JustBeginning
Beginner's guide

So you're getting into wushu

Wushu is Chinese martial arts turned into spectacle — acrobatic kicks, flowing weapon forms, and the kind of physical control that makes every movement look effortless. Whether you train for competition or just for the sheer joy of it, the gear list is short and the learning curve is steep in the best way.

By Colin B. · Published August 9, 2026 · Last reviewed August 9, 2026
Woman in orange jumpsuit jumping outdoors with city skyline background

Photo by Zulfugar Karimov on Unsplash

The 60-second version

If you only buy 3 things to start:

  1. ZooBoo Vintage Chinese Wing Chun Kung Fu Uniform — ZooBoo traditional kung fu uniform — loose-fitting cotton that moves with you, not against you.
  2. Budo Saga Feiyue Martial Arts Shoes — Feiyue martial arts shoes — the same canvas shoe Shaolin monks have trained in for decades.
  3. DaYe Wushu Competition Broadsword (Dao) — DaYe competition broadsword — lightweight flexible blade for your first dao form.
Budget total
$45
Typical total
$120
A uniform and a pair of Feiyue shoes is all you truly need to start. Weapons come later — most schools lend them for the first few months.

We earn commission on qualifying Amazon purchases — see our affiliate disclosure. Price tiers and budget totals shown above are editorial estimates; actual Amazon prices vary.

At a glance

Our top pick in each category

The fastest path through this guide — each best-starter pick by category. Scroll for the budget and upgrade alternatives.

CategoryTop pickPriceWhere to buy
UniformsZooBooZooBoo Vintage Chinese Wing Chun Kung Fu Uniform$ See on Amazon →
ShoesFeiyueBudo Saga Feiyue Martial Arts Shoes$ See on Amazon →
Training WeaponsDaYeDaYe Wushu Competition Broadsword (Dao)$$ See on Amazon →
Training GearKungfuDirectKungfuDirect Kungfu Sash (108")$ See on Amazon →
Before you buy anything

A few things worth knowing first

Find a school first. Wushu is not a self-taught art — the acrobatic elements and weapon forms need a coach who can spot you and correct your positions. Many kung fu schools teach wushu-adjacent curriculum. If there's no wushu school near you, look for contemporary kung fu, Shaolin-style, or Chinese martial arts programs.

You don't need weapons on day one. The first several months of wushu training focus on basics: stances, kicks, jumps, and empty-hand forms (changquan). Your school will tell you when it's time to pick up a dao or jian, and many will lend practice weapons until then.

Flexibility matters more than strength. Wushu demands splits, high kicks, and deep stances. Start stretching daily now — even before your first class. The students who progress fastest are the ones who stretch consistently outside of training.

The gear

What you actually need

Uniforms

Wushu uniforms are designed for extreme range of motion — high kicks, deep stances, aerial techniques. Traditional training uniforms are loose-fitting cotton or linen with frog-button closures and elastic waistbands. Competition silk uniforms are a different animal entirely (flashy, tailored, expensive), but for training you want durable, breathable fabric that won't restrict your splits or butterfly kicks.

ZooBoo Vintage Chinese Wing Chun Kung Fu Uniform Best starter
ZooBoo

Vintage Chinese Wing Chun Kung Fu Uniform

$

Our rating

A traditional-style training uniform in cotton with a mandarin collar, frog-button closure, and elastic-waist pants. The cut is loose enough for full splits and high kicks but structured enough to look sharp during forms practice. Available in multiple sizes and colors — dark blue and black are the most common training colors.

What we like

  • Cotton construction breathes well during intense training
  • Loose cut allows full range of motion for kicks and stances
  • Traditional frog-button design looks authentic

What to know

  • Sizes run small — order one size up
  • Cotton wrinkles easily after washing
See on Amazon →
ZooBoo Chinese Martial Arts Suit (Jacket + Pants) Upgrade pick
ZooBoo

Chinese Martial Arts Suit (Jacket + Pants)

$$

Our rating

A step up in construction with a cleaner cut and more refined stitching. The full suit (jacket and pants) is cotton-linen blend that holds up to frequent washing without losing shape. The mandarin collar and straight-cut jacket look polished for testing or demonstrations.

