Chi Kung

[dougadam]

An ancient Chinese system for the development of internal energy, chi kung or qi gung (pronounced "chee goong") is, like t'ai chi, based on the principles of the Taoist religion as extended to Oriental medicine.

Unlike yoga, chi kung puts less emphasis on stretching movements and postures, and more on learning how to feel and move energy inside the body. Some of the basic chi kung drills involve standing still for anything from minutes to hours at a time, sensing the movements of energy in the body.

Other chi kung exercises involve gentle, rhythmic swinging or stretching movements to generate and conserve energy, not to burn calories. The chi kung practitioner aims to avoid stress on joints and muscles and directs his or her awareness inside the body rather than concentrating on building up what the Chinese refer to as "external" strength in the form of tight, well-developed muscles.

As a result, chi kung practice develops enormous inner power in a pliable, flexible, relaxed body. An experienced practitioner can use the therapy not only for healing but also in a preventive capacity. Chi kung is one of the most effective of all Oriental methods for combating stress and is also becoming highly popular as a method of enhancing and managing sexual potential.

Your thoughts.

[_William_]

I have never gotten much mileage out of energy leading meditations like "microcosmic orbit". I seem to always end up feeling spaced out, and more uncomfortable, uptight than before I started. A feeling of ungroundedness that I can't relieve no matter what, so I don't do them anymore. Too bad, because I feel there is much validity to the practice.

Deep, slow abdominal breathing works best for me, for alleviating stress and focusing the mind. To that end, I feel it works marvellously(sp?). Chris Jurak has written a lot on the forums about how it balances the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system, among other things.

[FightingGorilla]

I would definitely like to learn more about Chi Kung. (or also spelled Qi Gong.. hehe)

There are many books on this subject, and it is quite an extensive study. Also included in Qi Gong would also be branches of the Chinese medicine, Acupuncture, and Acupressure. There are certain meridians or pressure points all over the body. Though I am no specialist on any of the points, there where abouts, or what they do, it is an ancient medicinal training that overlapped with Kung Fu, Qi Gong, Buddhism, and mnay other culturally Chinese things.

One of the best writiers out there seems to be Dr. Yang Jwin Ming. He has many books on the subject of Qi Gong.

Also, there is a Shaolin grandmaster by the name of Kiew Kit Wong who also has several books on Qi Gong.

Also... just go to www.amazon.com and type in "Qi Gong" or "Chi Kung"... you were find dozens of titles...

You can learn the history and philosphy of it in a book, but it would be my recommendation to seek out a Shifu who is skilled in teaching Qi Gong techniques. Just like anything else in the martial arts, you will learn it best from a teacher, in an environment where you can be corrected when making mistakes, and encouraged when you do something right.

We practiced standing meditation at our school, and many Qi Gong excercies. I really like to practice these techniques. It helps me to settle my mind, and focus my (what Shifu calls) my "intent"...

One simple practice is to stand feet shoulder width apart, focusing your eyes forward, place your eyes on a spot on the wall... then allow your arms to bend at the elbows, and palms downward... all of your fingers should be pointing in the same direction as your gaze...

Let your mind think of only one thing... as if energy is shooting out of your fingertips and your eyes and drilling holes through the wall in front of you... if you do it outside, picture that the energy is transmitting miles in the direction of your gaze...

Another very simple Qi Gong excercies, is to, from a standing position, feet shoulder width apart again , have your right arm outstretched completely to the right side, with your palm facing forward... your left ar is also bent, and the back of your hand is at your right shoulder ... both hands are plams facing forward...

Then, imagine a picture in your mind, that as you move your hadsn very slowly to the left, you are extending your "intent" out of your fingertips, and your fingertips are actually very long wings... and as you move your hands very slowly from the left to the right, imagine in your mind that you are knocking down trees in a forest...

Eventually, your hand will be facing toward the backand will be on the left side of your body... rotate the hands so they face front, and then repeat the images in your mind, and very slowly move your hands and arms in front of you to thr right...

While you are doing this with your hands and arms... keep your "intent" focused forward, and imagine there is energy shooting out of your eyes as well...

As you do this, try to control your breathing to a constant rhythm, instead of allowing the involuntary muscles of your diaphragm do the breathing for you...

Several things are going on here...

-- your mind is being trained to focus
-- you are training to control your breathing (oxygen is very important in a fight)
-- you are improving your self-image by the pictures of knocking down trees
-- you are transmitting your "intent" forward... this comes into play when you are able to tap into this when you throw a punch or a kick forward to an enemy... it has to do with the thought of punching the target, but focusing the enrgy several feet behind the target... my Shifu would actually tell us to transmit the energy several miles beyond the target, but I think you get the point...
-- by doing this particular drill, to the traditional Qi Gong philosophy, the "Qi" or "Chi" is being directed to the hands
-- you are also practicing your meditation skills with this excercise...

There are some others, but this one is one of my favorites...

The study of Qi Gong also has it's own levels of mastery... beginners start at one point, and their are more advanced students of the art...

This is one of the reason I love Traditional Chinese Martial Arts...

It involves a man's intellect...

In our school, Shifu told us our system has these three things:

1) Chi, or the internal energy
2) Chow, or our intellect
3) Li, or our technique or physical strength...

--If someone is lacking in one, they can make up for it in another and still be a very good martial artist..

Very good topic...

Thanks for starting this thread...



FightingGorilla

[FightingGorilla]

Here is the search on amazon.com for "Qi Gong"... it returns 1,425 responses...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/se...&Go.y=10&Go=Go

*******

Also, a similar search on the "Chi Kung" spelling... (741 responses)...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/se...0&Go.y=0&Go=Go

*******

Here are some searches by author...

Here is a search for books by Yang Jwin Ming (also has extensive studies on Chin Na [seize and control] techniques...)...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/se...0&Go.y=0&Go=Go


And here is a search for books by the Shaolin Grandmaster Kiew Kit Wong...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/se...8&Go.y=7&Go=Go

*******




FG

[FightingGorilla]

I have never gotten much mileage out of energy leading meditations like "microcosmic orbit". I seem to always end up feeling spaced out, and more uncomfortable, uptight than before I started. A feeling of ungroundedness that I can't relieve no matter what, so I don't do them anymore. Too bad, because I feel there is much validity to the practice.

Deep, slow abdominal breathing works best for me, for alleviating stress and focusing the mind. To that end, I feel it works marvellously(sp?). Chris Jurak has written a lot on the forums about how it balances the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system, among other things.

Don't give up just yet, William... I would encourage you to seek out a Shifu who has extensive knowledge about Qi Gong... rather than try it for yourself, find a Shifu who can guide you in what you are either doing right or wrong...

You are right... there is much validity to the practice...

I said that to help you become curious about it again, so you would be encouraged to keep trying the path... it is there to be found if you seek it... don't give up... find an instructor, and a knowledgable Shifu who can show you what you might be doing wrong, or what you might be doing right.....



FG