Health & Longevity Benefits of Martial Body Conditioning Practices

The Relationship Between Martial Arts & Healing Medicine - Part 2

The post, "The Relationship Between Martial Arts & Healing Medicine -Part 1", reveals the health enhancement aspects of martial arts practices and provides an broad overview of the benefits of this practices from basic stances to some of its deeper and more advanced effects. Here, we will continue to expand on this somewhat forgotten truth, while focusing on one of the most misunderstood areas of martial training - Body Conditioning.

To summarize part 1, the primary purpose of martial arts training is human development and advancement. Martial, combat and defensive skills are by-products of the training and resulting from the increased abilities and augmented physical, mental health and performance. Optimal fitness and well-being make it possible to pursue spiritual attainment.... the true ultimate goal.

If the correct methods and progression are followed consistently and in earnest, the practitioner advances and their abilities grow. All physiological processes improve as oxygen rich blood reaches and nourishes all organs and tissues. Energy creation, movement and transfer is enhanced. This results in increased strength, speed, balance, reflex, agility, sense affinity, mental capacity, cognitive acuity, memory, vigor and.... power.

Bodhidharma Meditating in a Cave for 9 yars.

What is Body Conditioning?

Body conditioning is the modern, common term for a set of methods and practices used by martial artists to increase the resistance of the body in order to strike with extreme power or to resist blows and strikes without injury. There are many methods and exercises used for body conditioning, like the familiar makiwara board used in some Karate styles, or the wooden dummies used in various kung fu styles. There are also more advanced and complex methods such as Iron shirt/vest, and from one of our posts, the coveted "Golden Bell Cover" method.

Bodhidharma's Marrow Washing Classic

According to legend, Bodhidharma taught 2 exercise routines and associated practices, to the monks at Shaolin to help them gain the health and strength needed for in order to travel the long and arduous spiritual path. These 2 methods were the Muscle -Tendon Changing Classic (Yi Jin Jing) and the Marrow Washing Classic (Xi sui Jing).

It is said that all kung fu comes from these 2 methods and this is partly true. While the combat techniques were derived from other sources and influences, all of the physical health methods and the internal health techniques do come from these 2 methods. In fact, all Qigong forms and styles are derived from these 2 exercises. The breathing, mental, energetic, meditative framework comes from these 2 prototypical, legendary techniques.

Muscle - Tendon Changing focuses on opening up the body for proper energy flow (Qi), and Xue (blood), on breathing methods to harness Qi and on strength and endurance. It establishes the platform and develops the pathways for higher level energy work. This involves primarily movement sequences, still meditation and breathing techniques.

Marrow Washing is made up of a wider variety of techniques and incorporates aspects of muscle tendon changing. In fact, the 2 methods are interrelated and are practiced as a progression in the initial stage and transition into one complete training regimen as training progresses. Marrow Washing deals with augmenting the capacity of the nervous system for energy movement, on creating, absorbing and refining Qi and blood and in optimizing health and maximizing longevity.

Marrow Washing and Golden Bell Cover

Golden Bell Cover is a martial body conditioning practice. Yet, like all other conditioning its origins lie in the Marrow Washing Classic. Marrow Washing involves a variety of separates techniques, some quite esoteric and obscure but to get at the heart of the method and its influence on golden bell cover, let's go to what the name of the practice tells us about it.

Iron Bone Rubbing - A Shared Practice

Let's keep this simple and examine the choice of the word washing. Washing involves scrubbing or rubbing action. If we picture washing clothes, it involves rubbing against a hard surface.

A practice that is shared in a number of Iron body techniques and is seen in Golden Bell Cover is that of bone rubbing aka Iron Bone. Bone Rubbing is typically done with a stick, or a hard, blunt edge surface, by pressing against the bone, penetrating deep through the muscle tissue and into the bone. A stick can be rolled while maintaining deep pressure over the length of the bone. With a fixed blunt edge surface, like a tree trunk or the edge of a rock, the body part is pressed and slid over the surface while maintaining constant pressure.

Other conditioning and strengthening techniques seen in various martial arts styles also reflect this training concept although limited to bridge area of the arms. Examples are Mor Kiu or grinding bridge. This involves 2 partners grinding or sawing deeply bone to bone.

A more popular and solo bone rubbing practice is conducted with Iron Rings. Rings are added as skill and strength increase until 10 or more rings are used on each arm. The pitch and the unity of the sound of the rings used to gage the skill of one that trains with multiple rings.

These are examples of how conditioning techniques permeate martial arts training with little congnition of their deeper roots.

This all relates to pressing, rubbing,action of the bone surfaces as in washing makes sense for body conditioning, but how does that "wash" the marrow? Marrow fills the cavity in the innermost center of our bones. How does this explain the actual washing effect? after all, it is the cleansing implied by 'washing" that accounts for the health and longevity benefits attributed that we are after. How does that happen?

The Piezoelectric Nature of Bone

Thousands of years ago, the ancient Chinese understood the nature and deep structure of bone, and the associated electric energy transmissio that modern science and has only recently begun to unveil. But this was not just superficial, trivial knowledge, but deep, practical comprehension to the extent that methods were developed to harness profound benefits for health, performance, longevity and human advancement. Astounding.

Years ago, I worked as an engineer at a company that designed and manufactured wireless underwater communications equipment. This was in the late 80's, decades before cellular, wireless communications were developed. The way this was accomplished was via the Piezoelectric phenomena exhibited by a ceramic ring. When encapsulated in the right combination of materials, it became a transducer of sound waves travelling through water. A transducer both receives and transmits signals. In air, only a few feet, but in water, over a mile.

