Iron Arm Skill

Wushu Instructor: Fu Biao, President and general coach of Beijing Shaolin Martial Art School
Demonstrator: Fu Biao，Han Feng, Zan Yuming (both are Fu Biao’s students)
Photographer: Bo Wen, Li Qian, Xiao Guang, Fu Lei

The picture shows the posture of Fu Biao，general president and head coach of Beijing Shaolin Martial Arts School (Monkey hanging upside down)     

( taken on June 6, 2008)

Introduction

The iron arm skill also named iron pole and iron Bi Gong. It is one type of external exercise using hard force. It focuses on the practice of arms. Practitioners who have understand the essence of skills will attain powers large enough to break solid pole after a few years’ practicing.

Practice principle:

This skill is to be practiced from easy to difficult and complicated, from soft objects to hard ones gradually. Don’t be anxious to make success.

Practice steps

Step One:

At the beginning of the training, beat your forearms alternatively. The most important thing to remember is to follow the method in proper sequence. The process varies with each other. Beat your forearms three groups with each 30 times on every morning, and at the beginning beat gently, then as the increasing of Gongli, strengthen your power. After practicing, both your arms may become red and hot which will be eased by the secret recipe. The secret recipe is attached at the end of article. (Figure 1 - Figure 4).

 Figure 1 Demonstrated by Han Feng

 Figure 2 Demonstrated by Han Feng

Figure 3 Demonstrated by Han Feng 

Figure 4 Demonstrated by Han Feng 

When your arms do not hurt, continue to practice with other person. This skill requires both practitioners have the basis to some extent and cooperate following the principle. It needs four hour everyday to practice. Until both sides feel no pain when beating each other’s arms with power can this stage can end with success. This skill needs at least two years’ practicing. (Figure 5 - Figure 11).

 Figure 5 Demonstrated by Fu Biao and Gao Wenhao

 Figure 6 Demonstrated by Fu Biao and Gao Wenhao

 Figure 7 Demonstrated by Fu Biao and Gao Wenhao

 Figure 8 Demonstrated by Fu Biao and Gao Wenhao

 Figure 9 Demonstrated by Fu Biao and Gao Wenhao

 Figure 10 Demonstrated by Fu Biao and Gao Wenhao

  Figure 11 Demonstrated by Fu Biao and Gao Wenhao

 Step Two

The second step is to practice hitting sand bags to strengthen the ability of beating and anti-beating. Practice at least 2 hours a day and do not break off during training, or else spoiling the whole training. The training method should be followed as the principle of Gongfa. (Figure 12 - 15).

 Figure 12 Demonstrated by Han Feng

 Figure 13 Demonstrated by Han Feng

 Figure 14 Demonstrated by Han Feng

Step Three

1. First, bury a stake or select a tree, tie hemp rope the tree and hit it, the steps should be in accordance with the principle of training. Practice 2 hours every day and divide the whole training into six groups with each group of 30 times.

  

 Figure 16 Demonstrated by Ren Shifang

 Figure 17 Demonstrated by Ren Shifang

 Figure 18 Demonstrated by Ren Shifang

 Figure 19 Demonstrated by Ren Shifang

After two years of practicing, you can go to the next step. Take off the hemp rope and hit the tree with arms gently. As the Gongli increasing, strengthen the power. The requirement is as mentioned before. After enough training, you can shake the leaves falling and make without feeling any pain. As for the thick tree, you can swing it off with your arm. However, you must wash your arms using the secret recipe. (Figure 20 - Figure 35).

 Figure 20 Demonstrated by Fu Biao 

 Figure 21 Demonstrated by Fu Biao

 Figure 22 Demonstrated by Fu Biao

 

 Figure 23 Demonstrated by Fu Biao

 

 Figure 24 Demonstrated by Fu Biao

 Figure 25 Demonstrated by Fu Biao 

 Figure 26 Demonstrated by Fu Biao

 Figure 27 Demonstrated by Fu Biao

 Figure 28 Demonstrated by Fu Biao

 Figure 29 Demonstrated by Fu Biao

 Figure 30 Demonstrated by Fu Biao

 Figure 31 Demonstrated by Fu Biao 

 Figure 32 Demonstrated by Fu Biao

 Figure 33 Demonstrated by Fu Biao 

 Figure 34 Demonstrated by Fu Biao

 Figure 35 Demonstrated by Fu Biao