Training Guide for the Wushu Mind

[Video] Jet Li Biography

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 05:34:00 +0000

Here's an excerp from Jet Li's biography from his official website.

Born in Beijing, Li began studying the art of Wushu (the general Chinese term for martial arts) and was enrolled in the Beijing Amateur Sports School at the age of 8. After three years of extensive training, Li won his first national championship for the Beijing Wushu Team. As part of a world tour in 1974, he had the honor of performing a two-man fight for President Nixon on the White House lawn. For the next five years, he remained the All-Around National Wushu Champion of China.

[Strength] Shoulder Training

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 10:02:00 +0000

Taken from original article by Kelly Maclean available from shouyuliang.com through this link

Kelly Maclean has practiced martial arts for over 10 years and is a both a national and international Taiji champion.

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For Wushu, both shoulder strength and flexibility are required. Increasing these attributes can help give you more control in your forms and weapons.

Strength

This is a series of three exercises I learned from Master Nick Gracenin, a well-known teacher, athlete, and promoter of Chinese martial arts in PennShou-Yu Liangvania. Try fifty repetitions for each exercise, without resting in between. As far as the speed is concerned, approximately one repetition per second is about right.

Exercise 1

Start by standing with the feet at a comfortable distance apart. Hold the arms 180 degrees out to the sides, at shoulder level, with the elbows straight, and the fingers straight, together, and pointing upward. Keep the chest open.

Rotate the shoulders 90 degrees forward, so that the fingers point forward. Keep the shoulders down, elbows straight, hands tight, and chest open.

Return to the start position. Be sure not to over-rotate; fingers should not point backward. Try 50 repetitions, and without resting, go on to the second exercise.

Exercise 2

Remaining in your stance, begin with your fingers pointing forward. Keep the arms 180 degrees out to the sides, at shoulder level, with the elbows straight and the chest open. With the fingers pointing forward, pull your arms back as far as possible, keeping the elbows straight, shoulders down, and hands tight. Do not arch your back.

Return your arms to 180 degrees apart. Repeat fifty times, and without resting, go on to the third part.

Exercise 3
Remain in your stance and begin again with your fingers pointing forward. Bend the elbows slightly and pull them back, so that the chest stays open. Lift the elbows as high as you can, without lifting the shoulders themselves.

Return the elbows to level with the shoulders. Resist dropping the elbows below the shoulders. Try to do fifty. After this final exercise, you will probably be ready for a stretch!

Flexibility

Here are some basic stretches to help keep the shoulders limber. All you need is a wall. Try holding each stretch for 30 seconds to a minute.

Stretch 1

Start with your palms against the wall at approximately shoulder height and less than shoulder width apart. Lean forward, keeping the arms and legs straight, until your arms are behind your ears. You should feel the stretch in the shoulders. See if you can touch your head to the wall. Avoid arching the back.

Stretch 2

Next, turn away from the wall, and get your palms against the wall, as close together as possible, with the fingers pointing upward, thumbs on the outside. Bend your knees, and lower your body. Keep the elbows straight, and hands as high and as close together as possible.

Stretch 3

Standing with one palm against the wall, the arm straight and up at shoulder height. Turn your body away from your arm. Of course, stretch both sides.

[Strength] Jumping Drills for Wushu

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 11:19:00 +0000

1. Light Jumps:Drill: Stand with your feet about 6 inches apart. Keep your knees straight, but not locked. Use only your feet, bounce up and down as high as you can, 10 to 20 times.

2. Both Knees to Your Chest:Drill: Stand in a high Horse Stance. Swing your arms as you jump up. When you jump, bring your knees up together as high as you can. When you land, separate your legs and land lightly in a Horse Stance. Repeat 10 to 20 times.

3. Both Knees to Your Chest and Turn:Drill: Stand in a high Horse Stance. Turn your upper body to your right with your arms also extending to your right. Swing your arms to your left as you turn your body to your left, and jump up and turn 360 degrees with your knees up. Land lightly in a Horse Stance. Repeat 10 to 20 times. Then do this drill on the other side.

4. One Knee to Your Chest:Drill: Jump and bring one knee up to your chest while keeping the other leg straight. Keep doing the same leg or alternate legs. Repeat each leg, 10 to 20 times.

5. Jump and Reach Up:Drill: Jump up as high as you can. As you reach up, stretch your body from your hands down to your toes and keep your body straight. Repeat 10 to 20 times.

6. Jump and Touch Toes:Drill: Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Bend your knees slightly, and lift your legs up at an angle to your sides. At the same time, slap your palms on top of your feet. Land lightly. Repeat 10 to 20 times.

This article is an excerpt from the Wushu manual Kung Fu Elements,
by Grandmaster Shou-Yu Liang and Master Wen-Ching Wu

For the full article with images on how to perform the drills,
go to http://www.shouyuliang.com/newsletter/v6n3/v6n3a6.shtml

[Video] Fearless Opening Fight sequence

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:25:00 +0000

[Video] Wushu Team

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:07:00 +0000