Conditioning the Hands Part I (Introduction)

[jubaji]

I would like to point out that after 6 months of the training that Ironpalm has gone through you must be careful about "playing" slapping a person even in the most unintentionally unharmful way can cause severe brusing and if you have children I don't suggest spanking them after practicing ironpalm because what feels like the same bottom smack to you will do sever damage .

He has become deadly!

[47MartialMan]

Sounds like a "personal" probelm

[Yinboxer]

I began training Iron palm because I was hurting my hand when I hit people. I had developed power, but did not know HOW to hit. I recommend it for anyone who wants to protect their hands. How shitty would it be to break your hand on someone's face? (Just ask Mike Tyson!) It is great training for women. It will teach you how to hit proplerly so you do damage to the opponent instead of hurting yourself. In my opinion, it is a lot of fun but I have had people look at me funny for that. "You punch and slap a bag of rocks everyday? Yeah, sounds like a blast...." I'd rather punch a bag of rocks everyday than break my hand trying to defend myself in a real situation!

[47MartialMan]

But in two decades or more....you will not be concerned with hitting anyone....if martial arts teaches anything in later life, it is to avoid conflict........also.....you cant say how your palms will be 20-30years from now.......my are bad and have problems

[Yinboxer]

But in two decades or more....you will not be concerned with hitting anyone....if martial arts teaches anything in later life, it is to avoid conflict........also.....you cant say how your palms will be 20-30years from now.......my are bad and have problems

Could you tell me how you trained it? Did you use dit da jow? What type of substances did you strike? How often? Did it make your hands bleed when you trained it? How many years did you practice it before it caused problems? I am curious.

[47MartialMan]

Although I started at the age of 10, back in 1967, my Sifu did not allow the training of such until the age of 15-pending. Gungs (practices) were extremely repetitious and boring. So much that people nowadays could never have the discipline and dedication to continue. My Sifu had a special, family receipe for tit da jau (dit ja jow-which means-Iron Hitting Wine/Potion). I am not going to get into the specifics other than my palms in the first phase, got really red, buring sensation, and a "itchy" feel. The second phase, more contusions. The third phase, skin was peeling, thus a sanguineous result will happen and the hands could not close to make a fist. Lastly, there were hitting tests, to determine if all phases were properly trained. These hitting tests ranging from hitting certain objects and breaking, and were not to be done on a continuous basis. After 15 years of this, there were no extremely noticable side effects. Until another 10 years after that, hands were hurting constantly. A occidental-medical doctor was amazed to see how "old" and painful, my hands are, for such a person my age. He had made a verbal thought I had did hard labor somewhere. I see my Sifu, which is a Chinese ji sang (yi song-a.k.a. physicians), for the local Chinese culture, for treatment instead of the doctor whom I had seen, as I had mentioned, whom only wanted to prescribe drugs.

Knowing and feeling what I have now, I would turn back the clock and not do it. It is not neccessary for a modern society that does not need fighting as a way for a livlihood. In other words, unless you plan are going for a specific fighting career, it is a waste of time, because in time, it will not be needed as you get older and conflicts become less to "0".

[Yinboxer]

Although I started at the age of 10, back in 1967, my Sifu did not allow the training of such until the age of 15-pending. Gungs (practices) were extremely repetitious and boring. So much that people nowadays could never have the discipline and dedication to continue. My Sifu had a special, family receipe for tit da jau (dit ja jow-which means-Iron Hitting Wine/Potion). I am not going to get into the specifics other than my palms in the first phase, got really red, buring sensation, and a "itchy" feel. The second phase, more contusions. The third phase, skin was peeling, thus a sanguineous result will happen and the hands could not close to make a fist. Lastly, there were hitting tests, to determine if all phases were properly trained. These hitting tests ranging from hitting certain objects and breaking, and were not to be done on a continuous basis. After 15 years of this, there were no extremely noticable side effects. Until another 10 years after that, hands were hurting constantly. A occidental-medical doctor was amazed to see how "old" and painful, my hands are, for such a person my age. He had made a verbal thought I had did hard labor somewhere. I see my Sifu, which is a Chinese ji sang (yi song-a.k.a. physicians), for the local Chinese culture, for treatment instead of the doctor whom I had seen, as I had mentioned, whom only wanted to prescribe drugs.

