Kung Fu for Kids: Beginner Warm Up and Stance Practice

Kung fu training has excellent benefits for kids and adults alike. Children can develop strength, coordination, balance and flexibility. They can also improve their ability to concentrate, maintain focus and follow instructions.

This video starts with some dynamic stretches that are commonly used in kung fu to develop strength and flexibility for powerful kicks. After warming up muscles and joints, it then shows 3 important kung fu stances: Horse Stance (Mabu), Flat Stance (Pubu) and Bow Stance (Gong bu). These stances are fundamental stances in kung fu practice and help to develop posture, strength and balance, skills that are very important in both training and everyday life. Stances are also essential groundwork for form work and improved lower body strength, which again benefits kicking technique and increases the power of your kicks.

Breathing is also an extremely important component of kung fu practice. When our little monkey opens his mouth, this means he is breathing out and you should try imitate this if possible. I hope this is noticeable enough in the animation and if the breathing is difficult to follow, please let me know in the comments and I will try to find a way to animate breath more clearly in the future!

The punches performed with stances can take children some time to master. If they are having difficulty coordinating the upper and lower body movements, get them to practice the stances without the punches until they are confident with the stances first and then try to incorporate the punches.

Adults take note! Young children are naturally more flexible than adults and are likely to be able to perform stances comfortably. If you are practising this with your kids, be sure to try the stances at a level you are comfortable with. You should be able to feel your muscles working but if you are feeling pain in your joints stop practising or adjust your stance to a level at which you are comfortable. Deep stances can take some time to master so be patient and practise regularly!