Showing posts with label Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. Show all posts
Methods Of Qigong In Kung Fu Training
Qigong is a general name for the systems of hardening and improvement of body and mind, treatment and health enhancement created in China. They primarily based on the ability to control your own consciousness, mentality and through them all the physiological processes of the organism. Practicing Qigong you can achieve stunning results some of which even the powerful modern science cannot conceive and explain.
There are three main categories of Qigong: Health-improving, Fighting and Mystical.
1. It was Chinese physicians who developed and evolved the Health-improving Qigong during many centuries. They created special exercises aimed to preserve and promote health as well as to cure various diseases.
2. Fighting (or Hard) Qigong was developed by those practitioners of Qigong who at the same time were masters of martial arts. These exercises serve to enhance the energy concentration in muscles and other parts of the body allowing to hugely increase the bodily strength and its resistance against the attempts to cause it a physical injury.
3. Mystical Qigong is a child of Buddhist monks and Taosian anchorites. The goal of Mystical Qigong consists in achieving the so called Enlightenment - a special psychophysical state of the human being. Taosian anchorites also developed methods of anti-aging based on Mystical Qigong. Mystical Qigong is the most difficult to master.
Qigong is not only the art of Qi energy control; it trains the mind and helps to work out the ability to control your volitional impulse. Qigong techniques include a huge variety of exercises but they all consist of the three main parts: control of position, control of breath, and control of mind.
Controlling his position, a man can acquire some optimal posture of body which would allow Qi to flow in the organism without delays or blockages not causing any disturbing feelings and removing diseases. The exercises are mostly performed in common stands, for example, in the Rider's stance.
You need to control your breath to let the external Qi (from the air) not only to pass mechanically into the internal state but to spread along energy channels, fully feeding all the organs.
Consciousness is crucial in breath control; it distributes Qi along the body. At the highest stage, the breath is controlled at the level of subconsciousness and do not require too much of your attention.
Step by step learning to control his energy resources, a practitioner will pass from using the physical strength (Li) to the internal burst of effort (Tsin). This internal effort, as Chinese masters believe, is produced not by muscles but in tendons and marrow.
This is the reason why the most of Kung Fu exercises aimed not to increase the mass of muscles but to strengthen tendons and bones. While muscles tend to loose their strength (Li) as the man grows older, masters preserve their internal effort (Tsin) until great age. That's why Chinese masters of Kung Fu say: "If you do not practice Fighting Qigong but train only your physical strength you'll be left with nothing when you grow old enough."
Qigong exercises advance "internal Qi" our organism contains. "Internal Qi" is also called "true Qi". The state of "true Qi" depends on many factors: regular Fighting Qigong exercises, nutrition, mental state, environment, etc. Every human being has internal Qi but only few can use it properly, develop it. The Qi of the vast majority of people is destabilized. The goal of Fighting Qigong is to fill the organism with "true Qi", calm it, make Qi flow along channels freely without obstructions.
So what is Qi after all? According to Chinese notions, it is an energetic substance which represents the foundation of all, i. e. the energetic foundation of the Universe. Our body can be compared to an electric appliance: if it is supplied with electric power it works but if the power supply is cut down the device operation stops. Likewise with the man: if Qi supply of his body is insufficient or it gets stagnant in it, the man gets sick or even dies.
To have a healthy robust body, one needs to learn how to keep the Qi circulation smooth and to be able to accumulate sufficient amount of Qi. To do so, it is necessary to understand the system of circulation and storage of Qi in your organism.
The human body has twelve so called primary channels (meridians) along which Qi is spread across the entire organism. There also exist eight "miraculous" vessels serving as a kind of reservoirs storing and regulating Qi. One end of each channel is attached to one of twelve internal organs while the other end is connected to one of fingers or toes.
These twelve channels supply with Qi energy twelve internal organs. Besides, these channels also take the excessive energy away from internal organs allowing us to through it out of the body. When due to blockage or disease the circulation of Qi along the channels is interrupted, one or several organs cannot get enough Qi which leads to their functional disturbance.
To be healthy, you need to learn how to keep the circulation of Qi in the twelve channels smooth and constantly replenish the "miraculous vessels" with energy.
If you understand the theory of Qi circulation in the human body you will be able to understand how Qi relates to martial arts as well. Remember, your body is not simply a machine it is an organism able to improve itself. The stronger Qi is, the stronger the human body gets.
Fighting Qigong practice sessions serve to enhance the capabilities of your body. We know that using our mind we can control various parts of our own body. The process of control is simple. Our mind generates a thought, and the thought leads Qi to the corresponding parts of the body which perform the requested action. The key thing about Fighting Qigong is in learning to lead your Qi as efficient as it can be. In this case you can increase you strength very much.
