i'm interested to find out how the chinese trained other than perfecting formations.

Was there like a school for the young to train to become better soldiers?

Are there any types of survival training?

how did soldiers train individually? (not including martial arts)

I am curious as to your question.
All military training evolve around drilling soldiers in one way or another. Be it melee, horsemanship, archery, or even just marching. What are you trying to ask ?

i guess i'm trying to ask what ronins would do. how would they train themselves when not part of an army. what steps they would take to become experts in a certain art.

i know nothing about war

sorry about the mixup, i was just playing ROTK 7 and they called the people who aren't serving under a liege a ronin.

i'm just wondering how free officers would train themselves when not under an army. Just individual work, how would you improve your skills?

thanks for the answers

if more people can put in some input, that'd be great.

There are no sources to indicate what people did in the privacy of their own home. However, we can take for reference that Shauijiao, archery, hunting and horsemanship are all big-time sports throughout the ages in China. And of course, horsemanship/chariot driving and archery as well as swordplay were all part of the common education of any gentleman.

Also, it has been documented that Li Guang was so addicted to archery that he would shoot in all his personal times.

Common soldiers on the other hand, you can expect them to just relax when they get home.

Unfortunately, I'd say it is hardly true, depending on the era.

Looking at the various military institutions of Imperial China of Han, Sui/Tang, Song and Ming dynasties, we can see that most of the grunts were either conscripts or part time soldiers/part time farmers.

Those on active service would be either sent on patrols or guard duties, when they get back, they had to worry about where their next meals come from.

Those in the Wei Suo military system of Ming were often shortchanged of their rations and due pay etc., necessitating them to moonlight to feed themselves and their families.

I see no conflict. When they get home, meaning when they are off duty or end of their term of service, I don't see them training for the next war.

Offduty might be when they moonlight for the much needed pay to feed the family.
End of term of service is only applicable to military institutions such as that of the Song's - when they have to consider a second career 'cos there's no retirement benefits.

The grunts in ancient China did really lead a hard life.

More likely they will go back to their families and be farmers. Relative to the total number of soldiers in China, it is actually rather rare that a soldier who is not actively serving to be involved in some kinda of combat-related job.