How to start practicing from scratch
The martial path of 6 Dragons Kung Fu
Although we have already published some materials (read How to train to master the 6 Dragons Kung Fu Style), many people have asked for a “basic guide” to start training in 6 Dragons Kung Fu. In this regard, we want therefore to illustrate a general path to follow (starting from scratch).
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).
First of all, we must awaken our bodies from the dullness of modern life: it makes no sense to try to train as Shaolin monks (read also Ancient Shaolin monks vs modern ones) if we are not even able to climb the stairs without having to face heart / breathing / joints / etc. problems (see also How to immediately improve endurance).
The first thing that our Kung Fu teaches is to be gradual.
A note by Master Kongling – This article is not born for good sports athletes and / or advanced practitioners coming from other martial arts but a part of the activities we will describe is fundamental even for them (if we already are in perfect physical shape, we can simply increase times and efforts of the exercises, read Intensity of training: depends on what?).
Starting from scratch: awaken the body
Starting from a hypothetical state of total inactivity (and after evaluating our general health with our physician), let’s see the first steps to develop the 6 Dragons Kung Fu within us:
- Move the body every day – Let’s start with a few minutes of physical activity but let’s do it every day, without excuses, nothing can become more impelling than our workout (read The constant training in everyday life)
- Start with a small but constant training time – If we are overweight, not so young (read The right age to start practice) and / or totally inactive (from the physical point of view), 5-30 daily minutes are fine (we will increase them gradually)
- Organize times and exercises – Let’s divide our time between warm-up (read Basic warm-up), stretching (read Basic soft stretching) and especially executing the most important exercises of 6 Dragons Kung Fu (Fabric Cloth Training, Hanging Speedball Training and Poles Training, read )
- Forget the combat aspect – At this stage, we have to forget any kind of martial approach (we will learn the fighting techniques when our body and our mind will be ready)
- Focus on small but important things – The only rules to remember are to keep the guard high (hands near the head, read ) and to implement only the kicks / punches that our body instinctively suggests us (in our school, this initial freedom is crucial for the perfect development of a complete warrior, read )
- What are our primary goals? – Let’s focus on building basic spatial intelligence (read The most important skill in combat), minimal balance, physical endurance and especially mental constancy (read The first martial skill to be acquired and Having discipline: do not contradict ourselves)
What are not our goals? – Let’s forget power, precision and speed, to reach excellence these are the last aspects that we have to develop (after learning the basic technical baggage and the relative conditioning, read The right way to develop muscle memory) - Let’s work on instinct and reason – Let’s leave our body free to act (but in a safe context, see the free video course Kung Fu Near Me and read Dojo (guan): rules, respect and etiquette); even from the very beginning we need a rational approach, we must learn to analyze and personally correct everything we do (let’s reflect on what seem wrong / correct / interesting, etc.)
- The starting point of motivation – In 99% of cases, initially, we only have enthusiasm as a resource (no habit and much less discipline, read Motivation: from passion to self-discipline and Motivate ourselves); we must put all the possible energy and concentration into each training session (let’s use the content of this website, the music and everything that can motivate us, read Workout music: how, when, why)
- Mental skills development – Regarding mind development let’s start finding a few minutes of absolute silence (even 1 but with closed eyes); we have to try to hear and distinguish the sounds near and far (from here we will then go for breathing, meditation, advanced body control, etc., read Meditation method 1)
- Correct nutrition – As soon as possible we have to change some of our eating habits (read Qi and proper nutrition) and especially we must learn to drink plenty of water
The next step (after, at least, 6 months) is to start to condition our body (read Physical conditioning: how it works).
Final notes
A few considerations and tips:
- This is the base, for anyone; of course, who already has a good athletic / martial background can insist more on the daily effort (eg. starting with 45-60 minutes per day, read Practical examples of daily training time subdivision)
- Even from these first steps, we will notice great changes in our lives, in our way of approaching ourselves and others (read 10 things that change for 6DKF’s practitioners (physical) and 12 Things That change for 6DKF’s practitioners (mental))
- During this phase, we do not necessarily have to exclude the study of fighting techniques but simply not make it systematic (as we will do in the future steps)
- …
A note by Master Kongling – To start this is more than enough: but to feel the Real Change you need at least 1 year of daily practice. In the next article of this series, we will deepen the structure of each training session (read 6 Dragons Kung Fu training sessions’ structure).
In-depth video courses
- Basic 6 Dragons Kung Fu exercises – Our fundamental exercises to build real combat skills
- Mind self-control hacks – How to take control of your mind and achieve better performance
- Martial arts weight loss: how to – A guided path for a safe and long-lasting weight loss
- Advanced speed and reflexes training – A video course about how to develop combat speed (exercises, tricks and practical explanations)
- Worst combat errors to avoid – The mistakes that make our martial skills useless
- Self-defense basics: how to – The full path to self-defense of our school
- Meditation: how to start – A guided path toward meditation for those who have difficulty to approach it
In-depth articles
- Tips on how to stretch our training times – How to enlarge our daily workout
- Why martial arts do not work: 5 reasons – What makes the difference between effectiveness and ineffectiveness in martial arts
Questions
Reply in the comments and share your experience:
- What is your background (sports, other martial arts, etc.)?
Author: Master Kongling
Founder of 6 Dragons Kung Fu.How to master 6 Dragons Kung Fu?
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kungfubeginner
May 20, 2019 @ 11:04 pm
Thanks for this introduction master
Master Kongling
May 21, 2019 @ 2:04 am
😉
JBParker
December 28, 2020 @ 4:51 am
I have taken Japanese taekwondo as a youth. I am now 44 and have gotten out of shape. I look to improve health, flexibility, and knowledge.
Master Kongling
December 28, 2020 @ 12:03 pm
Happy to be able to help you, focus on using your passion to build self-discipline:
https://www.6dragonskungfu.com/motivation-from-passion-to-self-discipline/
Nic
July 3, 2021 @ 7:45 pm
I am so happy to have found this. I was never good at sports, I had the determination to finish but never the speed. Everyone wanted fast results. I am so happy that seeing the time frames on here they are more realistic as long as I do them daily. Thank you for setting this site up, it gives people like me belief
Master Kongling
July 4, 2021 @ 10:58 am
You are welcome 😉
peter
July 6, 2024 @ 12:12 pm
I would like to learn but where do I start?
Master Kongling
October 3, 2024 @ 5:22 pm
Write to [email protected]