1. Warm-up
A session starts with the warm-up - for beginners this is the Young Eagle warm-up, and for advanced students from the 4th grade onwards, the Soaring Eagle warm-up. It sets the energy in motion and loosens the body. Each exercise is done eight times, in a precise order and with precise breathing.
2. Technique
Students learn the stances, the paths of the strikes, blocks and elbows, the forms (tao) and how to apply them with a partner. Partner work starts early - already at the 2nd grade the eight trigrams are practised with and without a partner, and at the 3rd grade students learn how to apply the "shou" tao.
3. Physical exercises
Strength, endurance and flexibility are developed with specific exercises, including techniques for natural stretching. For advanced students this part also includes falls, kicks and sweeps.
4. Breathing
The session ends with breathing exercises that restore and settle the energy. More about breathing →
How often
While the club was active, sessions usually lasted two hours, three or four times a week. Beginner and advanced groups had separate days, and all students could attend every session. In summer the club also trained outdoors - in South Park in Sofia - and at summer camps.
The club always kept a beginners' group, so new students could start at any time of year.