Using just the discipline and skill of Karate, are you able to crush a coconut just by closing your hand on it? With Kung Fu as your martial art, can you grip a bamboo shoot and twist it until it breaks? With the ancient discipline of Shaolin, can you place your hand on a mans 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 fantastic muscle, but, there aren't many muscles in the hands. Truth, the muscles that activate the hands 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 you are in good condition. I would recommend doing the kata called Sanchin, and doing it with lots of dynamic tension and sinking the weight into the ground. The power of the imagination must be strengthened through a firm reliance upon this simple discipline.
Now, this exercise is incredibly simple, but must be done every single day, and for long, boring hours. If you want the Iron Grip, you've got to be willing to pay the price. So if you are one of these weak willies who think that going to a class makes you an expert, cease and desist.
You must schedule at least an hour a day for this exercise, and you must adhere to that schedule without fail. Second, you must be able to find a certain fascination of intent during the course of that hour. You must fall in love with the long, slow breaths, and you must trust in 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, start again with an empty jar, but in a deep stance, and grease the lip of the jar. Now, some of you think I am kidding, and you are the ones who are going to talk about the mysteries of the art, and never discover them, or fulfill your potential. For those of you who are willing to find the depths of The True Art, and through such simple vehicles as Karate or Kung Fu or Shaolin, I offer this profound article.
Author Resource:
Al Case has analyzed martial arts for 4O+ years. He has been a professional writer for the martial arts magazines. He has analyzed a variety of martial arts and training methods, and you can sample them, starting with an absolutely free ebook, at Monster Martial Arts .
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