- "Chi is the breath of life. It is what powers the Iron Fist."
- ―Davos to Claire Temple[src]
Chi (气) is a mystical form of energy that is present in every life form. Some ancient groups with mystical knowledge and ability, such as the Order of the Crane Mother and the Hand, have learned how to channel chi, using it for both therapeutic and martial arts purposes. As a weapon, chi is capable of generating an "internal force" that removes the need for charging momentum.[2]
History[]
To be added
Chi Manipulation[]
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- "It's a unique force... used to protect K'un-Lun. It's passed down from generation to generation... and it's given to one student from the monastery to wield."
- ―Danny Rand to Colleen Wing[src]
The Iron Fist[]
Through victory of the Trial of Shou-Lao, and by plunging their hands into the molten heart of the dragon, the champion gains the power of “The Iron Fist”. They can focus all the Chi energy within their body into their hands. The Iron Fist is extremely powerful, and the ultimate weapon and tool of K'un-Lun. The full extent of its abilities is unknown, as Danny Rand left before completing his full training.
- Iron Fist: By channeling their chi and focusing it into their fist, Danny Rand and others with the title of the Iron Fist can make their fist inhumanly powerful and resistant to injury and pain. Although generally it takes a lot of focus just to “activate” one hand, it is possible to empower both fists at the same time. In 1948, an Iron Fist had full mastery of this aspect, able to freely use both hands, while Davos was only able to briefly activate both while he was under great rage and duress.
- Superhuman Strength: With their fist in this state, the Iron Fist can exert superhuman strength and force. Danny Rand was able to use the Fist on Luke Cage, a nearly indestructible man, the Fist not only injured Cage, but sent him flying across the alleyway in which they were dueling.[3] Danny has used this ability to blast open steel doors, explode large wood doors into splinters, make massive holes in concrete, create craters in pavement, flip giant metal tables, and demolish the front end of a truck. Danny can also use the Fist to break free of handcuffs and restraints. Davos often used the strength for more violent and brutal means. He could send enemies flying, crush spines, decapitate foes with a single swipe, smash concrete, punch straight through human bodies, and destroy a massive chunk of brick wall.
- Superhuman Durability: When activated, the Iron Fist's hand is nearly indestructible, and is at least on the same level as Luke Cage’s skin. Punching through steel, stone, and concrete provides no pain or injury to the hand or any other part of the body. It has been used to block bullets, and when weapons such as hatchets, brass knuckles, or swords come in contact with it, they shatter. When Elektra attempted to strike Matt with her sword, Danny blocked the blow, and upon contact with his fist, the blade not only shattered, but also sent her flying back through a wall. Danny was also able to use the Fist to slide down an elevator cable, without any friction or discomfort.
- Chi Blast: The Iron Fist is able to release powerful waves of concussive force upon impact. With enough effort and motivation, it is capable of destroying entire rooms and taking out dozens of foes in all directions, sending all objects and people flying backwards, all with only a single blow.[4][5] Danny was able to destroy an entire floor of a skyscraper when confronting Harold, and with the help of Luke, demolish the inside of a warehouse. [6]
- Chi Pulse: In 1948, Iron Fist was also able to blast back soldiers by merely pointing his fists at them by projecting chi. Danny is similarly able to project this chi outward, and can do so through his entire body, not just his fist. When several Hand operatives were piling around him and Davos, Rand knocked them all off with a forceful shove, some of them he did not even touch while doing so, leaving the men incapacitated.
- Chi Healing: Chi can also be used for healing which, according to Stick, was the original purpose of the Order of the Crane Mother. Danny Rand is capable of healing wounds by channeling his chi. When a bullet pierced his hand, he was able to heal the wound in a matter of seconds by summoning the Iron Fist.[7] By holding his hand over her body, Rand was able to use his chi to burn the poison that was killing Colleen Wing.[8]
- Chi Sense: By focusing on the living body of another, Danny Rand can feel that person's inherent life force, as well as sense impurities infecting the body. By using this practice, Rand was able to hold his hand and use his chi to sense the poison that was affecting Colleen Wing.
