Health Benefits of Kung Fu

Kung fu has plenty of health benefits other than just physical conditioning. Being an art form and a way of life also leads to improved discipline, self-confidence, mental health, and cultural awareness. Training kung fu (or other martial arts, for that matter) will give you holistic benefits for all aspects of your health and well-being.

In this article, we’ll go over the ways that you can use kung fu as a tool for growth, regardless of your age. Whether you’re looking to get in shape, reduce stress, or challenge yourself, practicing kung fu offers something for everyone.

Physical benefits of kung fu

The most obvious benefit of training kung fu is the improvement in physical fitness. At Chau Luen Athletics, we practice Choy Lee Fut kung fu, but most styles of kung fu offer a true full-body workout, as well as other benefits such as flexibility, stamina, and joint health.

A full-body workout

Practicing kung fu will allow you to train all of the muscles in your body. Here’s a look at each muscle group in detail.

Hand and arm movements of kung fu

Compared to other martial arts which rely primarily on swift and powerful kicks, kung fu focuses equally on arm and hand movements. Blocking and striking (sometimes done in a single continuous motion) requires both strength and “snappiness”. Kung fu practitioners will often see improvement in both their muscular strength and fast-twitch muscles, as both are needed to execute hand movements efficiently.

Leg strength

Like Taekwondo, kung fu also has a focus on kicking as the legs are the longest and strongest limbs on the human body. Depending on the style of kung fu, there will be a great variety in the types of kicking techniques, including strikes, blocks, checks, and knees.

The fundamental aspect of stances is also incredibly important in kung fu. Kung fu students will learn from their first day of training that proper stances are the most critical part of the martial art. All of the power in every block and strike is generated from the transition between one stance to another. A strong stance requires strong leg muscles to both remain rooted to the ground and to effectively move from one stance to the next.

Core strength

All kung fu movement begins at the core. The stances used in martial arts also derive power from your abdominal muscles, and transitioning between them to perform movements and strikes helps build core strength. With proper training, kung fu doesn’t just build your core strength, but also teaches you how to use it to improve your form.

Cardio

Most martial arts are fast-paced and require a good amount of cardiovascular endurance to succeed. For those who worry about being out of shape, this can slowly be built up over time. At Chau Luen Athletics in particular, we tailor our training to the individual, allowing our students to learn at a pace appropriate to their skill and fitness level. But we do push hard for improvement!

After a warmup, we always focus on “speed training”, which is a high-tempo repetition of basic strikes and combinations. The goal is to build technique and make it second nature, as well as to train at a speed that helps improve stamina and endurance. It also helps train agility and timing, which can help you in real-world self-defence.

Flexibility, posture, and joint health

Health encompasses more than growing muscle or shedding fat. Martial arts are also a wonderful way to reduce the pains that come with age. So whether you’re young and want to take care of your body for the future or if you’re young at heart and want to slow down the rate of age-related changes in your body, you can use kung fu to improve things like flexibility, joint mobility, and posture.

Kung fu improves flexibility

Flexibility is also an important aspect of kung fu. As with cardio, we don’t expect new students to look like they’re part of Cirque Du Soleil, but we will do our best to slowly improve everyone’s flexibility level to be able to strike higher targets and maximize reach. Kung fu includes plenty of dynamic and static stretching exercises that train the body to extend its range of motion in different ways.

Joint health and mobility with smooth, flowing movements

In training Choy Lee Fut kung fu, you’ll learn a flowing and circular style of movement, allowing your joints to move freely without the jarring impact of pounding the pavement while jogging or the aggressive changes in direction of a sport like basketball.

In Choy Lee Fut, we have movements that are hard and crashing (剛), as well as soft and smooth (柔), with all movements flowing naturally from one to the next.

Posture and balance are at the root of everything

The deeply grounded stances and some of the more technical moves that are practiced in kung fu can do wonders for improving posture and stances. We’re not necessarily talking about the flying kicks or crane stances that you’d see in 70s martial arts movies, but rather controlled movements between stances, shifting of weight, and control over your centre of gravity. This is all too important when most people spend too much time sitting in front of a computer for work or school.

Mental health and self-confidence

As you continue to train, you’ll be able to see real improvement. The best kung fu schools will have encouraging instructors that will help you set realistic goals and help you meet them. Self-confidence and discipline are also really important for children, making kung fu an excellent after-school program for your child.

Exercise has also been shown to have a positive effect on one’s mental health by improving mood, reducing anxiety, and helping self-esteem as one notices improvement.

Social and community benefits

For people of all ages, meeting new friends and getting together week after week can do wonders for improving mental health. Being part of a kung fu club and learning traditional forms, including other art forms such as lion dance, can also benefit the health of the community.

Learning kung fu is also a great way to connect with traditional Chinese culture in a modern and engaging way.

Practicing kung fu has lifelong benefits

It’s never too early or late to start training kung fu! Lifelong learning is one of the best approaches to personal growth. In addition to improved strength, flexibility, conditioning, and mental health, setting and achieving goals is fulfilling and healthy in its own right.

Start your kung fu journey today

If you’re interested in learning kung fu and are located in the Metro Vancouver area, send us a message using the link below for a free trial class. For those a little further away, you can look into the many schools that offer kung fu lessons and reach out. No matter which school you choose or what style you end up deciding on, learning kung fu has so many benefits, so we’re excited for your first trial class!

Book a kung fu trial class with Chau Luen Athletics

Kung fu FAQ

Is practicing kung fu dangerous?

While there is always inherent risk when practicing martial arts, most schools will structure classes with safety as a top priority. For instance, you will be taught how to strike, block, receive strikes, and fall safely. At Chau Luen Athletics, we pride ourselves in our dedication to student safety with detailed instruction on injury prevention, and our staff are trained in first aid in the unlikely chance that an accident occurs.

What are the main health benefits of practicing kung fu?

Learning kung fu is a full-body workout that will help with physical conditioning, strength, and stamina. Kung fu will also help improve balance, posture, joint strength, and mental health. Overall, kung fu can be linked to many health benefits and can be practiced by both young and old.

Can women learn kung fu?

In most modern kung fu clubs, women are permitted to learn kung fu, but some older-school clubs will not allow women to participate. At Chau Luen Athletics, we have always allowed anyone, regardless of gender, cultural background, or financial situation, to practice martial arts with us.