No. Students of all ages and ethnic backgrounds are welcome. The best age to learn modern wushu, however, is between 6 and 22 years old. That doesn’t mean you can’t reach a very high level if you start later. The best preparation when starting at an older age is a background in gymnastics, tricking, capoeira, or rhythmic gymnastics.
Professional wushu athletes usually train at least five years (and that’s considered fast) before reaching a top level. I’ve met gymnasts and trickers who could already do flips before starting wushu, and it only took them one to two years to become really good. On the other hand, I’ve seen people who trained wushu for 15 years (since they were eight) and never even learned a no-hands cartwheel. It depends a lot on the coach and the environment. Also check out our wushu section if you want to prepare yourself before going.
More: Wushu in China – Age Limit
Song Jiang is a modern school, so it’s better suited for people interested in competitions and modern styles. Older people are usually not interested in competitions, so training at Song Jiang might feel pointless for them. I wouldn’t recommend a 40-year-old who is interested in Wing Chun, Taiji, or Xing Yi to go to a school where a few thousand students do plyometric exercises every morning.
That said, I know someone who is 56 and currently working on his whirlwind kick and butterfly kick. In the end, it’s up to you. As mentioned before, Song Jiang is a modern school and they will welcome you no matter how old you are. You just have to decide for yourself whether it’s the right place for you.
Advice: Wushu in China – Age Limit
They will accept you—but will you accept being taught by a small school kid? All classes include young and older students. If you are a beginner and need to learn something new, your coach will often send you to practice separately with one of the younger students or with someone who is injured.
If you work out with a private coach, your age doesn’t matter at all. Some people might look at you if you are six feet tall and training with a four-foot kid. If you keep trying something over and over again and it looks awkward because you can’t do it yet, they might even laugh. That’s simply part of the price you pay when you go to China to learn wushu. If you have a strong character and a strong will, none of this will matter.
If you are not interested in modern (acrobatic) wushu training and also don’t want to train in the middle of nowhere, Song Jiang Wushu School is probably not for you. There are also schools in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shaolin.
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