Energy Cultivation Systems

 

QIGONG 1 / INTERNAL QIGONG

This is the class of qigong I do extensively.  It involves special breathing techniques being coordinated with mild body movements while moving chi energy using intention. It also includes the standing meditation/energy cultivation postures. (Recommended DVD: Sifu Dan Ferrera Qigong Class DVD)

 

QIGONG 2 / EXTERNAL QIGONG

This class of qigong amounts to stretching exercises designed to loosen and strengthen muscles and tendons to promote chi flow throughout the body. (Recommended DVD: Eight Simple Qigong Exercises: The Eight Pieces of Brocade by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming)

 

TAI CHI

Tai chi has several key principles underlying its effectiveness as an energy cultivation system.  One of the most important principles is that the forms are heavily or entirely one legged.  At certain stages of the routine most or all of the body weight is supported with one leg.  As a result most or all of the grounding of the person’s energy takes place through one leg.  This has the beneficial effect of doubling the energy capacity of each leg.  I recommend either the Cheng Man-Ching variation of Yang style or the Sun Lutang style of Tai Chi.  (Recommended Book: Juice: Radical Taiji Energetics By Scott Meredith    <—–>    Recommended DVD: Tai Chi Peng: Surfing The Soft Wave by Scott Meredith)

 

YI QUAN

This system was developed by Wang Xiangzhai as a mixture of the best energy training techniques from around China.  Of special importance are the standing meditation stances/energy cultivation stances of Master Han Xing Yuan and the push hands techniques of Master Sam Tam. (Recommended Book: The Tao of Yiquan: The Method of Awareness in the Martial Arts by Jan Diepersloot)

 

BAGUA / BAGUAZHANG

One of the most important exercises of this martial system involves walking in a circle around a central focus point while in a two handed guard.  Walking in a circle while holding the palms of your hands in certain positions and in certain orientations causes a massive grounding effect, especially on the direction changes.  It really stunned me how strong the effect was the first time I experienced it.  (Recommended DVD: Lushan Wudang Bagua Palm by Wang Ping)

 

XING YI

This martial system involves mostly linear motion and is primarily one leg oriented like tai chi.  The three most important practices of this system are the Santishi standing energy cultivation posture, the Wuji standing energy cultivation posture and the Beng Fist moving energy cultivation exercise.  Santishi involves standing in the Santishi stance for hours a day, months on end, in order to open your body to chi energy flow and to become perceptive of chi.  Beng Fist involves walking in a straight line while doing alternating right and left hand punches while heavily weighted on one leg.  The Wuji stance is used to anchor the energy changes into your body.  (Recommended DVD: Xing Yi Quan by Scott Meredith)