HA MA GONG

Exercise "Frog" | Brief Description

Excerpt from the book: Jin Jing Zhong. Authentic Shaolin Heritage: Training Methods of 72 Arts of Shaolin >

This Shaolin exercise is also called “Lifting a Stone Block”. It belongs to the hard Shaolin GONG FU, trains the external power and belongs to the YANG category. The purport of the exercise is to make muscles hard, which helps to beat off an enemy’s attack. It is similar to the exercise “Iron Shirt” (TIE BU SHAN). Many people in the city of Tiantsin practise this exercise. Unfortunately, they simply “pump up” muscles. For instance, they lift weight of 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 90 kg. It is the most primitive method of training, the development of the internal force is out of question with this. This kind of Shaolin GONG FU should be gradually acquired, don’t hurry at no event. At first, wrists are trained, then shoulders and chest, then legs. This method approximates to the “soft” GONG FU, as it also trains the inner power, but force is emphasized in this case. It is unlike “Water Separation” (FEI SHUI GONG) in GONG FU where QI is the main thing and force is an addition...

<  A full description of the training procedure is available in the book: Training Methods of 72 Arts of Shaolin >

...The time of staying in the stance must be gradually increased. It is necessary to train oneself until muscles become strong. In that case you will be able to concentrate force in any part of the body and even stabs of swords and spears can do you no harm. Specialists in Martial Arts say about this kind of Shaolin GONG FU: “That is training frog QI inside and muscle outside”. Although it is the “hard” GONG FU by its nature, which trains the external power (muscle force), but partly it is also the “soft” GONG FU that develops and uses the internal energy. Besides, this method helps to cure illnesses and prolong life time.