The ancient Chinese discovered that it was possible to develop and direct the body’s vital energy, or Chi, in particular ways. It could be nurtured to help prevent disease and premature ageing. It could be made to flow from one person to another and thereby used to help heal the sick. It could also be employed with powerful effect in the martial arts. The exercise systems used to stimulate and channel human energy came to be known as Chi Kung, which literally means “energy exercise”. The goal of Chi Kung exercise is to stimulate the flow of energy internally in the body so that it effectively rushes through and clears the entire network of Chi channels, or “meridians”. Extensive research has been done over the years to develop a system of exercise that would speed up the blood circulation without placing an intolerable strain on the lungs. The results drew on the accumulated wisdom of Chinese Taoist and Buddhist breathing practices and the practices and disciplines of the martial arts. One type of Chi Kung uses a series of breathing exercises to control the internal movement of Chi while the body remains virtually motionless. These "Standing Meditation" postures along with traditional sitting meditation help the student to quiet the "Monkey Mind", or what we refer to as the voice in our head. When the mind becomes calm, the body can then heal it's imbalances of energy.
Is chi kung the same as qigong?
Yes, they are the same. "Chi kung" is the usual English spelling, whereas "qigong" is the Romanized Chinese spelling. In Romanized Chinese, q is pronounced like the English ch'; and o like the English u. Hence, both "chi kung" and qigong" should be pronounced like the English "ch'i gung".
Is chi kung the same as Taijiquan?
They are different, although Taijiquan (if it is practiced the way traditional masters practiced it) makes extensive use of chi kung. Basically, Taijiquan is a martial art, whereas chi kung is a collective term for various arts of energy, which may or may not be used for martial art purposes. The movements of some chi kung types resemble those of Taijiquan, whereas many other chi kung movements are totally different from typical Taijiquan movements.
What are the benefits of practicing chi kung?
There are many wonderful benefits derived from practicing chi kung, and they may be generalized into the following five categories:
- Curing illness and promoting health
- Enhancing vitality and developing internal force
- Promoting youthfulness and longevity
- Expanding the mind and the intellect
- Spiritual cultivation
Many chi kung types focus on only one or two of the above categories, but a few cover all the five. For example, most types of medical chi kung aim mainly at curing illness, virtually all sexual types of chi kung emphasize solely on youthfulness, whereas Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung touches on all the above five categories of benefits.
How is chi kung related to kung fu?
All great kung fu makes use of energy training (which is chi kung) to develop internal force, without which it remains at its external, mechanical level, considered by Chinese martial artists as rough and low-class. Hence, a kung fu master may look, and actually is, gentle, yet with his internal force he can cause much damage to his opponent if he wishes. Moreover, his internal force does not diminish with age, and he can apply it for peaceful use in his daily living. Unlike in many other systems of martial arts where the training itself often results in physical as well as emotional injuries, kung fu training with chi kung enhances harmonious chi flow, thus promotes health, vitality and longevity.
Fore more information on Chi Kung and its benefits, you may view & download these PDF documents.
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