• Wushu is a traditional Chinese martial art.Chinese Kongfu image by huaxiadragon from Fotolia.com
  
  Wushu is the Chinese term for what we call Kung Fu. It is essentially a blanket term for mainland, Chinese martial arts. In the West, however, Wushu is generally taught as a very flowing, ornamental style, much like what you would see in a movie like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." Wushu can be a physically demanding martial art. To practice it fluently you must condition your whole body toward this goal.
  
  

Flexibility Training

• Flexibility is key to all martial arts, but Wushu is especially demanding. Its high kicks, jumps and elaborate movements require a high degree of flexibility. Some good examples of legs stretches for Wushu include lunge stretches, touching your toes and doing hurdle stretches on the ground. Spinning your arms forward and then in reverse can help you loosen up your upper body for Wushu.
  
  

Heavy Bag Workout

• Practicing Wushu techniques on a heavy bag allows students to release their kicks and punches with full power. A heavy bag also offers a focal point that is approximately the same size as a human opponent. Practicing kicks, punches and hand strikes on a heavy bag is the best way to develop the flurry of strikes you would need if you engaged in actual combat. It's advisable to do five three-minute rounds with one-minute intervals in between them two to three times a week.
  
  

Full Body Conditioning

• Strength and endurance are also key to developing your prowess in Wushu. Running for 30 to 60 minutes, two to three times a week is a good way to improve your cardiovascular capacity. Sit-ups or crunches can improve your core strength and strengthen many of the muscles involved in kicking. Push-ups are good for developing arm strength for punches and improving fast-twitch muscle response. Weights can be helpful but must be used sparingly since it is not always beneficial for martial artists to bulk up.
  
  

Kicking Drills

• Kicking drills are useful for increasing speed, strength and flexibility in kicks. One good drill is to practice front snap kicks on alternate legs while using your hands to form a target. As you kick with alternating feet, extend your arms out and bring them down to meet your kicks. When done well this impact can create a "popping" sound. Start slowly and without kicking too high, then gradually increase the speed and height of your kicks.