How to Teach Yourself Wushu

Wushu is the Chinese term for what Westerners know as kung fu. In the West, wushu often refers to a generalized, traditional style of kung fu that draws on both Southern and Northern style to form a well-balanced and effective fighting system. Like with any martial art, it is possible to learn wushu by studying on your own to some degree.

Instructions

    • 1

      Locate training materials to learn wushu techniques from. These can be books, videos or DVDs. There are also instructional sources available on the Internet that can introduce you to basic and advanced wushu techniques. If you're looking for good information on basic wushu techniques, start with the links listed in the references section.

    • 2

      Create a space for yourself to practice in either indoors or out. The advantage to training with books is that you can practice outdoors in the park or your yard, which will provide you with more space to move in when learning wushu techniques. If you will be training indoors in front of your TV or computer, clear yourself a good area to work in, approximately 8 by 8 feet.

    • 3

      Set up a regular training regimen and adhere to it. Learning wushu is a discipline, and training on your own requires that you discipline yourself. Wushu requires daily practice to excel at, so setting aside one hour a day five days a week is recommended.

    • 4

      Concentrate on getting the basics down. It's impossible to become a good martial artist without sound fundamentals. Learning the basic stances, punches and kicks in wushu will give you a solid foundation for learning more advanced techniques.