How to Train Iron Spear Hand Kung Fu

Co-authored by Yvonne Mo

Last Updated: January 11, 2023

Aiming to expand your Kung Fu training? Iron Spear Iron Body Training is a facet of Shaolin Kung Fu where the practitioner trains their body so they're able to give or sustain heavy blows without serious injury to various parts of their body. Read on to learn how to train your finger-tip strikes to increase power.

1

Familiarize yourself with 5 Step Chi Kung breathing.

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This can help with preparation and healing.

2

Channel Chi/strength into your hands.

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Once you can activate your hand chi you train it 5 days from 7 for 20 weeks (100 times). Use the Dit Da Jow (DDJ) before and after each exercise. If you are successful every time in activating your hands without fail, you can continue to the next step.

3

Prepare a bowl, pot, or another round container.

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Fill the bowl with boiling water. Pour it into the container first then start your 5 step breathing preparations. When your hands are ready; execute 100 Snake Head Finger Strikes (50 each hand) 5 days from 7 for 20 weeks without fail or error before progressing onto the next level.

4

Replace the water in the container with fine white sand.

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Ensure that your fingernail length is less than your fingers else you will force sand in under your fingernails and it will be very painful. Your are not yet ready for this.

5

Push your hands through the sand.

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Push until all 4 fingers are fully in the sand. Again, practice this until you can do this 100 times, 50 with each hand in one practice session. Now, start increasing the speed of your pushing gradually until it is striking speed. Take this slowly as this is the make or break phase. You may also wish to supplement this with 100 Push-ups first on your fist then on three middle fingers of each hand.
- At no time should you break skin! Always stop if your hand is damaged and start from the beginning all over again!

6

Replace the fine sand grains with coarse sand granules.

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If you can do 100 push-ups on both hands 5 days from 7 DO NOT proceed to the next level. Again, if you can work the coarse sand as easily as with he find sand, at striking speed proceed.

Community Q&A

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Question

In martial arts, which is better, kung-fu or karate?

Community Answer

Every style has benefits, depending on what you want to achieve. Some are geared towards sports (MMA, Muay Thai), others towards self defense (Wing Chun, Arnis), and others towards fitness and self improvement (Taichi, Non contact Karate). First choose WHY you want to study a martial art, this will make it much easier to choose the right style for you.

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How can a ten year old child learn this?

Community Answer

A ten year old child should not train in this method, as they are still growing and it could cause difficulties later in life in the hand and wrist. Additionally, their forearm bones are at risk if the technique is poor, which can happen as a result when they attempt to substitute with strength. Generally, children are not permitted to break boards with their knuckles or fingers, let alone perform pushups on their knuckles. However, if desired, you could take these steps about three times slower to allow the child's body to adapt to the new environmental challenge it is experiencing. Also, don't flex fingers fully straight. Use a slight, strong bend.

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Is it possible to do the boiling water bit without burning myself?

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Yes. You are not holding your hand in the boiling water. You're just quickly dipping it in and out, which shouldn't cause any lasting damage.

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Replace the mung beans when you can strike them with ease.=

Replace them with white river pebbles. Make sure that they are rounded and that they do not have sharp edges. Do everything as in the previous stages!

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Replace the gravel with iron or steel ball bearings.

Repeat the training again. The training is complete when you can strike the ball-bearings without pain or injury to yourself.

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Tips

Throughout your training, you should use liniment on your fist to prevent injuries. This liniment is called Die(1) Da(3) Jiu(3) in Chinese, and commonly known to the western world as Dit Da Jow. Applying this liniment to the affected area before and after training, rubbing it in well, is thought to prevent injury later in life caused by the Iron Body Training. The liniment is obtainable from Chinese medicinal halls or off the internet. You should make sure the type you use is specifically for training Iron Body.

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These strikes are best to aim at soft pressure points, be sure to memorize them.

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Warnings

This art is not something that can be attained quickly - it is for life. Make sure you have maximum commitment before embarking on the training.

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Helpful 26 Not Helpful 4
Such Iron Body Training works by calcifying the bone and thickening the skin. This may cause unwanted deformity such as shortened fingers. Do not undergo such training without knowing the risks. This form of Iron Body Training is the least recommended due to its large potential for deformity.

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This information is provided for informative purposes only and should only be undertaken at your own risk.

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Don't show off your skills. If you want to learn Iron Body Kung Fu in order to show off, you should re-examine your motive.

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Be careful when striking - know your limit and try not to go over. Start lightly and slowly build up strength.

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How to Train Iron Spear Hand Kung Fu

Steps

Familiarize yourself with 5 Step Chi Kung breathing.

Channel Chi/strength into your hands.

Prepare a bowl, pot, or another round container.

Replace the water in the container with fine white sand.

Push your hands through the sand.

Replace the fine sand grains with coarse sand granules.

Community Q&A

Replace the mung beans when you can strike them with ease.=

Replace the gravel with iron or steel ball bearings.

Tips

Warnings

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