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Learning The Chinese Health and Martial Arts

The journey upon which you are about to embark is one that is based upon thousands of years of insight which has developed into a systematic training process, which starts by improving your health and fitness, leading to a point of optimum health and well being where your life energy (qi) will flow freely. The process begins slowly and gently, for using too much force damages and blocks the qi, this is the reason that relaxation (sung) is such an integral part of what we teach, so that we might systematically loosen joints and ligaments and the body’s connective tissue can work more effectively to give us strength and well being.

The Process:

Structural Alignment:

a. Learn to raise the top of the head upwards whilst relaxing the shoulders and hip joints, thereby beginning the process of rooting and lifting energy from the ground to the upper part of the torso.

b. Soften the elbows and knee joints and sit firmly on one’s legs, if the alignment is correct the weight of your shoulders goes straight down to your feet and you should feel connected to the ground.

c. Use the structural alignment of the body to move our arms, ensuring that the whole body moves as one unit, without structural alignment little progress takes place in practice, for without it there is difficulty in activating the flow of energy through the body.

Standing Pole Practice (motion in stillness):

a. Standing Pole Practice brings our attention to Posture, Breath and intent (yi),

b. Whilst learning to stand with the top of the head raised, and below the calf muscles sunk into the ground, this movement in opposite directions lengthens the neck and the spine,

c. The buttocks connect our legs to the upper torso facilitating the movement of qi up and down the body is enhanced, leading to the development of upright qi in the body.

Equilibrium in Motion (stillness in motion):

a. Become aware of a line beginning at the centre of the top of the head (the Baihui), going through the centre of the torso to the perineum (huyin the point between the anus and sexual organs) and from there down to the ground, providing an energetic rooting leg from the top of the head to the ground.

b. With the raising of the Baihui upwards and the sinking of the energy into the centre of the foot (yongquan), this awareness with a. above, creates central equilibrium in the body.

c. Central equilibrium is essential for efficient motion when practicing the forms, as well as when taking part in such activities as skilled hands, it ensures that we have connectivity from the inside to the outside. All of this structure is made stronger by being informed by the upward and forward energy known as peng.

Equilibrium, Motion and Spiralling

a. Once our upright qi is developed and our central equilibrium established we will become aware of our central vertical axis where the energy is freely raising and lowering.

b. It is now time to develop the horizontal axis forwards and backwards, left and right through spiralling and circulation of the torso, we do this through such exercise s as Silk Weaving or Taiji Ball.

c. The above exercises aid in the rotation of the lower dantien (an area just below the navel), this rotation takes place when the chest is relaxed and folded as we rotate the waist.

d. This folding of the chest and rotation of the waist is accompanied by softening the major joints at the shoulders and hips, the elbows and knees, the wrist and the ankles this process is known as activating the six harmonies. All together this supports the legs to move the whole body in a totally unified manner.

e. You will be now in the process of developing internal energy (jing), which in physiological terms is the activity of expansion in all directions, enhancing extension, elasticity, and resilience, bringing spiralling motion to each of the joints. Spiralling works as a turbo boost for the qi, circling and driving through the joints and into the body’s energetic system.

Cultivating Fire and Water qi

a. Water qi is seen to be located in the kidneys, Taoist Masters consider water qi to be the purest form of qi or innate qi, which if freely circulating around the body bringing us vitality, health and well being by cleansing the body of any negative elements. As we grow older or if we abuse our body then this innate qi deteriorates.

b. Fire qi is that qi we get from breathing, eating and drinking, qi we bring into the body, this externally provided qi is thought to be stored in the heart. Fire qi is the dominant force in the body. It is believed that in order be at our optimum health and well- being it is necessary to balance and cultivate fire and water qi.

c. The process of balancing takes the form of relaxing fire qi down to, and water qi up to the Xuanguan – this point lies in the centre of the body between the area below the navel and the opposite area on the back known as the mingmen – where it is cultivated. This process lends itself to warming the lower dantien and the kidneys as the qi is activated.

d. Once the qi is activated it flows to the coccyx up the spine over the head connecting through the tongue at the upper palate and back to the heart centre of fire qi, this is known as completing the microcosmic orbit, which is a rejuvenating process for our energy and vitality.

So from structural alignment to using the forces of nature for our own benefit as well as all those with whom we come in contact. This journey cannot be proscribed in terms of time, one should never force any part or miss out any part, you should cultivate the practice of life in a relaxed manner. If one gets the foundations correct so that the journey gets off to a good start, if one as the correct body alignment then the qi will naturally flow free, when your life feels constantly refreshed then you will know that your journey was the right one.