An increasing number of women go in for wushu these days. What are the essential points they should take heed of in order to obtain the maximum results?

    There are many schools and different styles of wushu. The movements of xingyiquan, bajiquan and nanquan, for instance, are performed with great force and vigour, and ditangquan consists mainly of rolling and tumbling movements on the ground. Strenuous and demanding as some wushu movements are, they can be mastered by women as long as the training methods are correct. This also applies to the various kinds of weapons such as the spear, the sword and the cudgel. Women trainees can make their choice according to their physical conditions, age and propensity. But once they have made their choice, they should persist in practising a certain style of wushu and not shift halfway to another style. Only after they have laid a fairly solid foundation in a certain kind of wushu can they start learning something new.

    Generally speaking, female bodies are suppler and their centre of gravity is lower than that of the male. Moreover, women have better balance abilities than men. So in practising wushu, women trainees should, in the light of the characteristics of certain schools of wushu, incorporate some flexible and balance movements into their routines.

    As women are generally not as strong as men, they have to be more patient and persevering in practising and mastering those movements that require muscular strength. In learning the tumbling movements, they will inevitably come up against many difficulties at the beginning. But if they follow the correct methods and at the same time step up their training to increase muscular strength, they will be able to perform the difficult movements as well as men.

    Generally speaking, training can be carried on if nothing abnormal happens during the period of menstruation. But the amount of exercise should be adequately reduced, and the more vigorous movements such as jumping, tumbling or kicking with the legs should be avoided. While women trainees should do a certain amount of exercise during the period of pregnancy, they should take care not to overstrain themselves. And, of course, they should not use too much force, for this will increase the pressure on the thoracic and abdominal cavities. Jumping and tumbling may cause a violent impact on the pelvic cavity, and swift turning and swinging of the waist will pull the waist and belly muscles. All these movements affect the normal growth of the embryo and may even result in abortion, especially in the first three months and after the seventh month of pregnancy. The mother may resume the exercises step by step one month after her baby's birth. The amount of exercise should be gradually increased, focusing on kicking the legs and drawing in the abdomen, the aim being to exercise the abdominal muscles. It should be pointed out, however, that in all cases the trainees should take into consideration their physical conditions and the doctor's advice.

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