- Chi Cleanse: During his fight with the Bride of Nine Spiders Danny was able to use his chi to fully cleanse his body of the toxins from the Bride's needles. In doing so he ejected all the needles stuck in his body, causing them to shoot out in multiple directions and shatter the glass around him. This ability requires active concentration and time, as Danny was not able to do this during his first fight with Mary Walker. After she injected him with tranquilizers, she kept him too busy with her attacks to be able to pause and burn the chemicals out with his Chi.
- Iron Fist Sealing: An ancient Immortal Iron Fist was able to use the power of the Iron Fist to create a powerful seal that permanently locked a door buried deep underground, preventing the Hand from accessing the secrets beyond it. This seal could only be opened by one with the power of the Iron Fist. Danny Rand would later be tricked into opening the door many years later, finally allowing the Hand to enter.[9]
- Chi Infusion: The user of the Iron Fist can infuse their chi into other objects through their hands. Danny Rand was able to use his chi on Orson Randall’s dual pistols. He could shoot bullets formed from chi energy, and they were able to perfectly hone in on other projectiles.[10] Colleen was able to channel her chi into her katana, making it glow, and making it indestructible.[10]
- Heat Generation: The Iron Fist can generate some form of heat when activated. When saving Radovan Bernivig, Danny was able to melt the lock on a metal door to open it. He was also able to chop a machine gun in half by melting his hand through it. He could also use this ability to wilt the Nightshade plant in Bushmaster's warehouse.
- Light Generation: While activated, the Fist generates a bright light capable of lighting up dark areas. Danny has used this to help him while working at night, and allowed him to see in the underground tunnels during his first fight with Elektra.[11]
- Spirit of Shou-Loa: Danny mentioned to Ward and Colleen that while in possession of the Iron Fist he felt the living spirit of the dragon Shou-Lao flow through him. He said that this connection happened when he was in battle and that it greatly enhanced his combat instincts, helped him with flow and balance during a fight, and fueled him with a fire to not stop until he had won, no matter the odds or opponent[12] [13]. When Colleen had the Fist transferred into her, she too mentioned how she felt the dragon in side her, and the pain she felt having it split between her and Davos.[10]
- "We got a job to do, man."
"Yeah, don't you see? We're doing it. You gotta rebalance your chi."
"Oh, come on, Danny."
"Power is stillness. And stillness comes from effortless flow." - ―Luke Cage and Danny Rand[src]
- Empathy: Through meditation and manipulation of Chi, the Iron Fist is capable of empathic abilities, being able to sense the emotions of others and even transfer their feelings into another. Danny was able to calm Joy Meachum's dog, making it docile. He was also able to sense the inner turmoil in Luke Cage.[6] Danny was also able to tell that Davos has been “off his center” since he got back to New York.[14]
Natural Chi Manipulation[]
As Chi is the natural life force of the universe and lives inside everyone, it is technically possible for anyone to be able to access and call upon it. However, it requires incredible dedication, focus and training. Only skilled and dedicated members from the Order of the Crane Mother, the Chaste, and the Hand, have shown to be able to use its abilities.
- Enhanced Physical Attributes : Even without the power of the Iron Fist, through control of their Chi, the user is able to enhance their bodies physical attributes including strength, speed, reflexes, agility, durability, and stamina. They can perform feats impossible for normal humans. Danny Rand was able to leap over a speeding car, effortlessly block his opponent’s attacks like they’re moving in slow motion, dodge gunfire at point blank range, and only be slightly stunned by being struck with brass knuckles in the back of the head. He could also use a small amount of chi energy to tear open a straitjacket. Davos was able to use the power of Chi to give him greatly enhanced stamina, allowing him to hunt down and fight waves of Triad gangs all night without slowing down or tiring. Sowande was able to use an advanced form of pressure point combat so strong, it was able to get past the unbreakable skin of Luke Cage and cause him pain.
- Enhanced Healing and Recovery: Using Chi, a skilled practitioner can speed the body’s healing and natural recovery, even without the use of prolonged meditation. Danny Rand was able to recover from his shattered leg incredibly quick, regaining his strength and agility so quickly it greatly surprised Colleen as she was retraining him.
