The Essence of Tai Chi Chi Kung

Root: 1. Being rooted means to be stable and in firm contact with the ground 2. You must be centered (focusing the mind on the center), settled, and relaxed. "Since your body isn't struggling to stand up, your Yi (mind) won't be pushing upward, and your body, mind, and chi will be able to sink." 3. Yi leads the chi. Chi can not be pushed or forced, it must be lead by the Yi. To lead the chi to the feet, the mind must first focus on the center. "Only when your Yi can communicate with the ground will your Chi be able to grow beyond your feet and enter the ground to build root." The bubbling well cavity is the gate which enables your chi tto communicate with the ground. 4. A stable center will make your chi develop evenly and uniformly. "In order to keep your body centered, you must first center your Yi, and then match your body to it." Your mental and physical center is the key which enables you to lead your chi beyond your body. 5. Balance your Yi. "If your Yi is balanced, it can help you to make accurate judgements, and therefore to correct the path of Chi flow. 6. Moving chi to your palms: Image you are pushing and object forward while keeping your muscles relaxed. What is Chi? 1. Chi is the energy or natural force which fills the universe. Three types exist: Heavan Chi, Earth Chi, and Human Chi. Earth Chi absorbs Heavan Chi. When chi or energy field loses it balance, it strives to rebalance itself. Heavan Chi affects Human Chi, flowing from the crown of the head through the energy meridians. When chi is flowing into the Dan Tien, the second mind activates. 2. Concentrate on Chi and achieve softness. (Lao Tzyy) "The men of old breathed clear down to their heels." Breathing is used to increase chi circulation. 3. Muscle/Tendon Changing classic taught the priests how to gain health and change their physical bodies from weak to strong: clean the bone marrow, strengthen blood and immune, and energize the brain. 4. The masters discovered specific body movements could increase chi flow to specific organs of the body: Tai Chi Chuan form, five animal postures, and Tai chi chi kung forms. Other Kungfu styles emerged: Wai Dan, Iron Shirt, Golden Bell Cover, Wai Kung, and Ying Kung. 5. Chi in your body is divided into two categories: Managing Chi and Guardian chi. The managing chi is hte energy which has been sent to the organs so that they can function. The guardian chi is the energy which has been sent to the surface of the body to form a shield to protect you from the negative outside influences such as cold. 6. Yin is the root and source of life which animates the Yang body and manifest power or strength externally. 7. Chi circulation and chi storage: a. there are twelve channels that circulate chi through out the body b. there are eight vessels or regions that make up the energy reserviors. When the eight reserviors are full the chi circulation is strong. Every channel has a certain chi flow strength and changes throughout th

This book provides what so many books touch on, but never really go in-depth into. It provides a detailed viewpoint of the medical side of the martial arts from an Eastern viewpoint. It talks about where Chi is generated, the medical benefits of stimulating Chi, uses, practice and so much more! The entire book is filled with page after page of knowledge. I have used this book to fill the holes in other books I've collected. I would highly recommend this book. It is very informative!

This book explains what tai-chi hopes to accomplish and a complete description of Chi-kung's origins. It is not for those who are only lightly interested in Tai chi... this book covers a lot of ground. It gives the english and chinese terms for those who wish to learn everything they can about this ancient art. It is deticated to explaining it's health benifits, origins and chi-kung's influence on the body and mind (along with man's place with heaven and earth). Even to those who never plan on taking tai chi, the book covers a bit of oriental philosophy, kung-fu and how to focus chi-power for better living. This book is worth every cent, and more!