Is Iron Vest a Waste of Time?

[@HonestTaiChi]

"The qi should be vibrated inside like a drum" -chuang tzu ... great points Steve I always tell my students this as we're training swing arms and other types of impact if the skin on a drum is not taught the sound of that drum is not good if the skin is too tight or stiff the drum itself will break with proper tuning you have good music to me this idea is the same as what you're describing just like all martial arts to take impact and give impact in a way that you are not injuring Yourself by giving or receiving everything must be finely tuned inside and out but definitely inside if your goal is to live healthy

[@TheIronandSilk]

@@HonestTaiChi Thank you for the comment. Right on point! I love the drum analogy!

[@azlaroc12]

Anything that works the connective network of membranes and tissues in our bodies is fine by me as long as it’s done correctly and safely. It’s hard to overestimate just how ubiquitous this stuff is in our bodies. It literally holds us together. In addition to being an organ of support and movement, the fascia webbing provides scaffolding for nerves and blood vessels, protects the bones and provides for gas exchange and removal of muscular waste products. It also has piezoelectric qualities meaning it generates electrical current when rubbed, squeezed or stretched. It literally lines the insides of our bodies from head to toe like a giant Hefty Bag, sectioning off muscles individually in their own compartment. The exercises required to move this stuff is different from regular strength training for the muscles. Western medicine didn’t really recognize the importance of this stuff until the 70’s, but yoga,Chinese arts and many other systems spoke of the “sinews” as being important to longevity and health and it looks like they got it right. SO MOVE THAT SHIT. 💪

[@TheIronandSilk]

azlaroc12...Man you've got such a way about you. I love your writing style. You explain things in a way that any and everyone can understand, all the way from a 5 year old to a 105! Your opening line, "Anything that works the connective network of membranes and tissues in our bodies is fine by me as long as it’s done correctly and safely.", to your closing line, "SO MOVE THAT SHIT." Awesome comments!! I feel the same way, just "Move that Shit!!" And NEVER STOP!!

[@TheIronandSilk]

@mikemiller5445 Me personally, I don't believe in that stuff. If that were the case, then I had better do the advanced stuff perfectly, or I would damage myself. I was told the same thing about Iron Vest. I have to do each and every exercise in this exact order, or I will screw myself up. This Thursday, July 4th, I show what I have done for years now. So I ask, what is the proof? Oh, this guy did the beginning ones 4 to 5 years straight before going into the advanced ones. That's why he lived to be 101 years old. This guy didn't do the beginner ones. He went right into the advanced ones and died at 88 years old. I believe in the health benefits, but I don't believe in the fear tactics. Just my opinion. If there are facts, please enlighten me. I do appreciate your comments, I can see that you are knowledgeable in these areas.

[@mikemiller5445]

@TheIronandSilk the ill effects of doing shit wrong takes years. For example doing the Headstand in Yoga the way most idiots do it can take years before your eyes become permanently damaged. You are correct you don't have to do everything in the Iron Vest exactly as taught because it's a basic, beginner, every level program to condition the body, nervous system, nadis, meridians, marmas for much much much more powerful practices. Do you believe it's a good idea to skip Iron Palm and jump straight to Poison Hand? ... you might be ok doing it but you might fuck yourself up.

[@TheIronandSilk]

@mikemiller5445 Hey man, I hear what you're saying. Take cigarette smoking for instance, everyone knows that they're bad for your health. But, like you said, it COULD take years to manifest. Some people smoke their whole lives and never have a problem. It is what it is.

[@TheIronandSilk]

@mikemiller5445 That's a great point. Then, we also get into belief.

[@giqwaju3691]

İnteresting to note how many of the the "old time" strongmen made heavy pull overs the cornerstone of their training. A similar movement to that "monkey climbs the pole" one you demonstrated.

[@TheIronandSilk]

@giqwaju3691 Great point! I believe western boxing was influenced by the Chinese martial arts. So, it would also make sense that the Chinese might have played a role in the strength of our elders. Something to ponder on.

[@onemindonespirit]

I found your other recent video interesting in that you said the iron vest was the “small body” form. Makes me think that’s the main purpose of the form rather than building resistance to hits. Maybe I just didn’t train the set long enough (although I felt like I kept the regular practice of it for a long time). It wasn’t until I did external hitting that I really felt more of an iron body developing.

[@TheIronandSilk]

@onemindonespirit Yeah, I kinda felt the same. It's funny because at the time, I wasn't doing Iron Vest, but I was doing a lot of ab work. People at Teachers' school were all saying, "I see you're still hitting Iron Vest." I see Iron Vest more of a "for your internal organs" program than a "Iron Vest" program. Yeah, Teacher would hit people with a sledgehammer, but so what, that's the abdomen. Would it be the same if the hammer hit the ribs? The sternum? So, I get where you're coming from.

[@onemindonespirit]

@@TheIronandSilk What do you think those last seated exercises are for? I did them as a dutiful student but never understood what was going on there.

[@TheIronandSilk]

@onemindonespirit Same here. The only thing I can figure is, The Old Man Makes Medicine, you're seated so as not to move the hips, only the waist. This way, as you breathe, you're "opening up meridians" for the Chi to flow. It's sad that everything wasn't explained, and if you asked questions, you would be yelled at for asking. Insane!

[@onemindonespirit]

@@TheIronandSilk Back when I was training this set regularly, I felt I was ready to up the reps; I think it was the 72s. I tell you, the pain I had in my stomach that night I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Lol good times.

[@TheIronandSilk]

@@onemindonespirit Did you go up to the 108 reps?

[@gharm9129]

Wasn't there a student of GM Chicoine that put a lot of effort into iron vest that would demonstrate being able to take any hit without damage? At most he would get get thrown or knocked down but no damage? But GM Chicoine knew how to go through it? If that was true I'd say it wasn't a waste of time.

[@TheIronandSilk]

@gharm9129 I was there for 20 years. I've never heard of that person nor that story. Teacher did have an old picture of a Chinese man who had, like a "six pack abs" that were from under the collar bone down. I asked him about the photo, and he told me that the man in the picture had practiced Iron Vest all of his life. Teacher did tell me where to hit if I ever come across someone like that. 😉

[@gharm9129]

@@TheIronandSilk I looked while on lunch and the guy's name I was mentioning is Gary Clyman. Idk much else other than the story and name. Think it was in the 70s to from what I was told. Figured you'd know if it was true or not.

[@TheIronandSilk]

@gharm9129 I know Gary. He was never a student of Chicoine. Idk if ever Iron Vest, but he does have some good stuff. He used to let people punch him, but I guess GM Ch'ang, got him real good. I like Gary, he's a good man.

[@gharm9129]

@@TheIronandSilk oh that's interesting, I heard stories about his iron shirt and inviting people to hit him. Didn't know he wasn't a student but you did know. What good stuff does he do if you don't mind, I only heard what I mentioned already.

[@TheIronandSilk]

@@gharm9129 I think he does Iron Bell Chi Gung. I went to his house in Chicago to do some energy work some years back. It was very impressive. Afterwards I felt so light, it seemed as if I could cross major streets in only a couple of steps. I forgot what he called it. You can probably find a website for him and see what all he does.