Iron Boy Learns Iron Palm

Read this article about a teacher in Miami who trains in Iron Palm.

This teacher might be able to break four bricks, but my friends, "chi" has nothing to do with it.

When you "boil" your hand until the fingers swell up like grapes, and you continue doing this to your poor hands until you no longer feel anything, why would anyone believe that doing such a ridiculous thing is building "chi"?

If you condition part of your body to withstand pain--for example slamming your palm a thousand times a day onto a bean bag for months or years--it has nothing to do with chi.

If chi exists (and I doubt it) it would be a natural thing. Damaging part of your body so you can break a few bricks is the least natural thing you can do.

I've seen the knuckles of guys who pound wood or metal to strengthen their striking power and their "chi." Their knuckles are deformed, horribly calloused, and ugly. There is a philosophical problem here--a disconnect between the concept of "chi flow" and this type of deformity.

Don't get me wrong. I admire someone who can break a few bricks without spacers, as long as they are REAL bricks and not "special" ones (extra brittle) for a breaking demonstration. Show me someone who can break a few construction bricks and I'll salute them. But it has nothing to do with chi, and the more we talk about chi in this way, the less credibility we have with the general public.

--by Ken Gullette

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