What we like

  • Cotton-linen blend holds shape after repeated washing
  • Complete suit — jacket and pants together
  • Refined stitching and cleaner tailoring

What to know

  • Still runs on Chinese sizing — size up
  • Not flashy enough for formal competition
See on Amazon →

Shoes

Wushu shoes need to be flat, lightweight, and flexible enough that you can feel the floor. The Feiyue is the classic — a canvas shoe originally made in Shanghai that's been used by martial artists (including Shaolin monks) since the 1920s. The thin rubber sole gives you ground feel for stances while providing just enough cushion for landing jumps. Running shoes, cross-trainers, and barefoot are all wrong for wushu — you need that specific combination of flat sole, ankle support, and grip.

Budo Saga Feiyue Martial Arts Shoes Best starter
Feiyue

Budo Saga Feiyue Martial Arts Shoes

$

Our rating

The authentic Feiyue — canvas upper, thin rubber sole, lace-up closure. This is the shoe that Shaolin monks train in, that parkour athletes adopted, and that wushu competitors wear in practice. The sole is thin enough to feel the floor during stances but padded enough to absorb jump landings. The canvas breathes, and the whole shoe weighs almost nothing.

What we like

  • Ultra-lightweight — feels like barely wearing a shoe
  • Thin sole provides excellent ground feel for stances
  • Canvas breathes during intense training sessions

What to know

  • Minimal cushioning — not great for high-impact landings on concrete
  • Narrow fit — may not suit wider feet
See on Amazon →
FEIYUE Unisex Training Martial Arts Shoes Upgrade pick
FEIYUE

Unisex Training Martial Arts Shoes

$

Our rating

The updated Feiyue with slightly improved materials — same legendary flat sole and ground feel, with a more refined canvas upper and better rubber tread pattern. The modern version addresses some durability issues of the classic design while keeping the weight and flexibility that make Feiyues the go-to wushu shoe.

What we like

  • Improved rubber tread pattern for better grip
  • Updated canvas is slightly more durable
  • Same flat sole and ground feel as the classic

What to know

  • Still runs narrow like all Feiyues
  • Higher price than the classic for marginal improvements
See on Amazon →
person in black long sleeve shirt and black skirt holding white leather belt

Photo by Krys Amon on Unsplash

Training Weapons

Wushu weapon forms are divided into short weapons (dao/broadsword, jian/straight sword) and long weapons (gun/staff, qiang/spear). Most schools start students on dao or jian first because they teach blade awareness and wrist control. Training weapons for wushu are made with flexible, lightweight blades that bend during forms — the "whip" of a well-timed blade strike is part of the performance. These are strictly practice and competition weapons, not sharp.

DaYe Wushu Competition Broadsword (Dao) Best starter
DaYe

Wushu Competition Broadsword (Dao)

$$

Our rating

A lightweight wushu dao with a flexible, chrome-plated blade designed for contemporary wushu forms. The soft blade produces the characteristic "pop" sound during strikes and is safe for training. The stainless handle provides good balance. This is the type of dao used in competition-style changquan (long fist) and nanquan (southern fist) forms.

What we like

  • Lightweight flexible blade designed for wushu forms
  • Produces the classic wushu blade 'pop' sound
  • Stainless handle balances well for spinning techniques

What to know

  • Flexible blade requires correct technique — bad form = wobbly blade
  • Not suitable for traditional kung fu styles that use heavier dao
See on Amazon →
KungfuDirect Wushu Straight Sword (Jian) Upgrade pick
KungfuDirect

Wushu Straight Sword (Jian)

$$

Our rating

The jian (straight sword) is the "scholar's weapon" of Chinese martial arts — precise, elegant, and demanding of clean technique. This wushu-style jian has a flexible blade for contemporary forms and comes with a black dragon scabbard. Learning both dao and jian gives you the complete short weapon foundation.

What we like

  • Flexible blade suitable for competition-style jian forms
  • Includes scabbard for storage and transport
  • Good balance for precise thrusting and cutting motions

What to know

  • Jian forms are more technically demanding than dao
  • Blade flexibility makes it harder to control for beginners
See on Amazon →
Traditional Kung Fu Broadsword Budget pick
Traditional

Kung Fu Broadsword

$

Our rating

A heavier, stiffer dao for traditional kung fu styles rather than contemporary wushu. Forged steel blade with more weight, which teaches proper blade control and builds wrist strength. Better suited for schools that teach Shaolin, hung gar, or other traditional styles where the dao is a functional training tool rather than a performance prop.

