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10 Essential Tips for Kung Fu Beginners

10 Essential Tips for Kung Fu Beginners

Train Smarter, Not Harder – The Secrets Every Beginner Must Know

Starting Kung Fu is exciting, but many beginners fall into common traps—rushing techniques, ignoring footwork, and struggling with tension. Traditional Kung Fu (傳統功夫) is about efficiency, structure, and lifelong mastery.

💡 In This Guide, You’ll Learn:

  • ✔ Why slowing down is the fastest way to improve your Kung Fu skills
  • ✔ The #1 mistake beginners make—chasing techniques instead of mastering movement
  • ✔ How to build unstoppable power through stance training (馬步, 弓步, 虛步)
  • ✔ The secret behind Fajin (發勁)—explosive power comes from relaxation, not tension
  • ✔ Why footwork determines everything—bad movement = bad fighting
  • ✔ Internal training isn’t optional – Breathwork, tendon strength, and energy flow separate skilled fighters from amateurs
  • ✔ How pain is your greatest teacher—embrace discomfort to grow stronger
  • ✔ Why a teacher matters more than videos – Get feedback, avoid bad habits, and accelerate your progress

💭 Do you want to avoid beginner mistakes and build real martial skill from Day 1?

Essential Tips for Kung Fu Beginners

Online Courses

Deepen your understanding with our specialized online martial art courses.

Joint Locking (Qin Na Seize & Control) Catalog course

Joint Locking (Qin Na Seize & Control) Catalog

36 Different Qin Na (Seize and Control) Joint locking techniques from the Ma Family Drunken Fist. Each lock is demonstrated and explained succinctly by Shifu Neil Ripski on a cold day at the Red Jade Martial Arts School in 2016. Included are methods from all four types of Qin Na: Tear the Muscles, Break the Bones, Seal the Breath, Seal the Blood 36 Methods include: General accepts promotion, Crow flips its body, Lesson from Iron Mountain, Break the Monkeys Tail, Bind the Leopard, Woodcutter binds the Wood, Eagle seizes the fish, Bind the thief, Eagle seizes the waist, and more. Also inclided is a Tea Table Talk about being a good training partner called "Moments in Time" regarding nurturing and not damaging ones partners. Especially important for dangerous techniques like 擒拿 Qin Na.

•Beginner
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Original Secrets of Drunken Boxing DVD - 2003 course

Original Secrets of Drunken Boxing DVD - 2003

The very first DVD put out in 2003 by Shifu Ripski. The DVD covers the movements of the first Drunken form, a discussion of drunken hand shapes, warm ups, strength exercises, and kicking methods. A section on applications covers drunkard spits wine (floating power), Qin Na (Seizing and Grasping AKA Joint Locks), and Shuai or throwing methods. The DVD closes with some foundational instruction for standing post qigong. If you want to see the very first instalment in the drunken boxing project from 2003. This is it.

•Beginner
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Shaolin 18 Lohan Palm Qigong course

Shaolin 18 Lohan Palm Qigong

The Shaolin 18 Lohan Palm is a complete qigong system for health and longevity. The class covers the fundamental aspects of qigong training alongside the 18 lohan palm standing form. The combination of breathing, single pointed mindfulness and movement helps remove separation between mind and body. The path of Drunken Boxing includes internal work on alchemy, qigong, and meditation. The Lohan Palm comes from the teachings of grandmaster Chen Qiming from Guangzhou China to Neil Ripski over a 20 year apprenticeship (2003 - 2023) until the grandmasters passing.

•All levels
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