Preparing for Kung Fu

**sbf2009** · Posted On: 7/17/2010 1:53am

I wish to join the local Wah Lum temple here in Orlando soon, but the funds for such a thing will not come in until at least a month or two from now. What kind of recommendations can you make to me for preparing to learn kung fu and having myself as ready as possible for learning techniques in the mean time? I want to be able to join and not having my learning impeded by my own physical limitations.

Lately, I have been trying to practice some stances and running a bit. Horse stance still hurts like a bitch after a couple minutes and I tire out after about 2-3 miles of jogging.

Any suggestions [not involving deliberate bleeding or some form of drug/surgery] are welcome.

**Big Furnace** · Posted On: 7/17/2010 7:14am

You have the right idea. Just do activities to get your cardio ramped up and work on your flexibility with stretching. Especially legs/hips/waist. From what I have seen, those are the two things most beginning students suffer with.

If you have access to a heavy bag, spending some time with that will help you get your arms and wrists used to the coming work as well.

Good luck!

**Diesel_tke** · Posted On: 7/17/2010 8:03am

Yoga and lots of squats. The thing I feel the most after practice is that my legs are jello. We do lots of stuff similar to yoga for warm ups and flexibility is a big deal. Throw in pushups or hindu pushups. But squats more!

**sbf2009** · Posted On: 7/17/2010 10:13am

Googled Hindu pushup....looks like floor humping but whatever, guess I'll try that too. I suppose I can hit the campus gym for squats with a barbell. As far as felxibility, I'm pretty much useless, so I should probably spend a lot of time working on doing a split as well. Don't know any yog but I'll poke around the internet to see what I find.

Thanks all for the help.

**It is Fake** · Posted On: 7/17/2010 10:18am

First do you have any fight training? If not do not try and practice poor punches on a heavy bag. Besides injuries you'll have to relearn how to punch properly.

**sbf2009** · Posted On: 7/17/2010 10:20am

Half a year's worth of ATA TKD when I was younger, so I know what a proper fist is (though not too much else). I won't hurt myself on a punching bag

**Permalost** · Posted On: 7/17/2010 5:58pm

Stretching, yoga and hindu squats will serve you well.

I remember seeing one of my old training partners knock out one of the Wah Lum guys by face kick in the big Florida tournament a few years back. It was pretty cool.

**Diesel_tke** · Posted On: 7/18/2010 10:12am

Originally Posted by sbf2009

Googled Hindu pushup....looks like floor humping but whatever, guess I'll try that too. I suppose I can hit the campus gym for squats with a barbell. As far as felxibility, I'm pretty much useless, so I should probably spend a lot of time working on doing a split as well. Don't know any yog but I'll poke around the internet to see what I find.

Thanks all for the help.

Don't knock them till you try them. And don't bother with the barbell when doing squats. Go for reps. And there is a lot more to flexibility then just doing the splits.