What we like

  • Heavier blade builds wrist and forearm strength
  • Forged steel is more durable than flexible wushu blades
  • Suitable for traditional kung fu curriculum

What to know

  • Too heavy for contemporary wushu forms — different training tool
  • Stiffer blade won't produce wushu-style 'pop' sounds
See on Amazon →

Training Gear

Beyond uniform, shoes, and weapons, a few accessories make your training more comfortable and organized. A sash (the traditional Chinese martial arts belt) holds your uniform together during vigorous movement and signals your rank in some schools. Interlocking foam mats provide cushioning for acrobatic work — aerial cartwheel, butterfly kick, and tornado kick landings are much easier on foam than on a bare gym floor.

KungfuDirect Kungfu Sash (108") Best starter
KungfuDirect

Kungfu Sash (108")

$

Our rating

A 108-inch traditional kung fu sash in satin — long enough to wrap twice around your waist with a proper knot. Available in every traditional color (black, red, yellow, blue, white). The sash isn't just decorative: it keeps your jacket closed during kicks and spins, and in some schools the color indicates your training level.

What we like

  • 108-inch length accommodates all waist sizes
  • Traditional satin material and construction
  • Available in all standard kung fu sash colors

What to know

  • Satin can be slippery — takes practice to tie securely
  • Some schools provide sashes and prefer you use theirs
See on Amazon →
We Sell Mats EVA Foam Exercise Mat (Tatami Pattern) Upgrade pick
We Sell Mats

EVA Foam Exercise Mat (Tatami Pattern)

$$

Our rating

1-inch thick interlocking EVA foam tiles with a tatami texture pattern for grip. Essential if you're practicing at home — wushu involves jumps, sweeps, and aerial techniques that are rough on bare floors and joints. Each tile is 24x24 inches; buy enough to cover your practice area. The interlocking design means you can expand or reconfigure as needed.

What we like

  • 1-inch thick foam absorbs landing impact
  • Tatami texture provides grip for barefoot or Feiyue training
  • Interlocking tiles expand to any size

What to know

  • Heavy to move and store when assembled
  • Tiles can separate during aggressive lateral movement
See on Amazon →
Going deeper

Your first three months of wushu

Wushu training starts with stances, kicks, and flexibility — not the acrobatic flips you saw on YouTube. Here's what the first three months actually look like, from your first horse stance to your first empty-hand form.

Read the guide →
Save your money

What you don't need yet

Beginners get pressured to buy a lot of stuff that doesn't help them play better. Here's what we'd skip on day one.

  • A competition wushu sword or spear — Weapons training starts 6-12 months in. Your hands and feet are your first tools — stances and kicks come before blades.
  • A full competition uniform (changquan suit) — Training clothes work fine for class. Competition uniforms are custom-fitted and only needed if you plan to compete.
  • Acrobatic training mats — Flips and aerials are advanced skills. Your school has mats for when you're ready. Focus on stances and basic kicks first.
First week

Your first seven days

A short, real plan to get from gear-on-doorstep to actually playing.

  1. Find a wushu school or instructor — this art is nearly impossible to learn correctly from videos alone. · Action
  2. Learn the five basic stances: horse, bow, empty, drop, and resting stance. · Learn
  3. Practice holding horse stance for 30-second intervals to build leg endurance. · Action
  4. Start basic kick drills: front snap kick, side kick, and crescent kick. · Learn
  5. Begin a daily stretching routine — wushu demands flexibility you probably don't have yet. · Action
FAQ

Common questions

What's the difference between wushu and kung fu?

Wushu literally means 'martial art' in Chinese and is the modern, standardized competition form of Chinese martial arts. Kung fu is a broader term covering traditional fighting styles. Modern wushu emphasizes athletic performance — high kicks, aerial techniques, and choreographed forms — while traditional kung fu styles focus more on practical combat application.

Am I too old to start wushu?

No. Competition-level acrobatics favor younger athletes, but the core curriculum — stances, kicks, hand techniques, and forms — is accessible at any age. Many schools have adult beginner classes. Flexibility improves with consistent stretching regardless of starting age.

Do I need to be flexible to start?

No, but you'll need to develop flexibility over time. Wushu involves high kicks and deep stances that require hip, hamstring, and ankle flexibility. Most beginners can't do the splits on day one — that's expected. Daily stretching for 15-20 minutes alongside your training builds the range of motion you need.

Is wushu effective for self-defense?

Modern competition wushu prioritizes aesthetics and athleticism over combat application. It builds excellent coordination, speed, and fitness, but it's not optimized for fighting. If self-defense is your primary goal, consider sanda (Chinese kickboxing) which is the combat sport companion to wushu forms.

Going further

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