Shaolin Body Armor

[Hebrew Hammer]

I've been researching Wudang and Daoist thought of late and I came across a story of famous Wudang monk who wore a shirt of armor underneath his robes and it got me thinking, I've seen vamp-braces or forearm armor depicted in Chinese martial arts over the years but did the Shaolin Monks use or wear armor of any kind? At some point they did serve as Imperial body guards.

I know there is a practice of body hardening, various "Iron Vest/shirt", Gene's favorite "Iron Sphinctor" etc...

Does anyone know what types of armor they may have used?

If they didn't wear it, how did they fair in pitched battles against armored soldiers? Why wouldn't they wear it? Is it against their vows as a Monk?

[Lucas]

i can only assume but i think that yes, any modern equipment would be implimented if the activity demanded it. i think it was bawang that posted a picture of the shaolin musket unit.

[GeneChing]

Gene's favorite "Iron Sphinctor" etc...
If there's any orifice to iron-ize, the sphincter would not be on top of my list. :rolleyes:

[MightyB]

If there's any orifice to iron-ize, the sphincter would not be on top of my list. :rolleyes:

well - what is your favorite orifice to iron-ize?

[Lucas]

well - what is your favorite orifice to iron-ize?

apparently he has a list.

[sanjuro_ronin]

apparently he has a list.

There are things that mortal man should not know...

[Featherstone]

it's a shame you cannot unread what has been read and written! :eek:

[Hebrew Hammer]

If there's any orifice to iron-ize, the sphincter would not be on top of my list. :rolleyes:

This begs the question...what is on the top of your list? I guess they only iron-ize appendages. :confused:

Gene you haven't heard of or know any Shaolin Monks to have used armor?


well - what is your favorite orifice to iron-ize?

Well I can tell you Iron Vulva is not something you want face in the heat of battle.


apparently he has a list.

This is disturbing on many levels...

This thread went down hill fast and Bawang hasn't even posted.

[Lucas]

This thread went down hill fast and Bawang hasn't even posted.

What can we say? You're KFM peers are a classy bunch.

[bawang]

during wars monk soldiers wore the standard armor of the times. in medieval times they wore armor, in modern times they wore western style uniforms.

[GeneChing]

I can't say I've seen that many examples of monks wearing armor beyond vambraces. And I suspect that's a modern accessory. There were surely individual examples of Shaolin graduates armoring up, but that's not the standard.


apparently he has a list. Doesn't everyone?

[MightyB]

If there's any orifice to iron-ize, the sphincter would not be on top of my list. :rolleyes:

Is it too soon for a Jerry Sandusky joke?
:o

[Hebrew Hammer]

Is it too soon for a Jerry Sandusky joke?
:o

Only if it's in bad taste...I saw about a 100 of them already following the articles about his trial. That dude is not going to be happy for the next 500yrs following his sentencing.

[Hebrew Hammer]

So Iron-Izing your body...how effective is it? Could it stop a real sharp edged weapon attack?? I can see the value against blunt force strikes...staff, clubs, hand and foot strikes. I've done some minor training in this with CLF and see the value in it.

I always thought the pressing spear points and taking short sword strikes to the skin during martial arts demonstrations as mostly a parlor trick and not proof the "Iron" body conditioning will actually stop an edged weapon strike.

I see 'Iron' training as more of an offensive enhancement, building up calcium deposits on your bone surfaces...hands, knuckles, fingers, chins and skull.

[bawang]

you answered your own question

[sanjuro_ronin]

Yep, pretty much a parlour trick that can and has been duplicated by many non-tcma people.
Maybe they should do a mythbuster episode on this stuff LOL !
I can say that every single demo of "chi" that I have seen done by a "chi master" I have seen done by someone that is NOT a "chi master".

[Tea Serpent]

I don't know whether or not the temple guards would have regularly worn armor on day to day duty although it is likely, especially in periods of social turmoil. But They definitely would have been equipped with armor on the occasions when they were called in to assist the government.
Armor would have been considered a necessity and was standard equipment in any military action. As a temple that at least in certain periods had permission to maintain a large force of fighting monks, Shaolin would always have had armor on hand.
For most of Chinese history armor was standard equipment for soldiers, bandits, militias, and people guarding travelers, warehouses, caravans, buildings, or people.
Armor was even commonly used in the small village / tribal / clan wars that were so prevalent, especially in the south.
Of course the armor would be massively different depending on the period and the status and occupation of the person using it.

[RenDaHai]

Japanese SoHei warrior monks would wear armour under their robes. I assume the shaolin did the same, or just wore the armour.

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/21/26087790_4725a0354b.jpg

I wonder if they fought with those shoes on.......

[Scott R. Brown]

If there's any orifice to iron-ize, the sphincter would not be on top of my list. :rolleyes:

If bawang was standing behind you, you might wish you had put it there!:eek:


apparently he has a list.

A list, or a fist?

[Hebrew Hammer]

Japanese SoHei warrior monks would wear armour under their robes. I assume the shaolin did the same, or just wore the armour.

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/21/26087790_4725a0354b.jpg

I wonder if they fought with those shoes on.......

My ninjew sense tells me that's a chic and I can confirm that they can fight in heels. That's a pretty nice circumsizer she's got there.

[sha0lin1]

Well I can tell you Iron Vulva is not something you want face in the heat of battle.



Huh, huh,.....huh,huh..... Uh, he said vulva. Huh,huh....huh,huh, Thats cool.