r/kungfu

What does being an athlete mean to you? I want to hear from adults across the lifespan about their athletic identity.

 

I am looking for people who:

• Are 25+ years old (no upper limit!)
• Identify as an athlete
• Currently train/practice for a sport
• Competed in the past year OR plan to compete next year

 

👉 Take the 15-20 min. survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/AthleticIdentity

 

Contact: Derrik Motz, PhDc (derrik.motz@uottawa.ca).

 

uOttawa REB Approval: H-02-26-12017

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Hello all: I'm trying to decide between two different schools here in Austin, Texas: Austin Kung Fu and Tai Chi (previously called Shaolin Do, I believe) or the Shaolin Temple Cultural Center. AK&TC is a more convenient location, and their Tai Chi class eventually gets into Bagua, which is a draw, but I had some questions about their Kung Fu (external) arts curriculum.

They do a belt system, which I understand isn't traditional for Kung Fu, but it's also fairly universal as a grading system these days.

My question is: does this curriculum look legit or overloaded/stretched across too many different styles?

The curriculum:
The Forms We Teach - Austin Kung Fu

This Bagua twisting drill—moving from Drop Stance (Pu Bu) into Bow Stance (Gong Bu)—follows the same internal principles as Tai Chi (Taijiquan).

The key is understanding that the Kua is the transmission. It connects the upper and lower body and carries the movement through the structure.

When you twist:

* Twisting left → weight settles into the right Kua

* Twisting right → weight settles into the left Kua

In the Drop Stance, the weight must be loaded into the Kua, not dumped into the knee. From there, you shift smoothly and expand into Bow Stance, with the whole body moving as one unit—not just the arms.

At the same time, the feet must grip the ground. This gripping action activates the small joints in the feet, establishes a solid root, and allows the Kua to transmit force effectively through the body.

Keep the shoulders relaxed, stay grounded, and move slowly so every joint stays connected.

This is not just stretching or choreography—this is integrated movement, where the Kua and the feet work together to create stability, connection, and control.

#TaiChi #BaguaZhang #Kua #Rooting #InternalMartialArts #Taijiquan #WeightShift #InternalPower #KungFu #Neigong #BodyMechanics

Hi everyone,

20 years ago, my parents (Fabien & Saline Latouille) traveled across China to document the last guardians of traditional Kung Fu. I grew up with these stories and these images.

Today, I am going back. I am retracing their steps to see what has become of these arts. This project, Legacy of the Masters, is a bridge between two eras.

Yes, it involves legends like my Master Liu Liehong (who worked with Jet Li on Shaolin) and the great Mark Houghton in Hong Kong. But the project goes way beyond cinema. It’s a personal and historical quest to capture the soul of these traditions before they disappear forever. It’s about Wu De (Martial Virtue) and the transmission from one generation to the next.

I’ve just launched the Kickstarter to make this documentary possible and preserve these 20 years of history. I’d love to have your thoughts on this journey.

Does this story of family and martial heritage resonate with your own practice?

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I am a solo practitioner looking to bridge the gap between "Health Qigong" and authentic "Internal Combat Power." My goal is two-fold: achieving better health throughout my lifespan and developing strength.

Because I don't have access to a local Shifu, I’ve built a 12-month self-learning roadmap based on high-quality instructional resources. I’m training 60 minutes a day, 6 days a week, and following a strictly fortified vegetarian performance diet (1.6–1.8g protein per kg).

The Training Plan:

Specific Questions for the Community:

1. Safety & Fa Jin: I’m worried about the risks of self-learning explosive power (Fa Jin). What are the specific "body-logic" checkpoints I should look for to ensure I'm not putting destructive torque on my joints or spine while training solo?
2. Viability of San Ti Shi: I’ve scheduled San Ti Shi stance work to start alongside Tai Chi in Phase 2. Is building the "martial engine" this early viable for a self-learner, or is there a high risk of "faking" the structure without hands-on correction?
3. The "Peak State" Progression: The plan moves from Ba Duan Jin to Yi Jin Jing (Muscle-Tendon Changing) for structural toughness before hitting the Xingyi fists. For those with 10+ years of experience, does this sequence actually prepare the fascia for the rigors of internal striking, or am I missing a foundational "bridge" set?
4. Vegetarian Recovery: For the practitioners here who are vegetarian, what specific indicators do you use to know if your nutrition is actually supporting the "Muscle-Tendon Transformation" (Yi Jin Jing) vs. just simple muscle recovery?

