The human weapon.

In the past, the ancient masters would pick a particular skill, say, kicking, a particular hand strike, iron robe/iron palm, leaping huge distances, a single favorite weapon, (and so on) and MASTER it. While they would learn an entire system, typically become proficient in eighteen different classical weapons (the standard for most traditional, Shaolin based, kung-fu systems, believe it or not), striking, grappling, throwing, joint locks, and even basic medicine, they would always, 'specialize', in one particular technique, strike, or ability. Often times, a nickname or legend would spawn from their particular skill, and usually, make them sought after instructors, bodyguards and even assassins. For example, one of my teachers in China witnessed a wandering master perform a perfect example of what I am speaking of. They were in a local tavern, and he proclaimed he had the famed, 'iron finger', technique. Of course, seeing is believing, so they all asked for a demonstration on the three inch thick oak table in the center of the common area. He smiled, took a deep breath and then proceeded to slam his fingers effortlessly through the three inches of, nearly rock hard, oak tabletop without any injury (or even discomfort!) at all. This is what is called, 'gong fu' (literally translated as: 'skill-learned person', or, 'acquired skill over a long period of time', in a more practical sense), more popularly (and incorrectly, I might add, phonetically speaking) known as, 'kung-fu'. It means, having a single, seemingly impossible skill, mastered to such a degree that it appears easy and effortless to the casual observer, while, in actuality, is, nearly impossible with out a lifetime of practice, dedication, perseverance and determination. This is the legendary, 'kung-fu'. This also applies to any skill, mastered by anyone, to such a degree. Painting, musical aptitude, sewing, cooking, acrobatics, anything. Even a carpenter, welder, or janitor can have, 'kung-fu', in this sense. They have, simply, just done something so many times that they make a difficult task appear easy. This is, 'kung-fu', in the most literal and obvious sense.

When I was studying at the Empty Jade Palace in the mountains of Hubei with the Daoist monks, there was a particular warrior monk that had an amazing ability that I was fortunate enough to witness with my own eyes. He had partially mastered the famed ability know as, 'qing gong', or, 'light body skill'. He was able to leap upwards of fifteen feet from a stationary position, and even twenty feet or more with a running start (I personally witnessed him doing this), as well as being able to leap from the roof of a two story building without harm, and with complete and total grace. With that being said, these particular skills do come with a price. This particular monk had tremendous knee problems, and was constantly in pain. Eventually, he decided to abandon this skill, choosing a life without pain over, apparently, supernatural ability. There was a famous Shaolin monk of the last century who was famous for being able to meditate for eighteen hours at a time on a single, solitary finger, supporting his entire body weight on this tiny digit. This skill was developed for piercing through the chest plates of an assailant. Yes, it was effective, and yes, it is/was attainable, but at a tremendous cost. In his old age, he had developed such severe nerve damage that he was unable to hold chopsticks due his hands shaking tremendously at all times, and was completely reliant on his students to feed him. He knew the cost, but chose mastery in this lethal, yet self destructive, technique.

These days, we have become soft, infantile and downright pathetic in the shadows of these epic and, proverbially, 'giant', masters. But our society has changed beyond anything they could have ever imagined, and during their time, it was relevant, practical, and even necessary. Now? Point, pull the trigger, bang, you're dead. Plain and simple. Yet, even an ounce of one of these seemingly mythical skills is amazing in our technologically reliant modern society. I, personally, have chosen to excel (I dare not say, 'master') in a dying skill. That skill is, 'iron arm'. I am slight in frame, to say the least. I have suffered from sickness most of my life, it is very difficult for me to gain weight, and I will never be a physically intimidating specimen, as far as contemporary, 'gym', standards are concerned. Instead of letting this truth discourage me, I chose to work with what I have. What I have is a boney frame with thin ropey muscles. I have chosen to calcify the tissue on my forearms, palms and hands into a sort of flexible living steel. The way this is done, is by banging the soft tissue of the arms and fists/hands against, bags filled with sand, then rocks, and then, finally, pennies (metal). At first, your arms and hands, ache, bruises and contusions appear, and you are generally in a state of constant discomfort, and even pain. After using sand for a while, you find that it no longer hurts, and you are able to deliver tremendous blows against the bags that would have broken your hand perviously. Then you move up to rocks. It is almost like starting all over again, but, over time, it beings to feel like the sand, and your blows land without any sort of pain or discomfort at all. Once again, you are humbled as you start your third, and final, section of training with the pennies (or metal). Once you have reached this level, it does not mean that you can stop. You must NEVER stop! This is a, 'use it or lose it', skill. Yes, it is true, you will permanently be able to cave in people's chests and fracture skulls, but not against someone who has chosen to master the counter technique known as, 'iron robe'. This is the exact same skill, yet it is applied to the tissue on the chest, back, ribs, and stomach.

Before modern transportation, ancient masters had to travel huge distances to challenge each other, as China is/was huge, dangerous, constantly in a state of war, and often times, geographically, difficult to navigate. One master would hear of another's skill and train in a counter technique during his or her journey to defeat them. It would not be uncommon for a master to travel upwards of ten years to answer a challenge. Plenty of time to work on a counter strategy. It is no different than when a modern day fighter reviews fight tapes of an upcoming challenger, trying to find holes or weaknesses in their opponent's strategies and conditioning. Some things never change.

I've had street encounters where my attackers have swung wild haymakers at my face and ribs, only to find that their arms are suddenly hanging limp and lifelessly at their sides. What happened? They attacked, I blocked with my tremendously conditioned, 'iron', arms, and temporarily paralyzed their soft and buttery limbs. Of course, I immediately followed my devastating blocks with a combination of incapacitating attacks, immediately, 'resolving', the conflict. When I am teaching my students and younger kung-fu brothers/sisters, I find it strange how supple and clay-like their arms feel against mine. They wince, sweat beads up on their brows and upper lips, and often times, their teeth begin to clench, their movements becoming jerky and obviously pained. Yet, I have kung-fu brothers who's arms give ME great pain and discomfort when performing the exact same exercise. There is always a bigger mountain, and I am barely a hill.

While it is not necessary, it is still important, in my mind, to chose a particular skill, technique or proficiency to, 'master', or at least, become adept in, beyond a, 'general', sense. Avoid becoming a, 'jack of all trades, master of none'. While it is not a tragedy, it is still a shame. So many focus all of their time trying to shove the whole style in their mouth at once, when they should simply take a bite, and savor the flavor of particular skill that they can call their own. Learn a thousand moves, master three, or better yet? One.