Chinese martial arts masters learn to focus their minds through meditation or other kinds of training practice to make Qi obey them easily. This can substantially enhance the strength of a fighter and increase the efficiency of his technique.
Alexander Popov dedicated about 20 years to Shaolin Hung Gar Kung Fu. He is the successor of Hung Gar Kung Fu tradition in the 8th masters' generation. Kung Fu and Qigong articles and ebooks: http://www.shaolin-kungfu-qigong.com
Chen Style Tai Chi
Today tai chi chuan is typically practised for a number of widely varying reasons: health, external/internal martial art skills, aesthetics, meditation, athletic/competition sport (sometimes called "wushu tai chi").
Chen style Tai Chi is one of the hardest and the most difficult type of Tai Chi to learn. It requires a high level of art that is needed in the demands of life. Primarily, Chen style is concerned on self-defense but as it progresses, it offers more namely wisdom about kinetics, physiology, psychology, aesthetics, and body mechanics.
Chen (the Chen family style (陳家、陳氏 or 陳式 太極拳) is the oldest and parent form of the five main tai chi chuan styles) is characterized by a deep stance, twists and circles, and a pace that is varied. The hand is formed as the index fingers of both hands are extended in an angle that forms a plane. The pace varies from a standing position and explosive powerful moves.
The Chen style of Tai Chi is considered as the purest martial art. It is performed with dignity and is designed to be the art of skills and techniques. Through mastery, one can use the Chen style not only to disable and hurt an opponent but also to cripple and kill.
The history of Chen Tai Chi brought about different characteristics to the styles used in Kung Fu. The core always comes down to two important principles: external and internal. It's all the same principle. Externally, every physical movement is made visible while in the internal aspect, energy is used to move the body. Without thought there is no chi and therefore, no motion.
Principles and Beliefs
Before engaging in Tai Chi, whatever style it might be, people must first understand the components of Yin and Yang. Opposing properties' balance is created in a strong aura to unify the moves in Kung Fu.
In due time, Chen style Tai Chi brings coordination and balance internally to the entire aspect of the body. In return, the body will become more aware of its surroundings and will use it for its advantage as a sort of self-defense.
Chen Family Tai Chi flows with the attacker's strength until an opening is created, upon which a strike is launched with hard external force.
Tai Chi, in general, looks timid empty and timid but if identified more clearly, one will realize that it is the internal balance that one must achieve. Spiraling circular movements are used to transfer the internal chi inside the body.
The mind is also an important part of the entire martial art. It is focused on the applications of Tai Chi for combat and emanate proper health that will circulate through the entire nervous system. The most important aspect about Tai Chi is that it has the capacity to energize the blood that will be most beneficial to the systems inside the body.
Learn about the origin and history of tai chi, a martial art designed for self-defense, and discover the health benefits (stress reduction) of its gentle movements here: http://www.e-bestsellers.com/page28.html
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Author Description :
Anne-Marie Ronsen is the author of many wealth and self development books. Anne-Marie Ronsen is the author of many wealth and self development books. Download FREE e-books from http://www.e-bestsellers.com , http://www.plrbestsellers.com or http://www.universalpublishingltd.com ...You will learn about the best tips and recommendations to improve your health, weight and wealth.
The Chi in Tai Chi Gong and What Makes it Work
Chi is a large and multifaceted concept that is deeply rooted in the Chinese culture. It applies both to the tangible, such as the body, and to the intangible aspects such as feelings. Even inanimate objects can be said to contain different qualities of chi in that they evoke certain responses in the people viewing them. The understanding of chi is usually an intuitive process that lacks the scientific, mechanical explanation. And so to give it a straight forward scientific definition is a difficult task.
Although a clear definition escapes, it is still a powerful and useful concept. In Chinese medicine chi is used to explain how the different parts relate to each other. In Chi Gong it is used for healing purposes. In martial arts such as Tai Chi Chuan it is used as a tool to connect the bodily energies.
Here we shall focus on how it can be used in Tai Chi Gong, the authentic practice of Tai Chi Chuan. Tai Chi refers to the supreme balance that emphasizes the unification of body/mind/energies. Gong indicates a deep skill. Chuan refers to something that is practiced for the purpose of self-defence.
Within martial arts chi has a quality similar to air and can be seen as carrying energy. It is that which mediates the expression of energy. One of chi's important aspects is that it is moved, or lead, by mind and intention. Most of us can experience this by giving attention to a particular body part, such as the hand. By focusing attentively with the clear intention of warming it up, it is not too difficult to raise the temperature of that hand. With some practice most are able to succeed. Having the feedback of a sensitive thermometer can be quite satisfying in this case.
