Authentic Iron Palm: The Complete Training Manual, Paperback

A comprehensive guide to Iron Palm--an advanced training course for developing a strong striking hand and delivering powerful blows

Iron Palm is a set of martial art conditioning skills--dating back to the Shaolin Temple of fifth-century China--whose purpose is to strengthen the hand while empowering the fighter to strike with force and precision. Training is focused and incremental, requiring the guidance of an experienced master. In Authentic Iron Palm, author, instructor, and five-time US National Chinese martial arts Champion Phillip Starr provides the definitive guide to Iron Palm. He meticulously outlines the three sequential steps of training: hardening limbs, developing technique, and engaging Qigong for coordinating breath and mind. The end result is a more powerful and precise strike that can impact the target's viscera (with no trace on the outer body). Lavishly illustrated with more than 200 images, this book is ideal for experienced practitioners of gong-fu, karate, and taekwondo.

Phillip "Pete" Starr began his training in the martial arts in 1956, beginning with judo. Within a year, he received instruction in traditional kung fu in the basement of a small Chinese grocery store. He continued his training, also earning black-belt grades in two styles of Japanese karate (third dan in Kyokushin, first dan in Shito-ryu). His primary kung fu teacher was W. C. Chen, a direct disciple of one of China's best-known masters, Zhang Zhaodong. From Master Chen, Starr learned taijiquan (tai-chi chuan), xingyiquan, baguazhang, and a form of shaolinquan. He began teaching Chinese martial arts in 1967 at Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa. After spending several years in law enforcement, he opened his first full-time martial arts school in Ottumwa, Iowa. He entered competition and earned the title of U.S. National Champion five times, the last time when he was sixty-three years old. He was named to the National Rules Committee of the United States Karate Association and became the kung fu chairman. Later, he was named to the list of the Rocky Mountain top ten competitors. Starr went on to train in Arnis, becoming a certified instructor under Tuhon Leo Gaje and Jeet Kune Do.