is chi gung appliable to other martial arts

[Musubi Dojo]

Wow - ...kinda funny. I dont want any part of the childish debate. BUT, the moderators here bit the bait... Who is to blame, the fish or the fisherman.... LOL

Then please don't start it up again with comments like this.

If you have practical advice on ChiGung feel free to share it with us.

I'm quite interseted in the practice but have only had a few classes.

I'd almost call it Chinese Yoga.....Fair analogy?

Cheers
c

[Taorio]

Sorry, I fell to my base desires...!

We have been studying it for about 18 months. ...Maybe 2 years now.

Chinese yoga?.......maybe kinda.

I would say that the mindset, the visualizations, the meditations, and all things inside the noggin are VERY similar. The big difference would be the physical part.

In Qigong you will not see as many of the 'poses' or asanas. Im not sure there are any at all. What you will see is more what I would call a mini tai chi form that would be practiced alone and in repetition. Sometimes you can link many together to form what an outsider would observe as a Tai Chi looking form. Each 'mini form' has a very specific purpose.

Like Yoga, sitting meditation is a big part of it. The study of the human anatomy and how its all linked is also big.

So, I would say at a high level the biggest difference would be what you are physically doing.

Also, Yoga, at its base, is really a spiritual path. Its not just exercise. This was a surprise to me. I had no idea. Once I started researching it, I discovered that the 'Yoga' that we all think of is just the tip of the iceberg of a spiritual system. I would say its much like the shaolin temples that, in addition to studying Kung Fu, practice a strict budhist code and path.

Now, I want to say also, that I am not as versed in Yoga. I just started researching and studying it in Jan. I even started a class to see what its all about. Anyway, take my knowledge with a grain of salt or two.

My biggest challenge with Qigong it is its not very physical. I like to sweat. My mind is often like a squirl cage and its still hard for me to slow it down unless things are just right. I find Yoga harder physically - way harder. I find Qigong harder mentally.

Anyhooo... blah blah blah.

[seidogirl]

I took Tai Chi for about 4 months so I'm not an expert, but it is very calming and I can see where it would be good for lowering blood pressure and is good exercise for those who are older or have some sort of movement disorder. I personally found it too slow for my taste and I think I get the same benefit from doing my karate kata. But that's just my opinion.

[TonyU]

I took Tai Chi for about 4 months so I'm not an expert, but it is very calming and I can see where it would be good for lowering blood pressure and is good exercise for those who are older or have some sort of movement disorder. I personally found it too slow for my taste and I think I get the same benefit from doing my karate kata. But that's just my opinion.

You can, but please understand that it's not one better than the other. It's just different means to an end.
To me kata is not just about physical all the time. Sometimes on most stressful days I perform a few kata and it helps me get some relief. As our former member Gene used to say all the time, it can be like "moving meditation".

[BlueDragon]

We use qigong at the end of our kung fu lessons as a warm down.....to relax the muscles and steady our breathing.

I also don't know a lot about qigong and should look into it a bit more. From my understanding the qigong theory is that exercise generates a certain type of qi and by performing qigong after excercise helps to distribute the qi evenly throughout your body. Perhaps someone with more knowledge can clarify this.

Even if you do not submit to the idea of qi I think you could find qigong beneficial to your martial arts routine for focusing your mind and warming down. Personally I find it can really help a hurting back the morning after training.

[jwinch2]

I could certainly see the value of qigong and/or tai chi as a cool down and relaxation. On a slightly different note, tai chi is currently being researched in multiple studies here at LSU as an intervention exercise for persons with peripheral neuropathy. So far, they are getting fantastic results. I don't know that they are any different or as even as good as they might get through participation in more traditional fors of exercise, but in my opinion, if it works and they like doing it, go for it!

On another train of thought since this is supposed to be one my forums to moderate. I have no problem with the concept of chi as it relates to harnessing one's own abilities. I think the idea of chi/ki has become distorted over the years to the point where some people think that ancient practitioners had some sort of mistic ability due to their chi.

