Qigong

Qigong (chi) is used in many different ways. I find it a good way to help me channel my qi more efficiently, enhancing my performance in the dojo.

From what I've learned, Qigong is a form of meditation that balances positive and negative energy in your body (yin-yang) where your chi is located. I practice this exercize 10 minutes at a time.

What is everyone else's opinions on qigong? Some don't believe it's real, some know it is first hand.

I have great faith in this. Every martial artist I have trained with and look up to have used this method to enhance their ability and stamina. They are magnificent fighters.

Good for you.

Mind giving us a more profound explaination? Or an example of your exercises perhaps?

Of course.

Now the way I do it may not be the way everyone else does (I'm fairly new to it).

I stand with my feet about shoulder length, relax my shoulders, and try to clear my mind of anything other than what I'm doing at the moment. As I breath deeply through my nose, I imagine energy coming through my feet, and into my stomach. When I exhale, I push the energy back down and out through my feet.

I do this twice a day, in the morning and before sleep. It's very relaxing, and I've noticed a big difference in my sparring. My stamina is lengthened, my technique is more fluid and my awareness of what is going on is better somewhat as well.

The part about "balance between positive and negative energy" can be interpretted in more ways than one. I view it as finding your center: your qi. It is said to be in your lower dan tian (close to your navel), and once you are aware of it, you will be able to have a much better focus of energy and balance.

This all may sound like rubbish, but I love to hear peoples' opinion. Agree or disagree, different understandings, anything is great.

It's not rubbish at all. it's very similar to self-hypnosis techniques.

It's all the same thing- focusing your energy on one thing, and tuning out everything else, while relaxing.

I've studied this subject alot. I know much about it but it's hard to proven, scientifically.
Its very interesting. I believe its a different kind of power in the human body. Its controlled by different emotions. Thats an opinion anyways. I first want to see more opinions of people who believes chi exists.

Originally Posted by Chiodos

Qigong (chi) is used in many different ways. I find it a good way to help me channel my qi more efficiently, enhancing my performance in the dojo.

From what I've learned, Qigong is a form of meditation that balances positive and negative energy in your body (yin-yang) where your chi is located. I practice this exercize 10 minutes at a time.

What is everyone else's opinions on qigong? Some don't believe it's real, some know it is first hand.

I have great faith in this. Every martial artist I have trained with and look up to have used this method to enhance their ability and stamina. They are magnificent fighters.

"Qigong" and "chi" are not the same thing. The term 气功 can be transliterated as either qigong or chikung (and maybe a few combinations thereof; I'm not so good with pinyin), while only the first character of those can be transliterated as chi (although notably, if you search for chi - or ki - on Wikipedia you get redirected to qi).

As for the actual process/workings of the idea... I'm skeptical about the whole thing. By the sounds of it, it runs entirely on the placebo effect.

Originally Posted by Sabbo

I'm skeptical about the whole thing. By the sounds of it, it runs entirely on the placebo effect.

Don't see what this has to do with anything. It's not like they claim it's magic or something, obviosuly it is something the body/brain is doing, how you channel it is beside the point.

Other than that input I have no experience with this!

Originally Posted by Sabbo

"Qigong" and "chi" are not the same thing. The term 气功 can be transliterated as either qigong or chikung (and maybe a few combinations thereof; I'm not so good with pinyin), while only the first character of those can be transliterated as chi (although notably, if you search for chi - or ki - on Wikipedia you get redirected to qi).

As for the actual process/workings of the idea... I'm skeptical about the whole thing. By the sounds of it, it runs entirely on the placebo effect.

I appreciate you indeed for helping me understand this subject a little better. I do believe that the practice of qigong opens your channels up for chi, but something like that must take a long time to master. I'm of course, no where close to it.

I've had a waxing-and-waning interest in Mind/Body interventions for years, though I've almost entirely avoided both mystical and psycho-somatic explanations to their efficacy. I try to base my judgments equally on the benefits I feel personally and the effects established clinically.

I've seen strong cases made that cultural traditions which developed concepts of "chi" knew a good number of the "hows" - if none of the "whys" - in achemical therapy (generally intermixed with less helpful dogma to be sure) but apart from some moderately impressive experiences with acupuncture, I've never really been inclined to Qigong, Tai Chi Chuan, or Yoga... I even found autogenic methods - which enjoy a surprisingly favorable history in clinic - can over-embrace unnecessary spiritual elements. Progressive Muscle Relaxation is more my style.