TECHNICAL INFORMATION
General Hints for Hand Training
Take it
slowly: don't rush
body-hardening or toughening practice!
Punching with even
a simple fist can damage the untrained hand. It takes several
weeks for the external flesh to toughen, months for the tendons
and bones. It is very easy to rip the skin off the knuckles
when first practicing, and easy to sprain the wrist or finger
joints when striking a solid object without the proper
alignment. Whenever an open wound or bruise is created, the
hand must be protected and healed before full training can begin
again. Your hands are precious tools for coping with the world
-- don't abuse them by trying to quickly transform them into
powerful blunt weapons. True "iron-hand" training requires a
specific training sequence, equipment, and proper medicines and
liniments. It should not be attempted without full information
and guidance from a skilled practitioner. Moderate toughening
exercise, however, can be safely done with minimal instruction.
Start
with light but frequent practice.
The biggest mistake beginners (and some "advanced" students)
make is to try and fit months of conditioning into a couple of
weeks or days. Start with a small but firm target: an old
telephone book works well. Prop it up on a chair or couch, and
lightly punch or strike it with the hand-form you are training.
Don't practice striking more than five or ten minutes, or until
the knuckles are slightly red. Immediately afterward, give them
and the rest of the hand a gentle massage to encourage more
circulation. Striking lightly, but firmly, will give you
immediate feedback in your hand, wrist and arm as you find the
proper alignment of the joints. While going about daily
routines and tasks, continue your light training: push open
doors, etc. with the knuckles of your closed fist instead of a
palm.
Do not
train the fingertips on hard objects.
The tips of the fingers are very sensitive and several
acupuncture meridians terminate there. The Chinese say that
hard training on the fingertips without careful preparation and
restorative medication can result in poor health and weaker
vision.