and screws of the body):

It is the same as the gorilla running (we run frontally and in a straight direction) but at each leap, we rotate our body 360°
The rotation is always in the direction of the dominant leg
Let’s divide the session to rotate both in the left and in the right direction

For a total beginner, these exercises can be performed even only for 1-3 minutes, we can slow down but we cannot stop. We can do specific sessions for each of them or we can divide the amount of time dedicated to executing them altogether (eg. 1-3 minutes each).

Variations

These are safe and extremely simple running exercises ideal for beginners (or as a warm-up) but, with the right adaptations, they can be performed also by advanced practitioners.

Let s see some interesting variations (not for novices):

Throw punches sequences during the running (read How to punch (simple explanation))
Advanced practitioners can start to (extremely gradually and carefully) add obstacles in the path
Include arms’ push on the walls to speed up the running
Use a weighted vest (15-25 Kg)
Take on your shoulders or beside 1-2 bags (full of cement, sand, pellets, etc.) for a total of 15-50 Kg (let’s maintain balance if possible)

A note by Master Kongling – For the bags. let’s make sure that the container is sealed and clean: if necessary let’s wrap them up using airtight bags made of thick plastic.

In the next article of this series, we will see more advanced push-up exercises.

In-depth video courses

Basic 6 Dragons Kung Fu Exercises – The fundamental technical exercises of 6 Dragons Kung Fu
Advanced speed and reflexes training – The full path toward combat speed development

In-depth articles

5 jumping exercises ideal for beginners / warm-up – 5 simple types of jumps that everyone can perform
5 push-up exercises ideal for beginners / warm-up – 5 push-ups good for those who start from scratch

Questions

Reply in the comments and share your experience:

What kind of running exercises are you performing?

Author: Master Kongling

Founder of 6 Dragons Kung Fu.

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