| One of the most unique and fascinating aspects | | | | the hands for use in strikes. It is an exercise that |
| of oriental martial arts such as kung fu is the use | | | | originally comes from the Shaolin temple teaching |
| of a mysterious 'internal' energy called chi, or qi. | | | | syllabus. |
| Amazing claims are made by practitioners of | | | | Beyond this the various types of martial arts chi |
| these martial arts about what can be | | | | kung can be classified using two main divisions |
| accomplished using chi energy. Examples of what | | | | containing two categories each, with one category |
| can be done using martial arts chi include: more | | | | corresponding to yin, and the other corresponding |
| powerful strikes, the ability to fight for extended | | | | to yang. The first division is between moving and |
| periods of time without fatigue, the ability to | | | | still chi kung. The one finger shooting zen exercise |
| withstand attacks, even from blunt weapons like | | | | is an example of moving chi kung, which is |
| bats / sticks without injury, and many more | | | | considered to be yang. Still martial arts chi kung |
| things as well. And it is, at least in part, the | | | | usually involves holding a kung fu stance whilst |
| mystique of 'chi' energy that drives the popularity | | | | performing the abdominal breathing technique and |
| of kung fu in movies and popular culture. But | | | | entering a still, meditative state of mind. The |
| despite the mass appeal of chi very few people | | | | most widely practiced martial arts application of |
| have any real idea about what is it or how it can | | | | this is 'rooting', which teaches practitioners how to |
| be cultivated and used, which is why I decided to | | | | establish a very stable stance so that they |
| write this article and try to help shed some light | | | | cannot be moved even by ten people pushing |
| on the subject. | | | | against them. |
| Chi itself is the vital life force which we all posses. | | | | The other main division is between hard and soft |
| It flows through and around the body along | | | | chi kung. Hard chi kung often combines breathing |
| pathways which are known as meridians. | | | | techniques with tense body movements. It can |
| According to traditional Chinese medicine | | | | be used to strengthen the muscles, tendons and |
| blockages in these channels which impede the | | | | sinews, and increase the density and strength of |
| flow of chi are the cause of many illnesses. | | | | the bones. It is also used in techniques such as |
| Treatments such as acupuncture, herbal remedies | | | | 'iron palm', or 'iron short', where chi is lead to the |
| and massage are used to free these blockages | | | | outside to the body to form a hard barrier. This |
| and reinstate the normal flow of chi around the | | | | kind of chi is called guardian chi. If you are |
| body, thus healing the illness. The exact nature of | | | | interested in learning some hard chi kung practices |
| this energy flow is not known for certain in terms | | | | then please take a look at the supporting links |
| of modern science, but many practitioners believe | | | | where you will find some useful videos and |
| it to be electromagnetic. | | | | articles. |
| In addition to this normal flow of chi which | | | | Soft chi kung usually uses very relaxed and |
| maintains a healthy functioning of the body, there | | | | expansive movements, which look very soft and |
| is also a reservoir of stored chi called the 'Dan | | | | gentle but actually contain a great deal of power |
| Tien'. This is located in the lower abdomen about | | | | which can, in some techniques, be expressed |
| 3 inches below the navel. A special system called | | | | suddenly in an explosive burst. The ability to sense |
| chi kung, or qi gong, can be used to increase the | | | | the flow of energy (either chi or subtly |
| amount of chi in the dan tien, by using a | | | | movements) in your opponent and use this to |
| combination of gentle physical stretching and | | | | control them and redirect the force of any attack |
| exercise, special breath control techniques, and | | | | they make also comes into the category. tai chi is |
| the meditative control of the mind. Increasing | | | | almost entirely based on this soft kind of chi kung. |
| levels of chi will improve your health and vitality, | | | | There are many different styles of martial art |
| slow the aging process, and give you a feeling of | | | | which incorporate some element of using chi into |
| joy and optimism. This abundant chi is also used in | | | | their system, and they all have a different |
| some higher mystical meditative practices, and chi | | | | approach and a different set of techniques, so |
| can be drawn from this storage reservoir for | | | | what I have said here is by no means |
| specific purposes, as is the case in martial arts. | | | | comprehensive, but I hope that it has at least |
| The classic exercise for martial arts chi is called | | | | made an interesting read, and perhaps stimulated |
| 'One Finger Shooting Zen' (see supporting links). | | | | your curiosity enough for you to want o learn |
| This exercise teaches you to draw chi from the | | | | more. |
| dan tien and channel it through the arms and to | | | | |