[Kung Fu] [Hsing-i] [Tai Chi] [Qigong]

KUNG FU

In India there lived a Buddhist monk named Bodhidharma (Japanese: Daruma, Chinese: Ta-mo) who was the son of king Sughanda. Because of his high burden he was educated in martial arts by an old master called Prajhatra. Around 520 AD Daruma went to China where he finally moved in to the Shaolin Monastery in the Honan province. He is generally credited with founding the Zen Buddhism there (Indian: Dhyana, Chinese: Ch'an). Many regard Daruma to be the founder of Chinese boxing, but this is doubtful. More probable is it that the monk's mutual activity over a certain period of time is behind the development. It is presumed that the training in the Shaolin Monastery was divided in four:

Meditation (Zen is based on long periods of static meditation)

Fighting styles, brought from China

Chinese boxing styles

Three sets of physical exercises from Indian medicine which concentrated on rhythmic breathing and flexibility training.

It is likely that other monasteries existed under the name of Shaolin, where the martial arts was used as a means of spiritual expansion. Unarmed fighting techniques is mentioned in books from the Chou-dynasty (1066-403 B.C.). Some of the famous terracotta statues from the Qin-dynasty (221-210 B.C.) show the roots of Wu Shu in old Chinese fighting styles. Wu Shu signifies the Japanese term bujutsu (Martial Arts). Kung Fu means time and energy, and was originally used for any skill. Kung Fu describes the degree of skill or insight. The expression is today used more and more as a name for the external or hard forms (schools) of Wu Shu. The Chinese fighting arts are commonly divided into north and south.

Northern China consists mostly of open landscapes where people are used to walk or ride great distances, which made it natural to develop their legs into weapons. The northern style consists of kicks and graceful movements, often open positions. Arms and legs can be stretched in both attack and defense. Fast jumps, turns and sweeping movements are important. They train much in kata, which are long and complicated, and are mostly in lineal motions.

Southern China is crossed by a net of rivers, where people staked and rowed a lot, which made it natural to develop their arms into weapons. In the southern style good balance and solid positions are essential, with sudden and powerful movements. Often attack and defense occur simultaneously - both hands are used simultaneously most of the time. Also southern style is mainly lineal movements, but these are shorter and more compact than in the north.

Another important difference in Chinese fighting styles are the inner versus the outer, the soft versus the hard. Central in Chinese (Taoistic) mentality are Yin and Yang. These represent the counterparts in all existence; light/dark, positive/negative, day/night, life/death, conscious/subconscious etc. However, Yin and Yang do not represent a distinct difference between two opposites, as one often interfere with the other. Because of that one can not say that there is a distinct difference between soft/passive and hard/active. No style is only soft or only hard. Those styles that are called the outer, hard styles mainly descend from Shaolin, and are most often called kung fu. Five separate styles can be traced to Shaolin; tiger, snake, dragon, crane and leopard. From these five, singular or in combinations, was again created styles we recognize today, like Hung, Praying Mantis, Wing Chun etc. Among those under the name of inner, soft styles are Hsing-i, Pa-Qua and Tai Chi Chuan.

HSING-I

Hsing-I is one of neijia, or internal, styles of Kung Fu, and is closely related to Tai Chi and Paqua. It teaches how to subordinate one's body, or hsing, to one's will, or i, creating powerful movements with a minimal expense of energy. Like Tai Chi and Paqua, Hsing-I is deeply rooted in Chinese medicine and Chinese perceptions of nature. Its blows are derived from the five traditional Chinese elements: earth, metal, fire, water, and wood, and like other forms of Kung Fu, its complex, almost dance-like routines are based on the movements of animals. Because of its emphasis on a rigorous training regimen, breathing exercises, and meditation, many Hsing-I masters and students have attained remarkable physical prowess and reputedly, longevity.

TAI CHI

To an outsider, the Chinese martial art of Tai Chi, property known as Tai Chi Ch'uan, seems like a dance. It consists of slow, calm movements that are carefully balanced and exact, performed while in a state of deep relaxation. In fact, Tai Chi is an ideal form of physical exercise, which promotes flexibility, strength, and stamina. The deep state of relaxation that this exercise fosters has enormous spiritual benefits: it can justlly be called "meditation in motion."

The name Tai Chi literally means "Supreme Axis," and refers to the invisible axis around which revolve the forces of yin and yang, the complementary powers which make up the unity of all things in the universe. Tai Chi Ch'uan, the full name of this discipline, has been translated as "Supreme Ultimate Fist." In ancient Chinese, the ideogram for "fist" is a generic reference to the martial arts.

QIGONG

Qigong, or breath/energy work is an art formand system of exercises that are unique to China. It has a history of over 3000 years. There exist hundreds, if not thousands, of styles of qigong in use today. Qigong methods can be used to treat simple complaints like colds and headaches, to more serious issues like certain forms of cancer. The Theory of Qigong is based upon the deliberate and willfull development of Qi. Qi, according to the ancient texts, exists within all things. without it there could be no life. Qi is gained daily by the consumption of food stuffs, water, and the act of breathing air, as well as being in the sunshine.

While there may exist many different sytles of qigong, all share the very same, basic training theory:

Control the Posture

Regulate the Mind

Conserve the Breath

Catagories of Qigong may be further delineated into Static, Dynamic, and combined methods. There are generally 5 schools of qigong that are recognized: They are:

Taoist
Buddhist
Confucian
Medical
Martial

Taoist school stresses the preservation ofth ephysical body Buddhist school aimed at liberating the mind
Confucian school dwelled on attaining higher moral character Medical school emphasized wild parties and cheating on exams just a joke to make sure you were paying attention.

Medical school taught patients how to help take control of their own illnesses, and also how to prevent them. that emphasis was hygenic in nature. It also taught medical people how to use the inner qi in a dynamic way for healing the aches and pains of others.

Martial arts school trained for protecting the body from sword cuts, blunt trauma from other-than-edged weapons, and safety from attack by fist or foot. Such methods included Iron shirt, golden bell type methods. It also trained the body to deliever fatal blows that were
enhanced with Qi, such as is found in Burning Palm, or Iron Palm methods.

As to the various types of qigong, you will find very simple and easy to do sets, such as taiji qigong, 8 pieces of brocade, to more complicated methods such as wild goose qigong and falun gong.

The overall effect from qigong training is gained through persistent and dedicated practice over months and years. Since there are so many methods out there, it is generally advsiable to pick one type to start with, and to gain the benefits that are promised from its practice, before moving onto another more complicated method. You should also know that it is inadvisable to train in two types of qigong that are not congruent with one another, that is to say, do not mix hard and soft qigong methods. when you train in qigong, you are making changes to your energetic system and also your endocrine system. Improper practice can mess you up big time.

Some types of qigong are very dangerous to train in, but people are willing to take the potential in risk in order to satisfy their goals. For example: Iron Shirt, which stems from the warring states period of ancient china, is an excellent method to practice, but not to show it off by having your friends break their louisville slugger baseball bats over your head. That method takes energy that is reserved for later life and converts it to "use now" energy. If the method is demonstrated to an
extreme, it can wind up causing the death of the practitoner early in life, either from heart attack, stroke or organ failure.

Other types of qigong require the steady use of herbs to help mold the energy to its desired end, and if the herbs are not taken, insanity can result. Other methods can result in sterility as a by product of that method's practices. But these examples are really extreme. As a whole, qigong can be, and is, a most enjoyable way to enhance health, longevity and energy!

Qigong has withstood the test of time, and is Internal Kung Fu of the Highest order.