Do you have to relax to learn kung-fu ?

I read that in kung-fu. you have to relax to produce a powerful punch. What if I am someone who doesn't like to relax and likes using muscles. I can relax, but I like to feel my own weight and body mass as I relax. I also have big biceps. Would it be too hard for me to learn kung-fu since I read that kung-fu styles like wing chun uses not body mass but the skeletal structure.

Do you have to relax to learn kung-fu ?
Relaxing is an essential part of speed, you need to be completely relaxed while performing your technique, otherwise muscles that are being tensed and not being used in the proper motion of your attack will hamper it and slow it down, say for example, closing your fist the instant before you land a punch, if you have your fist clenched the entire time you throw a punch, it will move slower and make your punch weaker and easier to identify it when it is coming, this is called telegraphing and helps out your opponent a great deal. When you throw loose then snap into a fist right before you hit, you move faster, and speed equals power when done properly. If you want to learn kung fu, you will be taught to relax in order to do the techniques properly and effectively, you may not like to relax, but that doesn't mean that you cannot learn how. Just train hard under proper technique and all will be well.
Reply:I too am of muscular build and learned to relax my muscles slowly. It took me a couple of years and staying away from weight training. Nice to see nice musculature when flexing but is counterproductive in kung fu for reasons already stated. I did gain flexibility, speed, fluidity in movement when I eventually learned to relax muscles.
Reply:Alot of your power in a punch should ideally come from the waist, and not from your muscles. This is why, even slightly built people with hardly any muscle can pack a good punch that is controlled yet effective with little effort.





I do not think it will be hard for you to learn kung-fu so long as you choose the style that you believe would suit you best and your sifu will provide you with the correct guidance for your style to develop.





I learn the southern style of HapGar, its very long range and covers most aspects of fighting styles such as grapples and take downs, as well as kicks and punches.





Do some research as it could be disheartening to start something but not finish it because you believe later on it's not for you.





For the record, I have many large muscled guys in my class, it does'nt stop them gaining knowledge because they are larger but they do have to work harder when it comes to relaxing and holding stances. In the same breath, I have to work harder on the more physically demanding routines so its different horses for different courses. The main thing is to enjoy what you do and to work hard at it, train your body and free your mind.
Reply:Yo, Kung-fu is a generic term. It refers to effort. As far as martial arts go you are covering a ton of styles and systems. Some systems are hard based or muscle based rather than internal or soft. Relaxing does help you as you do work against the force you are trying to generate if you tense up. HOWEVER, the more mass, the more powerful your muscles, the more endurance and cardio health you have the harder you will be able to punch with good mechanics. In addition, you will be able to punch more often and absorb the inevitable punishment. Muscle helps punching as does mass. Put a great martial artist weighing in at 150 pounds vs. a power punching, muscular boxer of 250 pounds... guess who is going to hit harder? Heck put the same weight person with one person being stronger and guess who hits harder. Of course the same rules apply, you have to hit the target (which both can do) and the martial artist has more weapons (grappling, kicking, elbowing, vital strikes). But I digress.


You have to learn to relax or you will get winded to fast in a fight. Boxers, kick-boxers, UFC, martial artists, and such learn this as well.


Long of the short, you want functional muscles... not body builder style muscles. Those body builders have pretty muscles but I would rather be the power lifter when it comes to fighting or helping someone move.
Reply:You need to know that a punch thrown by relaxed muscle groups are faster than those thrown by muscle that are tense. And if you are tense your reaction time is also very slow.








lr





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Reply:its good to focus on ur breathing in kung fu ..... i practice shaolin style n it is defintly worth it so yea relaxing, but focus