Iron rings

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Iron rings were used in martial arts as a type of weight training, which were put on the arms to harden the muscle skin or bone. Many different types of rings are available. The Chi Sau Ring is used for conditioning the body in many stances, and exercises. Four inch diameter Chi Sau Rings weigh 600g; five inch diameter iron rings weigh 800g. Some iron rings are sold in sets, such as two small and two large rings. Some rings are made of other metals such as steel or brass, and rattan rings are also used for exercise.

[edit] Use in martial arts

Ying Ching Kuen and external forms of Yau Kung Mun are practised with iron rings to build strength, power, and endurance[1].

The southern Chinese kung fu style of Hung Gar is "hard, strong style" that uses "rooted stances such as the horse stance (mabu)". Hung Gar practitioners use "...sand bags to strengthen grip, as well as iron rings in strengthening arms and tight fists."[2] Hung Gar is derived from the Shaolin Temple kung fu system developed during the Ching dynasty. Hung Gar training uses "...prolonged stance training and many isometric breathing exercises. To do fist training, students wear iron rings, weighing from 2-4 lbs on their arms. "The force of the student's strike causes the rings to slide down the arms smashing into the back of the hands, reminding the students to hold a "tight fist.""[3]

[edit] In martial arts films

The movie Crippled Avengers (1978) (AKA: The Return of the 5 Deadly Venoms)Dao Chang (Lu Feng) depicts the use of iron rings for sparring and fighting. In the movie Kung Fu Hustle, iron Rings were used by an effiminate tailor played by Chiu Chi Ling. In the movie Drunken Master, actor Jackie Chan used iron rings while practicing his horse stance.