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We've all heard the old legends, guy hits the master and hurts his hand. Knives are blunted when thrust upon the master's body. And, during the Boxer Rebellion, bullets bounced off the bodies of specially trained troops.
And, over the years, most stories have been proven full of the brown and stinky material. Specially trained soldiers fell dead in the Boxer Rebellion, victim to unproven fantasy and bushwah propaganda. And, if there are any fellows out there who would like to offer their bodies to blunt the tip of my Cold Steel, please bring me a release form when you show up on my front porch.
However, all the old bushwah fantasy aside, there are very real gains to be made from developing iron bodies, fists of steel, and so on. We all want blocks and strikes that really work, and some of these methods do have incredible and potent value. The question, of course, is which of the various methods is going to work the best when it comes to toughening up your mitts?
Chinese Kung Fu preach various iron palm potions, if you soak your hands before and after working out, the tissue remains pliable and yet still retains the value of the work out. Thus, you can pound on beans and sand and pellets of iron until your cup runneth over. My only problem with this method is that I believe in methods which don't rely on the body, I prefer methods which use the power of the mind.
Tai Chi, for instance, speaks of a soft and pliable body which whipcracks with iron power, soft on the outside, hard on the inside. I think this is probably preferable to dim mak potions, but one would have to spend a lot of time studying the various schools of Tai Chi Chuan to attain what one is seeking. Be prepared to study the low stances of Chen for power, Yang for technically workable posture, Wu for subtle motions, Sun for twisting effects, and so on.
Now, one thing most people overlook is that just doing karate forms is going to give you an 'iron body.' The problem is that most people do the forms wrong, the actual correct technology of doing karate forms has, for the most part, been lost. But, if you can find the correct way of doing karate forms, then you can, within the space of about a couple of years, learn how to maximize energy within your body to withstand a strike, and concentrate energy into your hands for striking.
The best way of developing iron types of energy, not needing esoteric knowledge or magic potions, is simply to set up a stand which supports a brick, and drop the palm on it. Don't strike too hard, place a folded wash cloth over the brick to protect the palm, and just drop the palm. The trick is to be willing to do it for an hour at a time, so who's got the patience?
I know there will be people who will have other methods, and I am always fascinated by what people prefer in this matter. The things I have said in this article I have formulated over forty years and through a variety of experiences in a number of different arts. So feel free to respond to this article, or to write your own article and offer your own input on this matter.
And, over the years, most stories have been proven full of the brown and stinky material. Specially trained soldiers fell dead in the Boxer Rebellion, victim to unproven fantasy and bushwah propaganda. And, if there are any fellows out there who would like to offer their bodies to blunt the tip of my Cold Steel, please bring me a release form when you show up on my front porch.
However, all the old bushwah fantasy aside, there are very real gains to be made from developing iron bodies, fists of steel, and so on. We all want blocks and strikes that really work, and some of these methods do have incredible and potent value. The question, of course, is which of the various methods is going to work the best when it comes to toughening up your mitts?
Chinese Kung Fu preach various iron palm potions, if you soak your hands before and after working out, the tissue remains pliable and yet still retains the value of the work out. Thus, you can pound on beans and sand and pellets of iron until your cup runneth over. My only problem with this method is that I believe in methods which don't rely on the body, I prefer methods which use the power of the mind.
Tai Chi, for instance, speaks of a soft and pliable body which whipcracks with iron power, soft on the outside, hard on the inside. I think this is probably preferable to dim mak potions, but one would have to spend a lot of time studying the various schools of Tai Chi Chuan to attain what one is seeking. Be prepared to study the low stances of Chen for power, Yang for technically workable posture, Wu for subtle motions, Sun for twisting effects, and so on.
Now, one thing most people overlook is that just doing karate forms is going to give you an 'iron body.' The problem is that most people do the forms wrong, the actual correct technology of doing karate forms has, for the most part, been lost. But, if you can find the correct way of doing karate forms, then you can, within the space of about a couple of years, learn how to maximize energy within your body to withstand a strike, and concentrate energy into your hands for striking.
The best way of developing iron types of energy, not needing esoteric knowledge or magic potions, is simply to set up a stand which supports a brick, and drop the palm on it. Don't strike too hard, place a folded wash cloth over the brick to protect the palm, and just drop the palm. The trick is to be willing to do it for an hour at a time, so who's got the patience?
I know there will be people who will have other methods, and I am always fascinated by what people prefer in this matter. The things I have said in this article I have formulated over forty years and through a variety of experiences in a number of different arts. So feel free to respond to this article, or to write your own article and offer your own input on this matter.
About the Author:
Al Case has practiced martial arts for 4O+ years. Get his Free Ebook at Monster Martial Arts.
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