I am fully aware that solo training is no substitute for a real master, but I want to make this as safe and effective as humanly possible.

I would appreciate any critique on the progression, resource selection, or safety protocols.

Does anyone have any experience with the Kung Fu Xing Lin Academy in Chengdu?

We want to go as a couple for 2 weeks but I find some mixed reviews online.

I want to delve deeper into Zen Buddhism and Kung Fu philosophy, and I'd like to meet people who share this same lifestyle. I also welcome recommendations for books and YouTube channels, please.

Tranditional Chinese Martial Art Qin Na Technique

I train at a kung fu school, and recently we were told that students are not allowed to organize informal training together without the teacher’s prior approval.

To be clear, this is not about teaching classes, opening our own school, or pretending to be instructors. It’s just about meeting with classmates in a park or somewhere similar and doing our own practice together for motivation.

The idea seems to be that even if nobody is “leading,” it is still not allowed unless the teacher knows about it and confirms it first. In practice, however, he usually does not allow it.

Is this considered normal in the kung fu world or in martial arts in general?

Is this a traditional discipline / lineage thing, or is it more of a control issue?

I understand rules about respect, not teaching others without permission, and not misrepresenting the school. But telling adult students they cannot meet and train together in their own free time feels a bit extreme to me.

I’m especially curious to hear from people with experience in traditional kung fu schools, not only modern gyms.

I have two facial piercings, an eyebrow and a nostril, and I'm looking to start "proper" sparring at my club (have done one-step/slow type sparring for a few months). I'm wondering if a regular helmet would be enough to protect my eyebrow piercing or if I should go for one with a full face shield/bars. I'm happy to take my nostril out but I'm worried about my eyebrow closing up. I'm also not bothered about my piercings getting hit through a helmet, just about them getting caught directly.

Looking to start training with them but finding a set has been rather challenging.

Also interested in any blacksmiths you'd recommend for custom weapons. Looking to treat myself this year.

Thanks in advance~

I’m curious how others decide this, because I’ve seen so many different opinions.



For me, I’ve noticed a few things:



Q: What actually matters most when choosing a kung fu uniform?

A: Fabric and fit. Cotton feels best for training, but some people swear by polyester blends for durability.



Q: Is “traditional” always better?

A: Not really. Some traditional uniforms look great but are honestly annoying for daily training if they’re too loose or heavy.



Q: Biggest mistake beginners make?

A: Buying something too big just because it “looks authentic.” It usually ends up getting in the way.



I’m still figuring out what works best long-term—what do you guys usually wear for training vs sparring?

Yesterday I visited a martial arts shop to buy a kung fu wooden dummy for my training. I wanted something strong and stable. But when I checked the dummies I felt disappointed. Some looked weak and some wood seemed soft. I could not pick one confidently.

I visited another store. Some dummies were strong but costly. Some looked stable but small. Some seemed perfect but very heavy. I remembered buying a martial arts dummy last week that cracked easily. That made me hesitate even more.

To check more variety and options while scrolling many online marketplaces including alibaba I found many kung fu wooden dummies. Some were strong and tall. Some were simple and affordable. Some had smooth finishes and modern designs. Seeing all these options made me excited but also confused.

Now I am thinking should I buy this kung fu wooden dummy online for variety or check a store to feel the quality first? What would you do if you were in my place?

Hi I love watching traditional martial arts but don’t know much about them. There’s a move I’ve seen in reels and just recently, in a really old school street fighter game. It was Chun li. The move was short ranged. The rear leg came BEHIND the front and struck the opponent. It’s driving me crazy I can’t seem to find out what the name of it is? Any ideas? Thanks and appreciate the help