Iron palm refers to numerous techniques developed within martial arts. These techniques are typically meant to condition the hands to allow a practitioner to throw very powerful blows without injury to his or her body. Iron palm is not a specific term as there are many different ways of achieving these results. Consequently, many martial arts families teach a system of iron palm, and many disagree with each other as to whose system is best. Furthermore, many teachers treat their specific iron palm system as a closely guarded family secret so it can be difficult to acquire specific information about system without agreeing to not share that information freely. Iron Palm is not a complete style of martial arts in and of itself, but a training tool and form of meditation used by martial artists.

As a general rule, iron palm training involves two primary components. The first component is to strengthen striking limbs themselves. This can be achieved by repeatedly striking hard objects, breaking the bones in the hands so they heal stronger, or chemically treating the hands, usually with plant derivatives. One variant of iron palm training consists of years of repetitive downward striking with all surfaces of the hand upon rough cloth bags filled with increasingly harder materials. The trainee begins with mung beans, then proceeds to tougher substances such as gravel, stones, and steel shot. The second component of iron palm training involves using proper technique in order to strike with more force. The benefits of some iron palm exercises, such as intentionally breaking bones, are often controversial.