45. Exercise "Iron Knees"

TIE XI GONG

Brief description*

*Excerpt from the book: Jin Jing Zhong. Authentic Shaolin Heritage: Training Methods of 72 Arts of Shaolin. ISBN: 978-1440474170

Shaolin exercise “Iron knees” belongs to the “hard” and “external” section of SHAOLIN GONG FU, it develops the YANG force. Its specialty is strengthening knees for use in a combat and it especially suits to those styles of the Pugilistic Art where knee butts are widely used. That’s why that section is not obligatory for the most of people. But the people who learn Martial Arts should not avoid to learn different techniques and methods of body strengthening. The more they acquire techniques the better. We are speaking about each part of the body separately, but it is necessary to get unity through training for a long time . As you know, a small part (of the body) can be also attacked. Sometimes common (simple) exercises will be of great use and they can help to subdue your enemy ...

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...After the successful end of that last training stage both knees will be as if they are forged of iron. It will be possible to break any object and cause a serious damage to the enemy by knee butting. That Shaolin skill gives an advantage over the enemy to those who have acquired it, the only thing required is to forestall him and give him no chance to use arms or legs for delivering blows. Butting with knees can be successfully used not only in attack but in defense too. Shaolin combat methods provide for the use of knees together with other kinds of blows, but knee butting can be also used separately. Knees are used both for attacking and defending actions. But it is necessary to take into account that a bone occupies the bigger and muscles smaller part in the knee joint and knees are barely coated with skin. Therefore, knees of ordinary people are not strong enough and can be easily damaged, they can not be used to full power. That exercise should be trained during two years at least and only in that case a good result can be obtained. It is easy to acquire that exercise.

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