Qigong is a living artform; I was thinking about this as I was trying overcome a problem with my back and being completely unable to do ANY gardening. In a nutshell, I started off this spring with EXCESSIVE exuberance ... rock-like exuberance!
That kind of exuberance is the kind of exuberance that gets one into trouble.
It is a thinking person's exercise and a form of therapeutic self-massage that can cure old injuries and make the body healthier. Of course, the mental discipline of qigong is true for other martial arts and forms of exercise such as yoga. The mental discipline is what makes the exercises so powerful for other pursuits, i.e. why someone like Tiger Woods or other professional athletes would incorporate martial arts into their training regimen ... not to be some sort of aggressive bully, but to develop mental discipline and build upon the ability to focus and refine. In practice, making an ancient exercise into a living artform means that each and every student who practices the artform should attempt to understand the theory behind the art and to use additional knowledge and medical science and along with reflection and insights from on one's own personal practice to extend and develop the artform. Each THINKING participant perfects, polishes and improves the form. As with quarterbacks in an American football game, the best careers in martial arts usually do not happen to the person with the most raw athletic ability, the first one one to reach a certain level, the strongest or toughest ... the best careers happen to the thinkers who can improve their practice and, most importantly, improve the practice of those around them. Qigong has been studied in China for several thousand years. There is still room for improvement because there are still lessons from the ancient historic texts that can be learned, mastered once again, renewed, updated and even built upon!
The Eight Pieces of Brocade Qigong is one example that distils this long history into very simple exercise that anyone can and should perform on a daily basis. The sitting form is especially good for waking up in the morning; it may also be performed by elderly, disabled or sick people. The standing form is a good warmup and stretching exercise for more people who are more fit. As you practice a practical form of qigong such as the Eight Pieces of Brocade, you will see that there is nothing particularly magical or mystical about qigong -- it is extremely practical and beneficial exercise that benefits from mental discipline and regulating the mind. Eight Pieces of Brocade is a proven martial arts exercise developed by General Yue Fei (March 24, 1103 – January 27, 1142) to keep his troops strong and fit ... of course, in a normal martial arts training, qigong is built upon very simple routines that anyone could do without thinking, but just doing the routine is only the beginning, the first step ... although we can do qigong without thinking; it is very important that we actually do think about what we are doing to make sure that our foundation is increasingly solid!
That kind of exuberance is the kind of exuberance that gets one into trouble.
It is a thinking person's exercise and a form of therapeutic self-massage that can cure old injuries and make the body healthier. Of course, the mental discipline of qigong is true for other martial arts and forms of exercise such as yoga. The mental discipline is what makes the exercises so powerful for other pursuits, i.e. why someone like Tiger Woods or other professional athletes would incorporate martial arts into their training regimen ... not to be some sort of aggressive bully, but to develop mental discipline and build upon the ability to focus and refine. In practice, making an ancient exercise into a living artform means that each and every student who practices the artform should attempt to understand the theory behind the art and to use additional knowledge and medical science and along with reflection and insights from on one's own personal practice to extend and develop the artform. Each THINKING participant perfects, polishes and improves the form. As with quarterbacks in an American football game, the best careers in martial arts usually do not happen to the person with the most raw athletic ability, the first one one to reach a certain level, the strongest or toughest ... the best careers happen to the thinkers who can improve their practice and, most importantly, improve the practice of those around them. Qigong has been studied in China for several thousand years. There is still room for improvement because there are still lessons from the ancient historic texts that can be learned, mastered once again, renewed, updated and even built upon!
The Eight Pieces of Brocade Qigong is one example that distils this long history into very simple exercise that anyone can and should perform on a daily basis. The sitting form is especially good for waking up in the morning; it may also be performed by elderly, disabled or sick people. The standing form is a good warmup and stretching exercise for more people who are more fit. As you practice a practical form of qigong such as the Eight Pieces of Brocade, you will see that there is nothing particularly magical or mystical about qigong -- it is extremely practical and beneficial exercise that benefits from mental discipline and regulating the mind. Eight Pieces of Brocade is a proven martial arts exercise developed by General Yue Fei (March 24, 1103 – January 27, 1142) to keep his troops strong and fit ... of course, in a normal martial arts training, qigong is built upon very simple routines that anyone could do without thinking, but just doing the routine is only the beginning, the first step ... although we can do qigong without thinking; it is very important that we actually do think about what we are doing to make sure that our foundation is increasingly solid!
Sitting Qigong
- Close Eyes and Sit Still (Shuang Shou Tuo Tian) The purpose is to calm the mind. Meditate 5 minutes.
- Knock the teeth 36 times; two hands hold the head. Tap the teeth to stimulate the brain cavity. Pull head forward 9 times.
- Knock and beat the jade pillow. Left and right stimulate the jade pillow 24X by snapping fingers against head.
- Lightly turn head to loosen the neck repeatedly and gaze backward. This is a stretch of the neck to the left and the right in an alternating fashion.
- Hand massage the essence door ... rub hands together until hot, massage the kidneys.
- Hands turn double wheel or left and right windlasses turn ...9X as if you are turning wheels with your hands.
- Lift and press, hold the feet. visualize holding something above your head.
- Sit quietly, swallow saliva, guide the qi, breathe deeply to put out any fires.
Standing Qigong
- Two Hands Hold up the Heavens (Shuang Shou Tuo Tian) This move is said to stimulate the "Triple Warmer" meridian (Sanjiao). It consists of an upward movement of the hands, which are loosely joined and travel up the center of the body.
- Drawing the Bow to Shoot the Hawk (or Vulture) While in a lower horse stance, the practitioner imitates the action of drawing a bow to either side. It is said to exercise the waist area, focusing on the kidneys and spleen.
- Separate Heaven and Earth This resembles a version of the first piece with the hands pressing in opposite directions, one up and one down. A smooth motion in which the hands switch positions is the main action, and it is said to especially stimulate the stomach.
- Wise Owl Gazes Backwards or Look Back This is a stretch of the neck to the left and the right in an alternating fashion.
- Sway the Head and Shake the Tail This is said to regulate the function of the heart and lungs. Its primary aim is to remove excess heat (or fire) (xin huo) from the heart. Xin huo is also associated with heart fire in traditional Chinese medicine. In performing this piece, the practitioner squats in a low horse stance, places the hands on thighs with the elbows facing out and twists to glance backwards on each side.
- Two Hands Hold the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys and Waist This involves a stretch upwards followed by a forward bend and a holding of the toes.
- Clench the Fists and Glare Fiercely (or Angrily) This resembles the second piece, and is largely a punching movement either to the sides or forward while in horse stance. This, which is the most external of the pieces, is aimed at increasing general vitality and muscular strength.
- Bouncing on the Toes This is a push upward from the toes with a small rocking motion on landing. The gentle shaking vibrations of this piece is said to "smooth out" the qi after practice of the preceding seven pieces.
