Enhancing the Combat Effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Wushu: A Perspective of Physical Fitness Training Reform

Combat effectiveness constitutes the core function of traditional Chinese Wushu and directly influences its development. This study employs a multidisciplinary research methodology integrating documentary analysis (textual and video materials), practical experience, expert interviews, and pedagogical observation to explore approaches for enhancing the combat effectiveness of traditional Chinese Wushu through physical fitness training reform. Key findings reveal: (1) Strength Training: Traditional Chinese Wushu emphasizes muscular endurance training, with some styles incorporating explosive power development, yet systematically neglects absolute muscular strength training. In view of this, It is proposed to establish “overload training” as a fundamental principle while strengthening discipline-specific strength training. (2) Speed Training: although movement velocity training exists in traditional Chinese Wushu, reactive speed development remains deficient. It is proposed to design offense-defense scenarios with varied movement stimuli and progressively intensify stimulus intensity. (3) Endurance Training: Current practices prioritize muscular endurance over cardiorespiratory endurance. The aerobic endurance cultivated through repetitive form practice and prolonged slow-motion routines fails to develop anaerobic capacity. Suggestions: Enhancing cardiorespiratory endurance through dynamic, high-intensity sustained technical drills, and increasing scenario-based combat simulations and competitive sparring to develop combat-specific anaerobic endurance. (4) Agility Training: Existing methods tend to develop general agility but lack sport-specific adaptation. We advocate integrating discipline-oriented concepts into traditional holistic training frameworks to develop combat-specific agility through tailored training protocols.