Does your exercises contain martial arts intention?

Why We Train the way we do - forging the body

by Sifu Richard Mieir-King
As we train, we should examine how we are training and why we are training in the manner that we do. We
are martial artists. Yes, we do exercise to keep in shape. But do we simply do 'exercise? Or do you train
your body in such a way as to exercise it, to promote health, AND also condition the body Ior combat?
II we are ONLY doing exercise then the martial arts element may have been lost and there is no diIIerence
between what one is doing and joining a health club. In Iact, what we do is very diIIerent Irom a health club.
We do exercise, we do look Ior good body mechanics to have the best mechanical advantage when
perIorming a technique, we do strive Ior health and sustainability oI the body into our twilight years. BUT,
the manner in which we do it is slightly diIIerent and there is another element to our training, combat. Our
exercises have a very pointed intention, a martial arts intention. As martial artists training should have that
intention. We should challenge ourselves to Iind, or create, that intention should we Iind it is not there. That
is what we will take a brieI look at. You can then examine and answer the question, does your training
contain martial arts intention.
I sometimes get strange looks because I do pushups on my Iingertips. Sometimes people just do not
understand that I am not just exercising, I am exercising with a purpose. The purpose, besides health,
wellness, strength, etc, I am also making my body more combat ready. This is what sets us, as martial artists,
apart Irom other Iorms oI exercise. This extra element is both pragmatic and expedient, the weaponizing oI
our training and exercises and squeezing out all we can with the time we have and the exercises that we do.
Lets look at a couple oI exercises to get our minds kick started in the right direction. Then, perhaps, you will
see ways to weaponize the rest oI your exercise routines.
Pushups
Lets examine pushups, which are commonly practiced and a great exercise but one we can get more martial
arts intention Irom. From push up position, do not let your hips droop, keep the hips up slightly so you do not
strain your back. My Iirst go to exercise when doing pushups is to do them Irom my Iirst row oI knuckles, the
second row oI knuckles and/or the Iingertips. And why not, it is great Ior the hands, simple enough to add,
and requires no special, expensive equipment or devices.
Doing them on my Iirst and second row oI knuckles, and the Iingertips, kills 2 birds with one stone exercise
and conditioning, and it adds another level oI discipline and diIIiculty. I really don't think oI just doing
regular push ups. It is another opportunity to develop my hands, to put them back into the 'martial arts Iorge
again and make them a little stronger, a little harder.
When teaching, iI I have a student that is having diIIiculty with pushups on the palms then that is where I
start them, but I do not leave them there. At Iirst some may need to do these knuckle/Iinger pushups on a
padded surIace, like grass/lawn, carpet, etc. However, the goal is Iingers and knuckles on a hard surIace like
concrete or a similar solid surIace, or what the individual can tolerate, it isn't cookie cutter or one size Iits all.
There are a lot oI variations oI the push up to get them used to, and doing them on their knuckles/Iingers. For
martial arts, it's also about Iorging a tool which is highly eIIective and useIul. But done in a saIe way that is
also healthy Ior the hands. Some oI these exercises are just the proverbial tip oI the iceberg.
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I would add to all oI this that it is preIerable that you use Dit Da Jow on the hands when you do these types oI
exercises. Typically people think oI just using Dit Da Jow with Iron Palm conditioning but we consider all oI
this to be a part oI iron palm conditioning. So make sure you are using Dit Da Jow along with these exercises to
get the most out oI it. We have Dit Da Jow available as pictured below.
ReinIorced Thumb Push Ups
Lets brieIly look at a Iew other variations on how we can do pushups. For the hand position, imagine
that you are pointing your Iinger. Now, pull in your index Iinger but not all the way, so now you are
pointing with the second knuckle oI your index Iinger. Now, place the thumb on top oI the index Iinger
so that the tip oI your thumb and the second knuckle oI your index Iinger are even. The tip oI your
thumb and that second knuckle are your striking surIace and the area you are going to be putting your
weight as you do your pushup. This will be diIIicult at Iirst, so you might not be able to even hold the
pushup position. II that is the case start slow, just easing weight onto this part oI your hands. In time
you will be able to go Iurther and Iurther. Once this is developed, the amount oI energy that can be
Iocused into this strike is quite powerIul and can be used as a highly eIIective technique. A great deal
oI energy in Iocused into this small area which is the tip oI the thumb and the second knuckle oI the
index Iinger. Use caution when striking with this technique, it can cause a great deal oI damage and so
you want to think oI it as though it were a gun.
