Iron rings are heavy metal rings used in

martial arts Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; ...

for various training purposes. Metal rings have a long history of being used in Yau Kung Mun,

Hung Gar Hung Ga Kuen (Cantonese) or Hongjiaquan (Mandarin) ( zh, 洪家拳, link=no, meaning "fist of the Hung family") - alternatively shortened as either Hung Ga () or Hung Kuen () - is an ancient southern Chinese martial art, which roots lie in th ...

Ziranmen Ziranmen (), also known as Natural Boxing, is a Northern internal style of kung fu that is taught in conjunction with ''qigong'' breathing techniques. The style traces its lineage to Dwarf Xu, who based it on ancient Taoist philosophy. Du Xin ...

and other styles for weight training, to harden the muscle, skin, or bone, or strengthen the arms and fists.

Types of rings

Many different types of rings are available. The ''Chi Sau Ring'' is used for conditioning the body in many stances, and exercises. Four-inch-diameter () ''Chi Sau Rings'' weigh 600 g; iron rings weigh 800 g. Some iron rings are sold in sets, such as two small and two large rings. Some rings are made of other metals such as steel or brass, and rattan rings are also used for exercise.

Use in martial arts

Chinese

forms training Form is the shape, visual appearance, or configuration of an object. In a wider sense, the form is the way something happens. Form may also refer to: *Form (document), a document (printed or electronic) with spaces in which to write or enter dat ...

is done to improve the mind and body. To get the most out of your forms training,

practitioner and writer

Stefan Verstappen Stefan may refer to: * Stefan (given name) * Stefan (surname) * Ștefan, a Romanian given name and a surname * Štefan, a Slavic given name and surname * Stefan (footballer) (born 1988), Brazilian footballer * Stefan Heym, pseudonym of German writ ...

suggests that forms training be done with “brass or steel rings ...around the wrists and ankles to add weight during the performance of the form.” Verstappen states that “ ecial wrist and ankle weights can help in the development of muscles, and endurance. Light dumb bells can also be substituted." He warns that people doing training should "...be careful not to perform the movements too quickly since the weights tend to make you overextend your techniques which can cause injury to the joints.” Other ways of enhancing the value of forms training include training outdoors in varied conditions and using varying speeds.

Ying Ching Kuen Ying may refer to: People * Yíng (嬴), a Chinese surname, the ancestral name of Qin Shi Huang, first Emperor of China in the Qin dynasty, and some contemporary rival royal families such as the Zhaos * Yīng (应), a Chinese surname from the Z ...

and external forms of Yau Kung Mun are practised with iron rings to build strength, power, and endurance. The southern Chinese

kung fu Chinese martial arts, commonly referred to with umbrella terms Kung fu (term), kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (sport), wushu (), are Styles of Chinese martial arts, multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater Ch ...

style of

is "hard, strong style" that uses "rooted stances such as the

horse stance The horse stance is a common posture in Asian martial arts. It is called ''mǎbù'' (馬步) in Chinese, (or ) in Japanese, and ''juchum seogi'' (주춤 서기) or ''annun seogi'' (lit. sitting stance) in Korean. This stance can not only be ...

(mabu)". Hung Gar practitioners use "...sand bags to strengthen grip, as well as iron rings in strengthening arms and tight fists." Hung Gar is derived from the

Shaolin Temple Shaolin Monastery ( zh, labels=no, c=少林寺, p=shàolínsì), also known as Shaolin Temple, is a monastic institution recognized as the birthplace of Chan Buddhism and the cradle of Shaolin kung fu. It is located at the foot of Wuru Peak o ...

kung fu system developed during the Ching dynasty. Hung Gar training uses "...prolonged stance training and many isometric breathing exercises. To do fist training, students wear iron rings, weighing from 2-4 lbs on their arms. "The force of the student's strike causes the rings to slide down the arms smashing into the back of the hands, reminding the students to hold a "tight fist.""

In martial arts films

* In the opening scene of ''

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin ''The 36th Chamber of Shaolin'' ( zh, t=少林三十六房, also released as ''The Master Killer'' and ''Shaolin Master Killer'') is a 1978 Hong Kong martial arts film produced by Shaw Brothers Studio, directed by Lau Kar-leung from a screenplay ...

'' (1978), Gordon Liu practices the Hung Gar form "Tien Sin Kuen" or "Iron Wire Form" using iron rings. * In the movie ''

Drunken Master ''Drunken Master'' (), also known as ''Drunken Master The Beginning'', is a 1978 Hong Kong martial arts comedy film directed by Yuen Woo-ping and produced and co-written by Ng See-yuen. The film features much of the same crew as Yuen's '' ...

'' (1978), actor

Jackie Chan Fang Shilong (born Chan Kong-sang; 7 April 1954), known professionally as Jackie Chan,; is a Hong Kong actor and filmmaker, known for his slapstick, acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, and innovative stunts, which he typically perf ...

used iron rings while practicing the horse stance. * The movie ''

Crippled Avengers ''Crippled Avengers'' (; alternately titled ''Avengers Handicapped'') is a 1978 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Chang Cheh and starring four members of the Venom Mob. It was released in North America as ''Mortal Combat'' and ''The Return ...

'' (1978) (also known as The ''Return of the 5 Deadly Venoms'') Dao Chang (Lu Feng) depicts the use of iron rings for sparring and fighting. * In the movie ''

Kung Fu Hustle ''Kung Fu Hustle'' ( zh, c=功夫, l=Kung Fu) is a 2004 Martial arts film, martial arts action comedy film directed, produced and co-written by Stephen Chow, who also stars in the leading role, alongside Eva Huang, Huang Shengyi, Yuen Wah, Yue ...

'' (2004), iron rings were used by actor Chiu Chi Ling (a master of Hung Gar), who played the role of an effeminate tailor who specializes in fighting with iron rings. * In the

Marvel Cinematic Universe The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on List of Marvel Cinematic Universe films, a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios. The films are based on characters that appe ...

(MCU) film ''

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings ''Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings'' is a 2021 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the character Shang-Chi. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is List of Marvel ...

'' (2021), the Ten Rings are depicted as mystical iron rings as opposed to rings worn on the fingers in the comics. The Ten Rings was later integrated into mainstream Marvel Universe.{{Cite web , date=March 29, 2022 , title=The True Power of the Ten Rings Is Unleashed on the Marvel Universe in Gene Luen Yang & Marcus To's New 'Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings' #1 , url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/shang-chi-and-the-ten-rings-1-gene-luen-yang-marcus-to-true-power-unleashed?linkId=158649659 , access-date=March 29, 2022 , website=Marvel , language=en-US

References

Weight training equipment Martial arts equipment