Iron Shirt Chi Kung

Before guns were used, the Chinese depended very much upon

Kung Fu. It is at that time, about one-tenth of the Chinese nation

was involved in such practice, which they engaged in from what is

found at the present. At first one had to develop internal power - to

get the warm current (energy), to open the Microcosmic Circulation,

complete another six special channels (routes) and an additional

24 normal channels (routes) so that the internal power could

be circulated freely. One then learned how to strengthen one’s vital

organs and to protect them with internal power or “Iron Shirt”. Only

then did one go on to practice fighting styles because without internal

power the styles were not effective in combat.

It is written that internal power took many years to develop. One

had to throw a straight punch up to 2,000 times a day for from

three to five years or strike the top of a water well 1,000 times a

day for as much as ten years or until the water was thrown out by

the force of the blow.

The main purpose of the Iron Shirt is not for fighting, but to perfect

the body, to win great health, to fight disease and to protect the vital

organs from injuries. Most important in Iron Shirt training is Changing

the Tendons & Cleansing the Marrow, and the Self-Regenerative

Hormone.

Level I:

· Iron Shirt Chi Kung breathing.

· Awakening and circulating of internal (chi) and rooting power

through exercise.

· Directing the internal power to strengthen the organs. Filling

the 12 tendon channels with Chi.

· Training and opening the fascia and filling them with chi.

Level II:

· Cleansing the marrow.

· Changing the tendons and cleansing the marrow.

· Training and opening the fascia and filling them with Chi.

· Self-stimulation of the vital organs.

· Strengthening the tendon and uniting the fascia, tendons, bones

and muscles in one piece.

Level III:

· Regenerating sexual hormones.

· Storing sexual hormones in the fascia and tendons.

· Directing the internal power to the higher energy centers.

After these three levels of Iron Shirt Chi Kung are mastered, the

powerful application of the resulting energy is taught in “Healing

Hand.”