- Enhanced Vitality: Chi can be used to ignore the effects of frailty and old on the body, and allow it to still function at its peak. Despite being a man in his 70’s-80’s Stick was able to use his chi to give himself the strength and stamina of a top athlete. Stick was able to fight not only Daredevil, but also many agents of The Hand. Madame Gao is also able to use her Chi to give herself enhanced vitality, but unlike Stick, she does this only in short bursts, with intense focus. This is due to her being centuries old, and thus regularly requires her cane to walk.
- "You meditate?"
"I learned when I was a kid. Helps with the pain... and healing faster." - ―Claire Temple and Matt Murdock[src]
- Meditation Empowerment: Through meditation, the user can completely center and recharge one’s chi. This can be used focus oneself, provide insight, drain impurity from the body, dampen pain, and even speed natural healing. Stick was a master of this healing technique and even taught it to his student Matt Murdock.
- Chi Focus: Chi can also be used to enhance one’s cognitive abilities, allowing faster processing of situations, greater understanding, and increased strategic thought. Danny and Luke were able to enhance their focus to figure out a new strategy to beat Bushmaster.[6] Danny also used his Chi to help him return home from K'un-Lun, and plan for his fight with The Hand.
- Sleep Suppression: Using Chi the user is able to successfully go without sleep for long periods of time (or, at the very least, to replace long sleep with periodic meditation). While they can ignore the effects of fatigue and sleeplessness for extended periods, it is not infinite as the human body still requires rest. This is incredible useful for vigilantes like Daredevil and Iron Fist, as they often do not have time for constant and regular sleep, and are often active most nights. Davos was a constant practitioner of this technique, as he viewed full sleep as a waste of his time.
- Immortality: To be added[15]
- Body Temperature Regulation: Through manipulation of chi, one can control their body’s internal temperature allowing them to survive extreme temperatures. The members of K'un-Lun use this ability to ignore the extreme cold temperatures of their mountainous homeland.
- Chi Absorption: One can use this ability to absorb the chi from another person, into their own body. Davos first uses this technique when he steals the Iron Fist from Danny, having learned from an ancient ritual. Later on, with the aid of ancient scrolls, Danny was able to learn, and teach this to Colleen, who would steal the Iron Fist power into her own body, from Davos.
- Chi Pulse: This ability is also possible without the Iron Fist, but it is weaker. Madame Gao was able to use her Chi to be able to move objects with her mind. She could shove objects and people out of her way, such as blowing open doors, launching pallets of bricks, and even moving cars. However, her ability was overpowered by the full power of the Iron Fist. Elektra was able to blast open the barricaded door of the Royal Dragon without touching it.[15]
- Chi Recharging: While at the Hand Compound, Bakuto was able to teach Danny a technique to fully recharge one’s Chi energy. However, when Danny later tried this technique on his own, at the time he was unsuccessful, as his mind and spirit were unbalanced, and unstable.
- Chi Channeling: Colleen attempted to teach Misty Knight how to channel the chi within her to regain control of her body, after the loss of her arm. Essentially reprogramming herself, and allowing the body to ignore the disability and clear the negativity clouding her actions and mind. This would have allowed her to focus her chi and control her phantom limb as if it was still there, and help Misty to let go of her emotions. However, Misty believed Chi to be “too hokey”, and Colleen was unable to help her in this way.[16]
References[]
- ↑ DiscussingFilm on X - August 10, 2024
- ↑ Iron Fist: 1.03: Rolling Thunder Cannon Punch
- ↑ The Defenders: 1.02: Mean Right Hook
- ↑ The Defenders: 1.06: Ashes, Ashes
- ↑ The Defenders: 1:08: The Defenders
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Luke Cage: 2.10: The Main Ingredient
- ↑ Iron Fist: 1.13: Dragon Plays with Fire
- ↑ Iron Fist: 1.09: The Mistress of All Agonies
- ↑ The Defenders: 1.07: Fish in the Jailhouse
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Iron Fist: 2.10: A Duel of Iron
- ↑ The Defenders: 1.01: The H Word
- ↑ Iron Fist: 2.05: Heart of the Dragon
- ↑ Iron Fist: 2.08: Citadel on the Edge of Vengeance
- ↑ Iron Fist: 2.04: Target: Iron Fist
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 The Defenders: 1.04: Royal Dragon
- ↑ Luke Cage: 2.03: Wig Out