Chi
Kung or Hei Goong ( ) literally translates as 'air achievement'.
The 'achievement' results from developing the control and awarness of breath to such an
extent, that energy in the body can be controlled with the flow of the breath.
Although
the cultivation of Chi is real, there is still no consensus as to how it
works. A common Western explanation is that it fosters the skill of biofeedback, allowing vivid internal
sensivity and the ability to control autonomous biological activity, such as blood flow,
body temperature, etc.
Traditional Chinese medicine suggests that the disciplined training of Chi Kung allows the mind
to focus energies that flow along the energy pathways or meridians. Current
medical research being undertaken in China is attempting to understand the existance and properties
of Chi from a scientific perspective.
Despite the lack of explanation, if you can accept that Chi Kung does works, you will give yourself
the chance to develop and strengthen it. At the very least,
the meditation and breathing training required for Chi Kung is highly effective for reducing stress
and improving health.
Applying Chi Kung - Tai Chi (Taiji) & Iron Palm
Another
confusing aspect of Chi Kung is the terminology used to describe or categorise it
- internal and external, or hard and soft.
Internal Chi Kung is the practice of delevoping
the circulation of Chi inside the body by mentally inducing self-calm,
controlling breathing, and visualising the flow of chi.
In order to demonstrate internal Chi Kung, a practitioner
will selectively increase the temperature of a part of their body (eg. usually the hands).
This form of Chi Kung is often associated with the healing of others and oneself.
External Chi Kung involves the combination of Internal Chi Kung skills
with physical activity, to coordinate Chi flow with body movement. It allows the
practitioner to increase their endurance, strength, balance, flexibility, relaxation, and to
toughen parts of their body (eg. iron shirt, iron head or iron palm training).
Chi may also be categorised as hard or soft. This is useful for distinguishing different
types of Chi Kung, such as the external but soft training of Tai Chi or
the external but hard training of iron palm conditioning.
The
internal-external or hard-soft classifications do not
describe different types of Chi, but the same Chi used in different ways. Applying Chi in different ways
is important because Chi Kung is a skill like any other. The more often it is practiced
and the more varied its application, the more experienced and proficient the practitioner will become.
Therefore the success of cultivating Chi is greatest when it is trained with internal and external,
soft and hard exercises.
Demonstrating Chi Kung
As
Chi Kung is only visible when it is external, Chi Kung demonstrations
usually involve feats of strength or body conditioning.
Below are examples of the kinds of feats we use to demonstrate Chi Kung.
Bending Spears or Rods with Chi Kung
Although
the hardended metal speartips and steel rods are not razor sharp, they are easily sharp enough to
pierce skin and flesh. Furthermore, the degree of pressure required
to bend spears and steel rods is massive. Chi is not only required to protect the soft parts of the throat from
piercing, tearing or bruising, but to control the speartip so it does not slide up into the larynx.
The difficulty of this task is increased by placing concrete slabs on the head or the back, which are
broken with a sledge hammer. Alternatively, the practitioner may be required to drink with the spear
pressed against their throat.
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