Knowing and feeling what I have now, I would turn back the clock and not do it. It is not neccessary for a modern society that does not need fighting as a way for a livlihood. In other words, unless you plan are going for a specific fighting career, it is a waste of time, because in time, it will not be needed as you get older and conflicts become less to "0".

Thank you for your reply. It sounds absolutely awful! The training I do does not sound anything like this. The worst problem I have had was quarter-sized bruises on the backs of my hands from the first week of hitting rocks. (I learned pretty quickly that you just can't beat up a bag of rocks.) Using the dit da jow would clear up those bruises in a day or so. Also, It has been stressed in the program I am training in that you MUST NOT START IF YOU ARE TOO YOUNG.

I am not planning on a career in fighting. I just want every advantage I can get. Maybe when I am old and no longer have to worry about conflict... Exactly how old is that, anyway? Recently, a couple in their 80's were stabbed and murdered here in Florida by teenagers with knives.

[47MartialMan]

Thank you for your reply. It sounds absolutely awful! The training I do does not sound anything like this. The worst problem I have had was quarter-sized bruises on the backs of my hands from the first week of hitting rocks. (I learned pretty quickly that you just can't beat up a bag of rocks.) Using the dit da jow would clear up those bruises in a day or so. Also, It has been stressed in the program I am training in that you MUST NOT START IF YOU ARE TOO YOUNG.

I am not planning on a career in fighting. I just want every advantage I can get. Maybe when I am old and no longer have to worry about conflict... Exactly how old is that, anyway? Recently, a couple in their 80's were stabbed and murdered here in Florida by teenagers with knives.

But that is it. They were in their 80's. Even if they had iron palm, they should have had a gun or other security. Criminals prey upon the old. The old should do everything to protect theselves. And, I know a master that got stabbed in the back-so what does any specific siutation tell you?- Nothing- because each situation will unfold in accordance to fate. No matter what "training" you had. Your training should make you wiser-not withstanding palm hits.

[Yinboxer]

But that is it. They were in their 80's. Even if they had iron palm, they should have had a gun or other security. Criminals prey upon the old. The old should do everything to protect theselves. And, I know a master that got stabbed in the back-so what does any specific siutation tell you?- Nothing- because each situation will unfold in accordance to fate. No matter what "training" you had. Your training should make you wiser-not withstanding palm hits.

If it is all up to fate, why bother training at all?

I agree that people should exercise their right to bear arms. If more people would do this the criminals would have less people to pick on.

[47MartialMan]

Training helps in many ways than physical defense-you should know that!

[Tom Yum]

I agree that people should exercise their right to bear arms. If more people would do this the criminals would have less people to pick on.

He said training should make you wiser. I agree. Not only being alert and prepared, but being able to sense and avoid trouble. When mass fighting breaks out, its best to figure out how to get the heck away from trouble because its unpredictable.

[Yinboxer]

He said training should make you wiser. I agree. Not only being alert and prepared, but being able to sense and avoid trouble. When mass fighting breaks out, its best to figure out how to get the heck away from trouble because its unpredictable.

Absolutely! Avoiding trouble is best, but sometimes the situation does not allow this. Training has enhanced my life in many different ways, but I never forget the original purpose. I train in order to be able to defend myself should the need arise. All other benefits are wonderful "side effects" to be enjoyed.

[Tom Yum]

Cool.

I hope you continue to grow and learn from your training.

[bbbb]

Steel bars...

We condition the palm strikes on steel poles, short length's of about a ruler
length, attached top and bottom with a few link's of chain.

We palm strike then hammer fist onto a standard bag with a steel plate.

The plate has a little give in it, so this would protect somewhat.

It builds confidence in your strikes. We still hit pads aswell though- to get the feet moving.

[IronFist]

If your hands begin to bleed during iron hand training you are doing somthing very strong and its detrimental to your hands health especially in later life.

Could you tell me how you trained it? Did you use dit da jow? What type of substances did you strike? How often? Did it make your hands bleed when you trained it? How many years did you practice it before it caused problems? I am curious.