Introduction The 72 Consummate and Secret Arts of the Shaolin Temple are divided into two categories: Yin/Rou Soft Internal Energy Training and Yang/Gang Hard External Power Training, respectively (1). The Iron Head (Tie Tou Gong) exercise, although formally placed in the second category (Hard), is one of a select group that incorporates features of Shaolin hard and soft training.
Technical analysis
The repetitive and progressive nature of wall hitting heads encourages systematic adaptation to the increasingly demanding extremes of Hard External Training. The need to control the breath, tense and align various parts of the body to support this shows how Soft Internal Energy Training contributes to the successful acquisition of this Secret Fighting Exercise or ‘Kung’.
method
Shaolin students first wrap their heads by wrapping them in 10 layers of protective silk. A sheet of metal contoured to fit on top of the head is placed on top of this; two final turns with silk (some authorities recommend towels) secure this metal “cap” in position.
Level 1
The front of the head is repeatedly struck against any convenient stone or brick wall. The head and neck remain aligned, the neck muscles contract, and the breath is held at the moment of impact.
Next, with the back, neck, and head in alignment, the back of the student’s head is repeatedly slammed against the wall in a similar fashion. The student then doubles over and charges toward the wall, hitting it with the top of his head. Finally, standing near the wall, the student hits it repeatedly with the left and right sides of his head, respectively.
During this stage of training, relatively little force is used initially when hitting the head against the wall. This intensity is gradually increased as the weeks go by and the number of hits is gradually increased in practice sessions.
Stage 2
After several months of training, two of the protective layers of silk (not the ones holding the metal in place) are removed, and the students repeat their earlier efforts. Every 2-3 months another two layers of protective wrapping are removed until all have been removed and the student’s head is uncovered.
Now the student’s head is unprotected when it hits the wall. At first this may cause some pain and discomfort. The students, however, must persevere as this will eventually wear off and the ‘Kung’ will finally have been mastered.
general
By now, the student’s head is as strong or stronger than the wall itself and the Iron Head Exercise (Tie Tou Gong) can even be used to break or destroy this. Kung Fu history acknowledges a number of masters who use Kung for this purpose. . Many (including myself) have seen Shaolin monks head butt through large stone tablets using this technique.
