Authentic Iron Palm

Book excerpt: An advanced training course for developing a strong striking hand to deliver powerful blows using the Iron Palm martial arts technique A comprehensive guide for experienced practitioners of Chinese martial arts—including kung-fu, karate, and taekwondo—with over 200 instructive images Iron Palm is a set of martial art conditioning skills—dating back to the Shaolin Temple of 5th-century China—whose purpose is to strengthen the hand while empowering the fighter to strike with force and precision. Training is focused and incremental, requiring the guidance of an experienced master. Author, instructor, and 5-time US National Chinese martial arts Champion Phillip Starr provides the definitive guide to Iron Palm, meticulously outlining the 3 sequential steps of training: • hardening limbs • developing technique • engaging Qigong for coordinating breath and mind The end result is a more powerful and precise strike that can impact the target’s viscera with no trace on the outer body. Lavishly illustrated with more than 200 images, this book is ideal for experienced martial arts practitioners.