In this classic text, wing chun master William Cheung unravels the mystery behind the elusive energy of chi. He provides exercises to increase and direct the flow of chi and explains how chi affects the body, the philosophy behind the famous yin-yang symbol, pressure points and the 32 meridians, the principles behind dim mak (the often misunderstood “death touch”), and more. This book is a must-read not only for kung fu practitioners but also for anyone interested in Eastern philosophy.
Clear explains beginner to advanced practices regarding Chi/Qi/Ki (Life-Force) activation, cultivation, and flow that allow an individual to personally experience, build, and work with Chi energy.
An insightful introduction to the basics and benefits of chi energy, a tenet of Taoism and of popular martial arts like T’ai Chi, qigong, and more Chi is the invisible energy of life that flows in and around us throughout the universe. Used skillfully, it can have a remarkable effect on health and vitality—to the degree that you’d be tempted to call it magical, if it weren’t so completely natural. Here is a perfect introduction to chi that explains in a direct and simple way what it is and why it is essential to a healthy and vital life. It provides an easy-to-understand explanation of chi, and then helps readers recognize, develop, and strengthen their own chi through specific breathing techniques and basic exercises, all demonstrated by the author. There are many books on chi development through T’ai Chi and qigong practice, but this one goes deeper to enable you to understand the fundamental principles as you cultivate it. This book is a reference for alternative health professionals such as acupuncturists and shiatsu therapists and their patients, as well as for anyone who practices T’ai Chi, qigong, aikido, and other chi-based martial arts.
A guide to the seemingly effortless yet explosively powerful martial art techniques of Fa Jin • Explains how to collect energy within and discharge it for self-defense as well as healing • Explores how to counter the natural instinct to resist force with force and develop yielding softness through the 13 Original Movements of Tai Chi • Illustrates routines for the partner practice of “Push Hands” (Tui Shou) Fa Jin, an advanced yang style of Tai Chi, complements the physical, mental, and spiritual conditioning available through solo Tai Chi practice and the internal martial arts of Taoism. Fa Jin enables adepts to harness the energy of yin, yang, and the earth in the lower tan tien and discharge it as an extremely close-range yet explosively powerful blow in self-defense and partner practice as well as in healing techniques. Integrating the teachings of many Taoist masters, including Chang San-Feng, the creator of Tai Chi; Wang Tsung-Yueh, the legendary 19th-century master; Bruce Lee, the actor and martial artist who made the “one-inch punch” technique famous; and the Magus of Java, a living master able to discharge energy in the form of electric shocks, this book explores the history, philosophy, internal exercises, and physical practices of Fa Jin. Drawing on Iron Shirt Chi Kung and Tan Tien Chi Kung techniques, Master Mantak Chia and Andrew Jan reveal the secrets to collecting yin and yang in the lower tan tien and discharging the energy in a seemingly effortless yet explosive blow. Illustrating several routines of the Tai Chi partner practice of “Push Hands” (Tui Shou), they explain how to apply Fa Jin techniques by “listening” to your opponent’s intentions and countering the natural instinct to resist force with force through yielding softness and redirection. The authors also detail how to prepare for this advanced practice through stretching, meditation, breathing, relaxation, and energetic exercises.
"Bruce Frantzis demystifies the fundamental principles of chi gung and provides a comprehensive exercise program with detailed illustrations to increase life energy, improve health, boost sports performance, and combat stress and aging."--Provided by Publisher.
An internationally respected doctor of Chinese medicine and author of the bestselling "The Healer Within" clearly and simply explains the concepts of qigong. 125 illustrations.
