What is Tai Chi?

Tai Chi is a system of martial arts that incorporates an understanding of the subtle life force recognized in acupuncture theory referred to as Chi (or Ki). Other system of martial arts that incorporate Chi harnessing methods into their techniques include Wing Chun, Ba Gua, Hsing I, and Aikido, to name a few. While Tai Chi is the most well known of these “internal martial arts”, to be precise, the root health enhancing practices found in any of these systems belong to a more basic set of exercises referred to as Chi Gong (chi gung, chi kung, qi gong all the same thing) or Nei Gong. It is Chi Gong that focuses principally on developing and balancing the energy of the acupuncture system. So while I refer to Tai Chi in the title of
this e-book, what I am really focusing on is an explanation of Chi Gong, the element in Tai Chi that most people identify it with.

How it works: The circulation of Chi in your body
There exists a series of pathways through your body that if traced with a marker would resemble a highway system over the surface of your skin. Each of these highways corresponds to a specific organ and muscle group in your body. Energy, rather than automobiles, rides along these freeways, beginning at the feet and rising up the inside of the legs on one set of freeways to connect to another set in your torso that brings the energy down the inside of the arms to the palms. From this point the energy is returned to the earth along the back of the hands and arms connecting to another set in the torso and down the outside of the legs through the feet. These pathways are represent 12 meridians and they relate to the internal organs.

Chi Gong postures open the meridians throughout your body to facilitate the flow of energy through them like water. This opening and flow will...

1. Creates sensitivity in the meridians (with practice you will feel your energy flowing as noticeably as you would feel running water across your skin).
2. “Melts ice” or blockages in the meridians alleviating associated health problems and preventing new ones before they have a chance to “become so frozen as to be a problem”.
3. Restores and/or maintains balance in the entire system of meridians with respect of one pathway to another and one organ to another.
4. Builds/stores additional reserves of life energy in the body that enhances immune function, promote longevity, enhance sexual function (only matters of you are interested in better sex of course) and serve as a foundation for expression in healing others and self- defense.
5. Synergistically improves posture through the relationship of the meridian, organ, and associated muscle groups. Note this also includes the “posture” of mental and emotional well-being, because in acupuncture medicine there is no division between the mind and body. For instance excessive anger is stressful to liver energy, and depression is expressed in diminished lung energy.

What it can do for you that nothing else can!
Standing Chi Gong over time restores posture much like braces straighten out crooked teeth. Bit by bit, as energetic “ice” is “melted” in your acupuncture system, your muscles and other soft tissues in your body assume their ideal length/tensionrelationships, just as your organs assume their ideal pressure/temperature relationships. Your nervous system relaxes and your body begins to accrue reserves of energy, all of which leads to a more relaxed and healthier mind and body. While weight training and cardio and other western approaches to health and fitness can maximize your health and fitness based on how much chi you presently have, they cannot restore, balance, or build your chi to higher levels. Your level of chi is the foundation upon which your health and fitness rests. Just like a building, the deeper the foundation the higher the building can rise. This makes the practice of Chi Gong unique among all other forms of exercise, especially in that even the invalid, aged, and infirm can practice it to great benefit, which is not the case with other methods.

The above article was written by Mario Hostios. He is Founder and Instructor of the Southern California Wing Chun Association in West LA. He is a direct student of Sigung Karl Godwin, having trained with Karl continuously from 1993 to 1999. Mario returns to Florida regularly to continue his learning under Karl.

Red Rebel Martial Arts offers group classes and private instruction in Chi Gong in San Clemente, CA. Contact Sifu Adam Williss for more information.

Tweet

Tai Chi is a system of martial arts that incorporates an understanding of the subtle life force recognized in acupuncture theory referred to as Chi (or Ki). Other system of martial arts that incorporate Chi harnessing methods into their techniques include Wing Chun, Ba Gua, Hsing I, and Aikido, to name a few. While Tai Chi is the most well known of these “internal martial arts”, to be precise, the root health enhancing practices found in any of these systems belong to a more basic set of exercises referred to as Chi Gong (chi gung, chi kung, qi gong all the same thing) or Nei Gong. It is Chi Gong that focuses principally on developing and balancing the energy of the acupuncture system. So while I refer to Tai Chi in the title of this e-book, what I am really focusing on is an explanation of Chi Gong, the element in Tai Chi that most people identify it with. How it works: The circulation of Chi in your body There exists a series of pathways through your body that if traced with a marker would resemble a highway system over the surface of your skin. Each of these highways corresponds to a specific organ and muscle group in your body. Energy, rather than automobiles, rides along these freeways, beginning at the feet and rising up the inside of the legs on one set of freeways to connect to another set in your torso that brings the energy down the inside of the arms to the palms. From this point the energy is returned to the earth along the back of the hands and arms connecting to another set in the torso and down the outside of the legs through the feet. These pathways are represent 12 meridians and they relate to the internal organs. Chi Gong postures open the meridians throughout your body to facilitate the flow of energy through them like water. This opening and flow will... 1. Creates sensitivity in the meridians (with practice you will feel your energy flowing as noticeably as you would feel running water across your skin). 2. “Melts ice” or blockages in the meridians alleviating associated health problems and preventing new ones before they have a chance to “become so frozen as to be a problem”. 3. Restores and/or maintains balance in the entire system of meridians with respect of one pathway to another and one organ to another. 4. Builds/stores additional reserves of life energy in the body that enhances immune function, promote longevity, enhance sexual function (only matters of you are interested in better sex of course) and serve as a foundation for expression in healing others and self- defense. 5. Synergistically improves posture through the relationship of the meridian, organ, and associated muscle groups. Note this also includes the “posture” of mental and emotional well-being, because in acupuncture medicine there is no division between the mind and body. For instance excessive anger is stressful to liver energy, and depression is expressed in diminished lung energy. What it can do for you that nothing else can! Standing Chi Gong over time restores posture much like braces straighten out crooked teeth. Bit by bit, as energetic “ice” is “melted” in your acupuncture system, your muscles and other soft tissues in your body assume their ideal length/tensionrelationships, just as your organs assume their ideal pressure/temperature relationships. Your nervous system relaxes and your body begins to accrue reserves of energy, all of which leads to a more relaxed and healthier mind and body. While weight training and cardio and other western approaches to health and fitness can maximize your health and fitness based on how much chi you presently have, they cannot restore, balance, or build your chi to higher levels. Your level of chi is the foundation upon which your health and fitness rests. Just like a building, the deeper the foundation the higher the building can rise. This makes the practice of Chi Gong unique among all other forms of exercise, especially in that even the invalid, aged, and infirm can practice it to great benefit, which is not the case with other methods. The above article was written by Mario Hostios. He is Founder and Instructor of the Southern California Wing Chun Association in West LA. He is a direct student of Sigung Karl Godwin, having trained with Karl continuously from 1993 to 1999. Mario returns to Florida regularly to continue his learning under Karl. Red Rebel Martial Arts offers group classes and private instruction in Chi Gong in San Clemente, CA. Contact Sifu Adam Williss for more information.