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:

• 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

Founder of 6 Dragons Kung Fu.

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