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While some Chi Gung
is martial, many forms simply help the body to conduct its
energy better. Chi Gung masters are often credited with amazing
feats, performed once they have learned to control the flow of
chi. Accounts of bending steel bars with one end against a wall
and the other against the master's throat are not just legends,
but happen today. Chi Gung is often credited with halting and
reversing diseases, lengthening life and maintaining the body in
a useful and healthy state into old age. Basically, any practice
which improves the body's ability to allow its energy to flow
freely throughout the body can be considered Chi Gung. Some
refer to Chi Gung as one of China's greatest treasures; one has
only to look at its results to see why. Tai Chi, Chi Kung and Pa Qua
1. Tai Chi Chuan
Tai Chi Chuan is an ancient Chinese art of self-defense, conceived as a
series of soft, slow, and flowing sequences of movement specifically
designed to cultivate and direct the internal power that circulates
through one's system, which improves the practitioners' health, and
provides a source of energy for self defense. This internal power, the
foundation to all life is termed Chi and is unlike external or physical
energy. Chi is formless, limitless, and most importantly for self
defense, can be applied in a much more focused, and concentrated manner
than physical energy.
The twofold aim of the practice of Tai Chi is to increase one's Chi and
to learn how to harness it. Tai Chi Chuan is rooted in the Taoist
philosophy which dates back to the fourth century AD. "Yin and Yang in
succession:, the Tao te Ching says, or a flow from passive to active or
vice versa, "is called the Tao". To this, Fu Yu Lan later added that,
"if one understands these laws, (the Tao), and regulates one's actions
in conformity with them, one can turn everything to one's advantage."
To generate great power you must first totally relax and gather your
strength, and then concentrate your mind and all your strength on
hitting your target. By harnessing all the energy available, and
delivering it in a focused and concentrated manner, one is able to
propel a much larger and weightier opponent through the air, with a blow
that commenced only one inch away from the opponent's body. This "one
inch punch" is a fine example of the power of Chi, and this is why Tai
Chi Chuan was called the Grand Ultimate Fist. The styles of Tai Chi
Chuan we teach are Chen, the oldest style in existence and the Beiging
short form which is the set that is most practiced throughout the world.
2. Ba Gwa Chang (Eight Trigram Palm)
Ba Gwa (sometimes written Pa Qua), like Tai Chi Chuan, is rooted in
Taoism and is practiced to cultivate the Tao (manifest heaven and earth
and order yin and yang). Ba Gwa is also similar to Tai Chi Chuan in that
they are both internal schools of Chinese boxing (Niei Chi).
Ba Gwa shares roots with Tai Chi Chuan that go back to the Taoist
monasteries but its modern protagonist is Tung Hoi Arnan (1789-1879).
Many stories about Tung have been passed down. One tells of how he was
sitting in a chair leaning against a wall when the wall collapsed. His
disciples, fearing that he had been buried alive, rushed in looking for
him, and found him sitting in the same chair, leaning against another
wall. A similar anecdote tells of how he was napping one autumn day and,
as the air was quite chilly, his disciples picked up a sheet and quietly
tried to cover him. When they put the sheet down, however, there was no
one there! "What's the matter with you?" asked Tung from the window
where he was sitting. "Why did you try to startle me?."
The primary goals of Ba Gwa are to harmonize one's vital energy and
strength and to understand the changing nature of the universe. Its
physical manifestation is quick anticipatory movement away from danger
behind one's opponent.
3. Chi Gung (Working On Your Chi)
Chi Gung also written Qui Kung means working on your Intrinsic energy
(suggests building or cleansing it). Chi Gung is the study of the energy
of the universe. There are three general types of energy: Chi Tian
(Heaven Chi), Dih Chi (Earth Chi), and Ren Chi (Human Chi). The Chi or
energy which flows through our bodies is influenced by the energies of
the earth and heavenly bodies. In order to have a healthy and harmonious
life we need to be in balance with the energy of the universe and in
balance unto ourselves. Through the practice of Chi Gung one is able to
strengthen and balance Chi circulation and slow down the degeneration of
the body -- gaining not only health, but a longer, happier life.
Stress relief is an essential part of overall fitness and wellness. And
there can be no doubt that "solace comes through repose". However, in a
hectic fast paced lifestyle we sometimes need a more dynamic means or a
variety of means to reduce and eliminate our high levels of stress.
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