In Tai Chi Gong chi is used more extensively. It is something that can be felt, enhanced and used to guide our bodily movements, strengthen our body, and used for self-defence purpose. To understand how it is done it is helpful to learn about the concept of Jin. Jin is seen as a force, something that can be felt physically and the effects of which can be seen. Jin is mediated and led by chi. And so, as chi and our ability to manipulate it increase, the force jin grows in strength and flexibility.
This leads us to one of the core teachings and practices of Tai Chi Gong. This is the teaching of the three internal unifications that make the practice possible. The way to see it is that the spirit/attention moves the mind/intention, the mind/intention moves the chi, and the chi moves the jin. Thus in learning to manipulate chi we need to integrate spirit - mind - force.
In Tai Chi Chuan one is trained to learn new patterns of reaction. For instance, when faced with outside force, the normal reaction of an untrained person is to resist. In true Tai Chi Chuan one learns different techniques focused on the spirit/attention, mind/intention and chi. We may then choose to re-direct the incoming force. But the force that is then exerted on the other person does not come from our physical resistance and muscular strength. Often it comes from the opponent's chi and has been carefully controlled and re-directed, leading to a physically felt jin force. This is what is meant by using the mind instead of the body.
Thus in Tai Chi Gongone learns how to strengthen and control chi, often for self-defence purposes. However, its core and most important practice, the one that makes it all possible involves the three internal unifications, where spirit, mind, and force are integrated in a supreme balance.
Reference:
Zang Yun, "Qi in Taijiquan Applications", p 14 in "T'ai Chi - The International Magzine of T'ai Chi Ch'uan", Vol. 31, No. 4
Author Description :
Mattias Lindkvist has been practicing Tai Chi for over two decades. He is passionate about Tai Chi Gong, the true art of Tai Chi Chuan and has started a website where he shares his findings on authentic Tai Chi Chuan.
Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong
Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong by definition refers to Tai Chi energy work. In this post I will try to shed some light on what is meant by the Chi Kung / Qi Gong energy work aspect of the practice?
Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong is often taught as a set of moves separate from the Tai Chi sets. I have found that the vast majority of the time these other moves do not come with much of an explanation of why and how they are any different from the Tai Chi in the Tai Chi sets and that the moves by themselves do not impart any kind of ability different than what is already available in the Tai Chi sets.
So, what is Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong? First of all the Tai Chi moves are just Tai Chi choreography or moves until you begin to actually to practice the energetic aspects of the art. The real practice of Tai Chi is Chi Kung / Qi Gong. As soon as you start practicing the energetic aspects the Tai Chi so to speak then you are really practicing Tai Chi (probably with the moves) and not just the moves. At that same moment you are now practicing and or applying the Chi Kung / Qi Gong.
An obvious question at this point might be so what makes Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong? That is a very big question because the answer could and does fill books. I will try to shed some light on it here.
First of all in Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong are the physical structural alignments which are a necessity for the proper flow of energy through and around the body including through the acupuncture meridians of the body. This is part of the reason that so much emphasis gets put on the moves at the beginning of a students training and why it stays an important issue in training as one progresses. Incorrect and bad posture impedes and blocks energy flow so it is important to get it right. While you are learning and working on this you are not really performing Tai Chi yet but are simply learning something you need to understand to perform real Tai Chi.
One of the first things you learn in Tai Chi and that is a necessity in Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong is known as Sung which translates as relaxation both inside and out. Any tension in the body will impede or stop the flow of energy through the body. This can be structural tension (bad or improper positioning), physical tension (like holding tension in your shoulders or neck simply because you do not allow them to relax) or mental or emotional tension that is manifested in the body such as jaws clenched and a tight face when someone is having a bad day.
So, for proper Tai Chi and Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong you first need Sung relaxation and proper posture. Once you have these you can really perform Tai Chi and Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong.
The next step in solo Tai Chi practice is all Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong. You begin to work different aspects of energy within your Tai Chi both for fighting and for self defense purposes. There are approximately 36 different primary expressions of energy in Tai Chi. You use your mind to direct the internal movement and chi into an expression. That expression is known as Jing. Jing is an expression of Chi or energy hence it is energy work. A few jing expressions are well known and some are quite obscure.
to be continued...
Author Description :
for more on Tai Chi and Combat Tai Chi visit Richard Clear's Tai Chi Blog. www.ClearsTaiChi.com
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