I think they were simply the elite athletes and premier warriors of their time and, since much of what we know today about how the body works was unknown at that time, they gave credit for their abilities to chi rather than genetics, practice, etc. Nowadays we look at Tiger Woods and say, wow that guy is a great athlete. Back then they probably said, 'wow that guy has strong chi...'.

[Taorio]

Qigong and Tai Chi are very interesting in that you dont have to believe in Chi to get the benefit.

With the guidance of a master or teacher I believe you can get more or 'faster acting' results. The reason is that if you are given the knowledge of the individual movements and their associated breathing pattern and what they are specifically used for, you can visualize their application internally (much like visualizing an apponent in shadow boxing or a Kata). The benefit to this is obvious.

Jason, I encourage you to research the application of Tai Chi and Qigong in the medical field. It has been studyed and used for a long time in western medicine. long = >50 years. Its a far cry from 1500 documented years as in china, but for us westerners 50 years is a long time.

[lightninrod]

On another train of thought since this is supposed to be one my forums to moderate. I have no problem with the concept of chi as it relates to harnessing one's own abilities. I think the idea of chi/ki has become distorted over the years to the point where some people think that ancient practitioners had some sort of mistic ability due to their chi.

The area that I highlighted in bold here is what I personally try to focus on, as I think that's what it's really all about. And I'm glad to see that there really is some open-mindedness on your part in this regard, Jason. Unfortunately, as you say, there really is alot of distortion where chi is concerned and that's what makes real discussion so difficult. Just the simple mention of chi often results in the piling on of ridicule without anyone having attempted to acertain what the person was really trying to get across. Most people here just seem to instantly assume that fantastic claims are soon to follow, when that may not be the case. I guess it just goes with the territory, huh?

[Lame Leopard]

Thought my chikung exposure is limited, I don't see at all why the methods couldn't be crossed over into pretty much anything at all.

Truth is truth and cannot be put neatly inside a box. That is my way of saying, I agree with what Jay says.

[ngkungfu]

Sorry, but according to pretty much the entire moderating staff here at Budoseek, chi doesn't exist. No one dares to answer your question because of the inevitability of page after page of argument concerning the validity of anyone's answer. After all, since chi doesn't exist (according to the moderators), anyone who answers your question with a less than negative reply must be a charlatin and a liar. Do a little searching and you'll see what I'm talking about.
Anyway, the only reason I'm saying anything is because your question has been here ten days and deserves some sort of response other than you being ignored.
Have a nice day!

I know this is an old thread that was started a long time ago but I am new here and am curious as to why some people here think that chi does not exist? I'm curious to hear your all's responses. I do believe that chi exists and that you can learn how to control your chi and focus it into your strikes. I am a snake style kung fu practitioner and we have exercises and breathing drills that help cultivate chi. One exercise is called San Ji Snake Form. This is done almost like an Iron Man form. The body is tense and the moves are done real slow. When performing the strikes you are to exhale and make a tssss sound. When the strike is complete then enhale, and then do the next strike. Anyways, this is used to cultivate and strengthen your chi.

But anyways, why do you believe chi doesn't exist?

[Webmaster]

I know this is an old thread that was started a long time ago but I am new here and am curious as to why some people here think that chi does not exist? I'm curious to hear your all's responses. I do believe that chi exists and that you can learn how to control your chi and focus it into your strikes. I am a snake style kung fu practitioner and we have exercises and breathing drills that help cultivate chi. One exercise is called San Ji Snake Form. This is done almost like an Iron Man form. The body is tense and the moves are done real slow. When performing the strikes you are to exhale and make a tssss sound. When the strike is complete then enhale, and then do the next strike. Anyways, this is used to cultivate and strengthen your chi.

But anyways, why do you believe chi doesn't exist?

Yes, the thread is very old and only a few of the folks participating are even still around. While your inquiry as to why some folks here think that Ki/Chi does not exist is a valid topic, it is off-topic from this resurrected thread. So rather than opening an old thread to in order to change topics, let's start a new one that is more in line with what you wish to discuss. Hijacking a thread is still hijacking a thread whether it is old or new.

Anyway, I am closing this thread and please feel free to open a new thread on your topic if you like.