Makiwara, Iron Penis, and the Legacy of Martial Arts Conditioning Methods

Muay Thai and Silat practitioners kick banana trees, Kung Fu practitioners smash iron with bare fists, and Karate practitioners punch Makiwaras. Iron Body Training in Martial Arts is akin to forging and tempering a sword. With much pain, practice, and proper healing, the body becomes hardened into a fighting tool capable of dealing with the rigors of real combat. The mind is also conditioned to prepare for the intensity of human combat.