Internal Martial Arts

[terry]

Hmmm....You may be right. But this is not the place where we'll figure it out. This needs to be decided on the matt, in the ring, wherever you like. But it needs to be tested and re-tested and re-tested over a period of time.

Terry

[BlackMaskX]

Qi gong/Chi kung

Is there any reason, from either a health or martial standpoint, to do "chi kung" exercises? I know tai chi, in particular, is supposed to improve health and longevity. But would doing tai chi do anything for health and longevity that running a few miles every day wouldn't? And, assuming chi kung isn't worthless for martial ability, would it do anything that lifting weights or striking a pad wouldn't do?

[NuffSpeed]

Yeah, my JKD instructor talks about "chi" alot. As I understood it, it was your "inner" strength. I don't know nothing about that aspect of training though. I just fiqured it was a philosophical way of saying, your mind and body are healthy, therefore you will have the strength and courage to do well.

[Starrider7777]

I consider the things I have learned about chi energy to be sort of like the concepts of the power of prayer or witchcraft. There is a lot of mis and dis information out there on these subjects but somewhere at the kernel of them are some truths.
I got hip to some of this after I learned some metaphysical type stuff from my grandfather who was a highly reputed and respected Cherokee medicine man. Now...I have a higher than average IQ and a college degree...by which I only mean that I know the basic principles of critical thinking and am not some new age goofball. Still, some of the things I witnessed and experienced in the company of my grandfather (and others) defy the scientific reductionist type worldview. The energy he generally worked with was very much like, if not the same as chi energy. He used herbal medicines in his skill and by further studying those is how I got hip to the chinese system of herbal medicine, accupuncture, chi management etc. There were some pretty intriguing paralells.
I was in Sydney, Australia during the summer Olympic games a few years ago and caught one of the bugs that was going around the huge crowds and it started to kick my butt with flu like symptoms. I was walking down the street about to pass out and looking for a druggist when a little chinese man took note of me looking poorly. He gently urged me into his little bazaar booth for some qi gong massage. I was feverish, sweaty, weak in the knees and cursing myself for venturing into town when he found me. Thirty minutes later after a vigorous qi gong massage I felt like a million bucks. I walked out of his booth feeling more grounded and centered than I had before getting sick. I ended up having a few drinks, a nice dinner and a night of dancing and pub crawling, staying out til after 3a.m. A day and a half later my flu symptoms came back which tells me I had recieved a treatment and not a cure, but...
Whatever he did worked at least temporarily. I remember the general principles of it and have have done further study and have actually helped a few others similarly. I have also been able to accomplish some interesting feats using Native American "Medicine".
Here is my point...There is definately a lot of hokum out there, but there are also some truths hiding in the midst of it.
The things I have accepted as verifications on this might not do it for an avowed skeptic. Also, I can't claim to have seen anything I would consider an absolute wonder... But I do believe that Chi type energy does exist and can be employed for the benefit or harm of friends or enemies. It is, I believe , a primarily spiritual/metaphysical discipline.
I am always tuned in for more input on the subject from either side of the debate. Please continue the thread if anyone has something to add.

[Tom Yum]

That's it!

You've discovered the cure for SARS...just kidding.

I think accupressure/accupuncture and chi gong have been around for so long for a reason; most major medical institutions are dedicating funds for R&D in these methods.