The pressure exerted by the sound wave on to the ceramic ring creates an electric signal that, can be turned into sound and heard through a speaker or visa versa, can be sent from a microphone. Put 2 wires on it and attach to a speaker and microphone and throw it in the water and viola! You have underwater wireless communication. over long distances. High Tech back then.

Like the ceramic ring, our bone has piezoelectric properties and the muscles and tissues encapsulate our bones, much like a transducer.

The outer layer of bone is made up of cyclindrical Osteons that each have blood vessels, a nerve and a lymphatic vessel running through them. This is the part of the bone that acts turns pressure into an electric signal. In the center is the marrow cavity, and the marrow itself acts like a conductive wire, allowing the small electric signal to travel within the bone marrow. And there it is.... Marrow Washing. Yes, it is very real.

Stagnant bone marrow turns into yellow bone marrow. As we get older, more and more of our bone marrow turns yellow. Red bone marrow is life itself. The ancient Chinese understood that blood is created by bone marrow. They also knew that bone marrow is where our immune health is created. In addition, Traditional Chinese Medical Theory considers the brain as being made of marrow referring to it as the "Sea of Marrow".

The electric signal generated by pressure stimulates and maintains red bone marrow and activates production of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, improving the quality and health of our blood and the strength of the immune system.

Bone marrow washing also keeps "The Sea of Marrow" healthy and energized, improving cognitive function, memory, alertness and mental capacity. In TCM theory, this is the path to becoming a superior person, and the gateway to spiritual advancement. From a more practical viewpoint and as now know by modern medical science, marrow washing is crucial to achieving optimal health and lifelong quality of life.

Spiraling Energy on outer Layer of Bone Tissue

Let's not forget the spiriling energy on the outside layer of bone, made up of Osteons each with containing an artery, a vein, a nerve and a lymph vessel. This energy effect stimulates each of those vessels and their particular functions. The outer layer of bone is also the site for the strengthening and conditioning factor that is so fabled and sought after by martial artists. Iron bone, iron fist, iron palm, golden bell, Iron vest, stone warrior and all of the iron skills methodologies are a function of Wolff's Law.

Wolffs Law

The official AI definition is: "Wolff’s Law states that healthy bones adapt to the loads placed upon them, becoming stronger under increased stress and weaker in its absence. Developed in the 19th century by German anatomist Julius Wolff, this principle governs bone remodeling, where bone tissue becomes denser and thicker in response to physical activity and weight-bearing".

In other words, bone tissue (and other body tissues) adjusts to the consistent demands that it is subjected to. The more you regularly ask it to do, the stronger it will get to meet the demand. Likewise, the less you ask, the weaker it will get in the abscence of demand. This is what causes atrophy.

Tension and compression cycles create a small electrical potential that stimulates bone deposition and increased density at the point of stress.

The same principle applies to areas that are regularly challenged by hard contact, which is where strengthening and conditioning meet with health and longevity and why the many ancient practices involve controlled, repeated contact with progressively increasing amplitude of contact, creating a managed, safe, advancement protocol.

Herbal Liniments and Internal Elixirs - Essential for Best Results

Herbs are absolutely essential if pursuing the highest level of accomplishment possible. Without herbs, a very high level can be attained, but never as high as with the assistance of the correct herbal medicine. Herbs help increase the flow of Qi and Blood, remove stagnation, clear heat and inflammation and aid in proper nourishment, blood oxygenation and detoxification. Using the proper herbal formulas will increase your potential exponentially at the same time that they will align and supplement the gains from your chosen practice or method.

Never... let me repeat this, Never start a body conditioning program without an accompanying Dit Da Jow. Do not start Iron Palm, Iron Fist, Makiwara, One finger zen or any other repetitive striking protocol without Dit Da Jow or Iron Palm liniment.

For Qigong or Internal exercises as in the higher level Iron body programs like Iron Vest, Stone Warrior or Golden Bell, use an internal elixir. In those that involve both repetitive striking and tension movement exercises, use both an elixir and a liniment. If you cannot find one for your practice, consult with a bonafide master herbalist to have one formulated for you. The cost of these herbals will pay for itself one thousand fold in injury prevention and in advancement and results from your practice.

In addition. herbs turbocharge the healing process, specially of microdamage from regular load challenge, but more importantly, from when it is more than a micro-injury as when you overdo your training or you go past your maximum limit of resistance. Training while injured is a formula for failure and will result in long term, chronic or latent damage, Herbal medicine when injured is crucial as it will result in healing in a fraction of the time of not using herbs.

Herbs will prevent latent joint damage, swelling and inflammation that can and often do result in bone deformity from practicing without Dit Da Jow. Oversize knuckles, crooked fingers, or hands that don't close properly are signs of bad practice, lack of using Dit Da Jow or using an ineffective Dit Da Jow formula.

Conclusion - Not just for Martial Artists

All martial training methods and practices were originally devised for self development and human advancement. They may be intimidating and seem difficult and strange, but they are not and everyone can benefit.

These practices were codified and retained by martial arts lineges, families and traditions and safeguarded for their benefit to martial practice, but they are of benefit to everyone.

Even martial arts body conditioning methods such as Golden Bell Cover, Iron Vest and most others all originated from ancient health and longevity practices such as muscle tendon changing and marrow washing, and these come from even more ancient methods but all with the primary purpose of improving health and cultivating life.

Martial ability is a secondary result and even when the primary intention is combat ability, the practices, if done properly will yield improved health, well being and quality of life.