Zhan Zuang chi kung exercises challenge your mind and body as they build a special strength; the lively strength of internal kung fu.

This type of internal training is very demanding. Holding the postures correctly for more than even a few minutes requires a great deal of determination and fortitude. Standing still was always a requirement for a student in the past. While seldom seen today, the Kung Fu Academy still believes in the value of this ancient practice.

Slow moving t'ai chi-like forms invigorate you as you learn
to move in an effortless and powerful manner.

When studying internal power, you learn how to use internal energy to move your body. Slow, methodical movement is the key. It allows you time to analyze exactly how you move and where you may be using excess energy. When you move fast you can only consciously control the beginning and end of the move. However, when you move slowly you can control and regulate the entirety of that movement, not just the beginning and end. At any point of the movement you can change from movement to stillness and back to movement. You can easily advance, retreat or change into whatever form dictated by circumstances. That kind of flexibility is simply not available with hard, fast movement.

The workout in San Soo is based on fighting techniques, a series of between 3 to 8 or so moves. Once you have been shown the technique, you and a partner practice it about 25 times each.

However, the heart of San Soo is not memorizing a series of moves in a rote, step by step fashion. Rather, you seek to discover the principles and applications of the moves contained in that technique and how to incorprate them with those of previous techniques as you continue working out in a more free form style. Now your partner is free to throw you a punch, kick, grab, or any other surprise attack. You respond by spontaneously putting together whatever technique is most appropriate at that time, drawing on all the knowledge you have gained from past lessons. In this way you learn how to adapt your kung fu skills to any situation in a fluid, dynamic and realistic way.