SHI ZHU GONG

Exercise "Stone Pile" | Brief Description

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

Shaolin exercise “Stone Pile” is a “hard” exercise which strengthens the “internal”. It belongs to basic Shaolin methods of the “pile”-style exercises that specialize in strengthening legs and is one of orthodox exercises. That exercise has such a name because legs of those who train it become like steadfast piles when the trainees reach the highest degree of its acquirement. Even people who have great physical strength can not throw (you) off your balance.

The man who practices a Martial Art pays a great attention to leg strength because if legs are weak, movements will be unsteady, and if movements are unsteady, there will be no way to victory. At the first stage, when leg strength is trained, one must train oneself in the stance MA BU (Horse stance). It is necessary to take MA BU (Horse stance) at least ten times every day and...

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

...After that, if you stand on a flat surface, you look like bronze or cast iron which took roots. And if several men try to throw you off balance, they will be like a dragon-fly trying to shake loose a stone pole. Seldom you will come upon a man who will be capable of moving you a little bit. Both legs attain incomparable firmness, their strength so differ from the legs strength of ordinary people that it frightens them. But burden and deprivations while training that exercise are awful, they are greater than in other kinds of Shaolin Gong Fu. It takes a lot of time to do the exercise and it needs long training, 5 or 6 years at least. The learner who is not fearless and without strength of mind, whom hardships frighten, will not be capable acquire it completely. Many who start to train that exercise, after some short time, about half a month, feel very sharp pain in their legs and stop half way. My Tutor deeply regrets about it.