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):
- Fabric Cloth Training
- Hanging Speedball Training
- Poles Training
- Conditioning
- 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:
- Develop reflexes
- Develop spatial memory and intelligence (read The most important skill in combat)
- Develop fighting mobility
- Develop fighting speed
- Develop soft power
- Develop fighting coordination
- Develop precision
- Develop dynamic balance (read The concept of dynamic equilibrium inspired by the Tai Chi)
- Develop stamina
- Develop timing
- Develop abstraction capability (read Become the absolute zero)
- Develop defensive automation
- Lose weight (if necessary)
- Get your knees used to bend fast
- Reach more distant and complex targets
- …
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
- The 6DKF’s Solid Contacts – The Solid contacts of 6 Dragons Kung Fu, the ones common to the vast majority of martial arts
- The 6DKF’s Liquid and Fluid Contacts – Tension and relaxation of our body parts in relation to our opponent’s action
<< Lesson 3.5 – Index – Lesson 4.1 >>
Author: Master Kongling
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parker
February 25, 2018 @ 9:39 pm
Can you make an example of “offensive automation”?
Master Kongling
February 26, 2018 @ 10:07 am
Yes, an example of offensive automation is something like a consequential blow, such as an elbow blow after a punch.
neruda
February 27, 2018 @ 3:52 am
what do you mean with “fighting pace”?
Master Kongling
February 27, 2018 @ 9:51 am
The rhythm of a fight. If you have the ability to know, recognize and change it your possibilities to prevail become higher. We will discuss this argument better in future but I want to give you at least a partial explanation:
– If I say to 10 people to start jumping, each of them will do it with their own speed, elevation, etc.
– In this situation this is their fighting pace, if you are able to recognize this you have a big advantage
– You can, for example, hit an opponent when he is in the air and he can not use his legs to avoid your attack… the possibilities are endless
KungFuMaster
March 3, 2018 @ 12:56 am
the only thing that I do not see as a single exercise is conditioning
Master Kongling
March 3, 2018 @ 8:45 am
Yes, you are right but even the others are not single exercises, they have a lot of variants. Conditioning is surely the bigger category (speed, power, resistance, etc.). We will see everything, do not worry. 😉
Oscar Calvete
May 26, 2019 @ 12:48 pm
Hi Mate,
My name is Oscar Calvete and I live in Australia, I have been living here for the last 20 years.
Originally I am from Colombia and probably for the last 35 I want to learn kung fu, I am 45 years old now.
I practice exercise every day for the last 4 years, I want to learn kung fu, so I was attracted to your website on youtube.
Could you please tell me if there a course to follow every day, I find the website very difficult to navigate and does not have videos to follow the practice.
Please let me know if you have training easy to navigate.
Thanks,
Oscar
Master Kongling
May 26, 2019 @ 7:23 pm
Hi, happy to hear that you are so determined to train.
Yes, we have video courses, you can find them here:
https://www.6dragonskungfu.com/shop/
If you are searching for detailed visual explanations about the fundamental technical exercises of 6 Dragons Kung Fu, this is the course for you:
https://www.6dragonskungfu.com/product/basic-6-dragons-kung-fu-exercises-beginner-intermediate/
If you have any other questions, write to me at:
[email protected]
JeanEdmond
April 13, 2020 @ 7:57 pm
You are changing my life
Master Kongling
April 19, 2020 @ 10:51 pm
Happy to ear, good practice