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Leopard Push Ups
Looking at the close up oI the hands, see that I have broken down the hand position numerically to point certain
things out. In numerical order, 1) curl and pull in the Iingers tightly and as close to the hand as possible, the
second row oI knuckles is like a chisel, 2) Irom the wrist to the second row oI knuckles make the hand as
straight and Ilat as possible, 3) the weight will be distributed into 2 places, in #3 here the weight is on that
second row oI knuckles, out onto the "chisel" edge oI the knuckles, 4) the other point supporting your weight in
this push up position is your thumb. The leopard will also use the claw at times. Fingertip push ups will develop
the claw but this will condition this second edge oI knuckles Ior striking targets. You can learn the Iorm, but it
will be oI reduced useIulness and impact (no pun intended) iI this second row oI knuckles you are using is not
conditioned to strike with. The prooI? Put your weight out on your knuckles in this position. II it isn't relatively
easy, and iI you can't do a push up in this position, you are not suIIiciently conditioned to strike with authority.
Once condition, this is a VERY eIIective strike. As a side note, you are also giving your thumb quite a bit oI
conditioning here and this is beneIicial Ior techniques outside oI the leopard where the thumb is used to strike at
targets like a spike. How many pushups should be done in this or any oI these drills? That will depend on the
individual. Some people might Iind it diIIicult to even hold the position so that will be the Iirst step towards
getting the hands conditioned Ior this technique. There are quite a Iew exercises and drills Ior conditioning the
hands. These and many more exercises and techniques are being compiled into instructional ebooks which will
be available soon.
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Elbow Conditioning
There are a number oI exercises Ior the elbows and Iorearms. Here we will Iocus on a pushup type
position Ior the elbows. Notice that I have my sleeves pushed up past my elbows. You want to put
your weight on your elbows, directly on a hard surIace iI you can do so. You may start oII just holding
this position. As it gets easier you can, Irom this position, walk Iorward, backward, side to side and in
a circle. This is a good start Ior training, but there are many other exercises Ior the elbows in this
position and other positions. This conditions the elbows so you can land solid blows with them. As
with many oI the other methods, the same warning is oIIered here. Use strikes with the elbows with
discretion. The damage that can be done is severe. It is not like in the movies where a person is struck
and then they jump back up to Iight Ior 15 more minutes.
Leopard Hop
You can see you start in a push up position. This time the palms are on the ground as we are going to be
developing something diIIerent. From a lowered position push oII with the hands and the Ieet quickly and
suddenly so your body gets launched up into the air, as pictured. Then land in the lowered position. Repeat
this sequence as many times as possible. Over time your strength will improve and the number oI reps you
can do will increase. This will develop explosive power in your arms and upper body and requires a great
deal oI back strength. This will also develop explosive power in your legs since, as you can see, you are
pushing oII with the entire body to get yourselI up in the air, parallel to the Iloor. What is the purpose oI this
exercise? Here we are developing explosive energy which will be directly utilized in the hand strikes,
jumping techniques utilized in the leopard Iorm and explosive energy in the kicks as well as explosive energy
in various other parts oI the body.
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Hanging And Pull Ups
Now, lets look at something diIIerent. Lets look at pull ups. This requires no special, expensive devices or
club memberships either, just something that will support your weight. I did this on my patio to illustrate that
you have all you need around you. You can do pullups the regular way, and they are a great exercise. But, lets
do them in a manner that will strengthen the Iingers and beneIit our martial arts practice. You can do this
Irom a pole as you might Ior a regular pull up. I like to use a thick beam, such as one you might Iind on your
patio or somewhere in your back yard. Instead oI wrapping the Iingers and thumb around the pole, you are
going to just curl the Iingers at the second knuckle, Iorming a right angle. Now hang Irom the Iingers in that
position. You can practice hanging as as long as possible and you can also do pull ups. This will vastly
increase your ability to claw and use the Iingers in a slashing Iingers at soIt tissue. When the hands are
developed this can result in a great deal oI damage so, again, this is a weapon you want to use with the same
caution, reserve and respect that you would with a gun. In the photo sequence you can do pull ups in the
regular manner with the body straight. You can also do it with you knees tucked up, your legs pulled back or
the legs extended straight Iorward. These all add extra elements oI diIIiculty to the exercise and place more
demands on the Iingers, which results in stronger Iingers and hands.
