World Of Swords

Using just the skill and discipline of Karate, are you able to crush a coconut just by squeezing it? With Kung Fu as your martial art, can you take a shoot of bamboo and twist it until it breaks? With the ancient discipline of Shaolin, can you grab a man by the arm and, with a light squeeze, bring him to his knees?

If you aren't able to accomplish the things I have just listed, and you study any of the martial arts I have mentioned, or other similar arts, then you should be wondering what is wrong with your martial art. After all, martial artists in ancient times could do these, and other tricks, and make them look simple. That said, let me introduce you to an Iron Grip...using an ancient training method.

One would think that an Iron Grip depends upon thick and dense muscle, but, there aren't many muscles in the hands. Truth, the muscles that make the hands work are usually in the forearms. And, yes, you are going to need iron muscles in the forearms.

To begin this method of training, make sure that your body is in solid shape. I would recommend doing Sanchin Kata with lots of dynamic tension and sinking the weight into the ground. The power of the imagination must be strengthened through a strict adherence to this simple discipline.

Now, this training method is incredibly simple, but must be done every single day, and for long, boring hours. If you want the Iron Grip of the ancients you've got to be willing to pay the price. So if you are one of these namby pambies who think that going to a class a week makes you an expert, you can leave off reading right now.

You must schedule at least an hour a day for this exercise, and you must complete the hour without fail. Second, you must be able to find a certain fascination of intent during that hour. You must fall in love with the long, slow breaths, and you must trust your goal, and the method I am about to prescribe.

Assume a Sanchin stance and hold two mason jars out in front of you. Your arms should have a slight bend at the elbows, and you should use only the fingertips for holding the jars. For the first month hold empty jars, for the second month add an inch of sand and lower yourself into a high horse stance. Increase the inches at a monthly rate after that, and lower the stance until you are standing in a low horse stance.

And, when you have filled the jar, you do it all over again with an empty jar, but in a deep stance, and with the lip of the jar greased. Now, some of you think I am just fooling around, and you are the ones who are going to talk the talk, but never walk the walk, and certainly never discover the true depths of the martial arts, nor of yourselves. For those of you who are willing to discover the true depths of The True Martial Arts, however, and are willing to plumb your depths through Karate or Kung Fu or Shaolin, I offer this profound yet simple article.

Al Case has delved into martial arts for 4O+ years. He has been a professional writer for the martial arts magazines. He has delved into a variety of martial arts and training methods, and you can sample them, starting with an absolutely free ebook, at Monster Martial Arts.

Tags: break boards, dim mak, fitness, iron palm, karate, kung fu, Martial Arts, mma, put out candle, self defense, shaolin

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