Looking for martial aspects within qi gong is a like putting the cart before the horse...
Better to concentrate on the external art first, then and only then can you consider qi gong. I'd say for an average practitionner, until they have been doing an art for a few years, looking at qi gong is premature will is effort that is better spent elsewhere.
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What is the sound of one hand clawing? -- chanh buddhist proverb
There is a lot Qigong can do for you that has little to do with fighting, and these things can be learned right from the start, or even by someone who wants nothing to do with fighting.
My personal opinion, is that there is a lot more direct application for Qigong in everyday life and for improving health, than for winning a fight. Something like this can indirectly effect your combat skills, but not in such a major way.
Something that is very good for combat, that is learned through Qigong and Meditation, is Sensitivity. And as we all know, sensitivity is very important in combat, and is something that can be developed and practiced when we are too old to do the more hardcore stuff anymore.
Just being made to be constantly "inwardly aware" can have a very positive effect in the long run, on your fine motor skills and co-ordination.
The other side of the coin, is there is a lot of stuff taught about no-hit knockouts, using no muscles and 100% Qi to kill people, and the whole "too deadly to spar" thing. The very nature of the word Qi/Chi, immediately makes most people feel a bit of an esoteric vibe coming on. That's why these days my friends and training partners don't hear me say anything about Qi anymore and I use the term "energy" instead.
I guess what I'm saying is, Qigong is good, but people can get a bit giddy around this "stuff from the orient", and then mass hypnosis begins.
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If so, how do you apply this practice to your art or healing aspects?
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For me, it's mostly through breathing techniques ( combination of various Eastern and Western breathing methods ) and relaxation. Also visualisation while massaging injury, and positive visualisation of bone strenthening and organ health and various other ways. Positive Thinking is also a form of Qigong. Not when you are already happy, then it's just hippy crap. But if you are having the worst day of your life, and somehow step off the "crazy cart" and take a step back and get to that almost birth-like state of breathe in breathe out relax...... then I think you are well on your way.
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This post maybe more personal than usual, but anyway I started to do more hei-gung (cantonese) exercises after my Sifu Ron Heimberger passed away. I have seen some good improvements in myself only after about 3 months of practicing it. My bones and ligaments look and feel tighter. I feel that I can hit much harder than before. My breathing is smoother and deeper. I guess that is the health side. As for the martial side I can hit harder and faster. My forms have improved. My structure and alignment is much better. You don't gain muscle you just strengthen your bones and ligaments. My stance and shifting abilities have improved too; overall obviously a positive response.
For myself I never fully understood hei-gung exercises at a siu lim tao level or a chum kiu level. It started at a biu gee level for me and expanded greatly during my learning of the mook yan jong. I guess as a beginner don't worry to greatly about it because the level of theory isn't there yet. Every chance you hear your Sifu say something about it though keep it in mind because when the time comes you will gain great knowledge.
I was unaware Sifu Heimberger had actually passed away. But yes Wing Chun does have a few internal Qi Gong (Mandarin) exercises. Depending on which lineage you study depends on which type of Qi Gong you study.
I use it to warm up & warm down. That's about it. I found benefits from it when I actually begin my warm up. Muscles are already pumped & blood flowing before starting physical conditioning. That's about it. I'm sure there are other benefits to be found in it, but for me, what it does is enough.
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Terrorists aren't overseas. They're at the gas pump.
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I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. -- Kung Fu-tzu (Confucius)
I use our 18 lohan CLF set like that for the most part.
The Hung sets i practice also have chi-kung elements to them that are more for conditioning.
I also learned chi-kung through acupucture school that works directly with individual meridians, for myself or my clients.
Finally i do chi-kung while performing massage/bodywork and usually instruct my clients to do the same and may even prescribe certain movements as homework to help their progress..
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"It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought the fool, than to open it and prove it so." KungFuTze
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." T. Geisel
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Terrorists aren't overseas. They're at the gas pump.
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I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. -- Kung Fu-tzu (Confucius)
Great set, i try to do it at least once per day.
How different is your schools version than ours?
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"It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought the fool, than to open it and prove it so." KungFuTze
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." T. Geisel
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Posted By: bobblehead
Great set, i try to do it at least once per day.
How different is your schools version than ours?
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I think pretty much in flow more than anything. I've watched Howard Choy doing on youtube. The postures are the same, but I think there's a different emphasis put on it (dunno for sure) between DFW & CYF.
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Terrorists aren't overseas. They're at the gas pump.
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I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. -- Kung Fu-tzu (Confucius)
Here's Mater Chan doing the form (1 of 4) on youtube...
Only misses a little in the transitions between two of the vids.
This one is nice, you can hear some of the details he talks about in the audio.
Sifu Choy is a very warm gentleman. Only met him once though.
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"It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought the fool, than to open it and prove it so." KungFuTze
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." T. Geisel