II you need something extra to increase the diIIiculty oI this exercise and that will work the hands and Iingers
more then you can practice hanging Iorm 3 Iingers by releasing with the pinky Iinger. Then release with the ring
Iinger leaving the remaining 2 Iingers that you are now hanging Irom. In the picture you can see the pinky
releasing. In the last photo it is a bit more diIIicult to see the ring Iinger has released, it is a much more diIIicult
position to hold and so it is hard to Iully extend the Iinger Ior the photo, but the only Iingers holding on in the 3
rd

photo is the index and middle Iingers. Practice this cautiously and only proceed as you Ieel you are truly able to.
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Dumb Bell Exercises
Lets take some dumb bells and use them in a less dumb or mind numbing way. We will re-purpose this
simple piece oI equipment Ior our martial arts beneIits and needs. Now, the easiest way to think oI to use a
dumb bell is to do your punches, blocks and various other hand techniques with the dumb bells. But lets add
to that. These techniques will work the Iingers, wrists, hand speed and your ability to move quickly, your
ability to quickly grab and dig into your opponent and 'bite with your Iingers with a higher degree oI
authority. A word oI caution here, there is a possibility you could drop your dumb bell, so practice this
keeping your Ieet saIe and away Irom where the dumb bell might Iall. It is preIerred that you use a dumb bell
like the one in the pictures. This type oI dumb bell works best Ior when you are holding it by the ends as
pictured in the exercises below. Holding the dumb bell in Iront oI you, either in a vertical or horizontal
position, practice a slight toss up and then catch/grab the dumb bell. Repeat this on leIt and right sides. Turn
the hand palm up and toss and catch the dumb bell as well. When you catch the dumb bell in these exercises
really grab it as though you are going to actually dig your Iingers into the dumb bell. Now, move to the end oI
the dumb bell and grab the large end like you might grab a door knob. Practice holding it on Iront oI you and
pointing it straight Iorward. Rotate it clockwise and counter clockwise as though you are turning a wheel at
the end oI the dumb bell. Now point the dumb bell up as high as possible, then lower so it is pointed at the
ground and repeat. Turn the hand so it is palm up and the dumb bell pointed straight up, now wag the dumb
bell Irom leIt to right, then Iorward and back. Keep a good grip on the end oI the dumb bell so you do not
drop it. Alternate this in leIt and right hands.
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Using the dumb bells in this manner will make your hand/claw/gouging techniques more eIIective and
devastating. Applying locks, holds, ripping techniques, gouging with the Iingers to any vulnerable and soIt
areas, and stripping away weapons will be improved. When you have invested the time, you don't have to
wonder iI your techniques will work, you know they will not Iail you when they are needed.
There are more conditioning exercises Ior the hands as well as other surIaces oI the body. What we have
covered here is just scratching the surIace.
As we develop the hands into an extremely eIIective weapon, it becomes a tool which we hope to never use,
but a tool which we keep close at all times, a blade we keep razor sharp, should we need to use it. I have a
number oI my students can attest to the eIIectiveness oI my applying locks and grabbing and gathering up oI
tissue and Ilesh with my hands and Iingers. At the same time the health oI the hands are improved. The hands
are also NOT calloused or disIigured in any way. This was important in our training because the hands, as we
developed them, were called and considered the 'hidden weapon. When the capability oI the hands are not
obvious then we are not showing any potential attacker our 'cards so to speak. II he knows our hands are
developed and capable then it gives him a chance to prepare Ior and counter us. My instructor called this
giving him a chance to 'put his boots on.
Conclusion
There are a couple oI old sayings I was taught coming in the door, 'as much as it is up to you, live at peace
with everyone. The key section oI that phrase is 'as much as it is up to you, because, in the end, it is not
always leIt up to you. The other old saying was, 'in times oI peace, a warrior keeps his sword by his side.
Again, simply meaning, be peaceIul, but prepared. So this is our preparation.
There is a quote by James Allen which states, 'Above all be oI single aim; have a legitimate and useIul
purpose, and devote yourselI unreservedly to it. This is a good quote to keep in mind Ior we should have a
single aim and a legitimate and useIul purpose. That purpose is the underlying theme and tone oI all that we
do, martial arts, war like, Ior combat. Let us wrap our training and all that we do around that purpose so that,
iI we should ever need it, it will not Iail us.
About the Author
SiIu Richard Mieir-King is a Kung Fu instructor in CaliIornia, teaching since 1981, teaching Kung Fu, Tai
Chi, Chi Kung, meditation and breath work Ior stress reduction and corporate health and wellness classes and
working in clinics. Many oI our products can be Iound through ATTU and we will have many soon to be
released ebooks on aspects oI body conditioning and development, Iron Palm, Kung Fu, Chi Kung and more.
www.KingsKungFu.com - www.KingsTaiChi.com.
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