Distills the many different Chi Kung practices into one simple daily routine for abundant health, calmness, and mental clarity • Provides step-by-step illustrated instructions for a complete yet easy daily Chi Kung routine • Perfect for beginners and ideal as a warm-up to more advanced practices • Clears physical and mental stress, stimulates healing and disease prevention, detoxifies the body, releases tensions, improves circulation, and works to develop flexibility, strength, resiliency, and suppleness Within every person there is a place full of energy, health, and happiness. Practicing Chi Kung allows us to visit this place of inner vitality and harmony, clearing physical and mental stress, detoxifying the body and mind, and helping us return to our natural state of abundant health, calmness, and mental clarity. An ideal complement to the treatment of chronic pain, asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, headaches, and even heart disease and cancer, Chi Kung is a way to take control of your physical, mental, and spiritual health and live a long and healthy life. In Simple Chi Kung, Taoist master Mantak Chia distills thousands of Chi Kung practices into one simple daily routine perfect for beginners and ideal as a warm-up to more advanced practices. Designed to relax our muscles, loosen the joints, improve circulation, and develop flexibility, strength, resiliency, and suppleness, the gentle, flowing movements of Chi Kung mirror the movements of nature and help practitioners connect to their own inner flow of chi, clearing blockages and stagnation in our life-force energy and tapping in to our natural powers of healing and disease prevention. Walking readers step-by-step through each exercise, from movement work with the knees, hips, and spine to internal energy work through controlled breathing, Master Chia explains how daily practice of Chi Kung cultivates life-force energy, a stronger immune system, emotional balance, and spiritual awareness, transforming the patterns and assumptions that limit our body and mind as well as enhancing our connection to nature and the universe.
This book focuses on a key aspect of Nei Gong and Qi Gong which is often ignored in practice; this is the practice of connecting with, feeling and adjusting the energy body directly, using the consciousness. The practice sits somewhere between Qi Gong, meditation and the lesser-known art of Shen Gong, and although it is known in China it has never before been written about in an accessible way in the West. The book contains step-by-step instructions on how to experience the various elements which make up a person's energy body, learning to identify and feel the meridians, and to diagnose imbalances and restore harmony through them. The book contains step-by-step instructions on how to experience the various elements which make up a person's energy body, learning to identify and feel the meridians, and to diagnose imbalances and restore harmony through them. This essential aspect of intermediate and advanced practice will be of interest to Qi Gong and martial arts practitioners as well as to practitioners of Chinese medicine.
A no-nonsense and entertaining guide to harnessing the power of jin in your t'ai chi or internal martial arts training Developing Jin provides a complete and progressive training regimen for increasing and refining chansi-jin, also known as silk-reeling power or coiling power—the true power of the internal martial arts. With step-by-step instructions and photographs, experienced teacher Philip Starr walks readers through a variety of techniques designed to help practitioners feel and use jin in their martial arts training. While much of the existing writing on jin relies on cryptic and mystical descriptions of internal power, Starr takes a direct, no-nonsense approach that addresses commonly held myths and identifies the real body mechanics behind this unusual power. Useful for novices and advanced practitioners alike, Developing Jin is a crucial addition to any serious martial artist's library. Table of Contents 1. Got Jin? 2. How To Use This Book 3. Basic Conditioning Exercises 4. In The Beginning 5. Structure and Alignment 6. Training the Breath 7. The Nature Of Qi 8. Let's Get Engaged! 9. Beginning With Stillness 10. The Breath Coiling Form 11. The Secret Of Tendon Power 12. Internal Coiling 13. Applying The Coiling Power 14. Putting It All Together 15. Training Routines For Coiling Power 16. Three Become One 17. Combative Applications Conclusion
Most people tend to idealize artists, writers, and others of the “creative class” as uniquely gifted. But the capacity to create is part of being human–whether that means writing, making art, cooking, gardening, sewing, dancing, acting, singing, or virtually any activity. In Chi and Creativity, Kaleo Ching and Elise Dirlam Ching show readers how to use a wide range of strategies to harness the energy of chi to uncover, and cultivate, that often elusive inner artist.Based on their popular workshops, the authors offer an integrative process to generate the joy, wonder, and sense of well-being necessary for artistic self-expression. Specific exercises draw on everything from acupressure and breathing techniques to Chi Kung movement and meditation. Through Chi Awareness, the body, mind, emotions, and spirit come into greater harmony. Through guided imagery, they dialogue. Through journaling, they speak. Through art, they join in creative expression of the inner discoveries along the path to greater balance and integration. Chi and Creativity is the authors’ way of sharing this magical transformative process and can be used by anyone who wants to add fuel to their creative fires.
