QI GONG (CHI KUNG)

I understand that there are some kinds of Qi gong that are religious and mysterious.  

Taoist Qi Gong which involves postures of sitting or stances, generates Qi inside the body. The movement of the Qi cycles round the body vertically up from the back, and down from the forehead at the front . My understanding is that the critical success factor is the generation of Qi, or heat generated from inside of the abdomen area. Otherwise, it is just pure imagination. I would not suggest this sort of Qi Gong to self-learners who may involve mental disorders without proper guidance from experienced masters. 

Buddhist Qi Gong which involves zen meditation, does not say Qi, but field of energy. Buddhist uses imaginations to initiate hidden human potentials, or supernatural power. I understand that this sort of Qi Gong is only good for people who are thinkers. The third level of Yi Quan. defined by Ziboce, of course, based on a good martial art foundation, is getting close to Buddhist Qi Gong.

For Dim Mak, Yi Quan is against it, and considers it as useless and unpractical. It seems that Dim Mak is no longer popular in Hong Kong for a time. Dim Mak existed in the old days when people believed Touch-To-Death. One stream of Dim Mak from Shaolin, requires hardship training of finger stiffness. Other streams are from family transmissions, they called secrets. Even you learn Dim Mak, you will have no chance to use in this real world. 

Two years ago, I met Sifu Kong, 91 years old, who practices Shaolin Kung Fu. He showed in front of me that his secret transmission is a real thing, by bending a 2-dollar coin while just making his fingers meet. However, I consider this mysterious ability a result of training for injury, and not for health.

Photo taken by Ziboce on July 25, 2003

Peter Ziboce August 12, 2005

I develop a learning programme of my Kung Fu System starting from Ziboce Basics. Ziboce Basics provides a way to experiment Qi. Qi relates to the body logistics.

Focus concentrates on the understanding of the following characters:

1. Non-stop

2. Bouncing 

3. Elastics

4. Flexibility

5. Rigidity

6. Response

Contents of body logistics include postures, movements, breathing Qi Gong, and steps.

Peter Ziboce August 13, 2005

3. Dim Mak 

Yesterday, Grandmaster led me to the Wing Chun Yip Mun Museum at Guang Zhou. 

There, I found the Yip Mun's copy on the notes of pressure points. I believe that these pressure points related to martial art, are important positions on a human body.

The standard of the art going through the transmission is questionable. The diagram in Yip Mun's copy below shows twelve positions which are numbered under the twelve hours. The hand- writing and markings on the diagram give evidence of a good chance of inconsistency.

Peter Ziboce August 17, 2005

4. Definition 

What is Qi Gong? What are the difference between Qi Gong and other forms of martial arts?

In Ziboce understanding, Qi Gong is a collective name for traditional body exercises.

The purpose of Ziboce Qi Gong is on building body strength. Body strength may be reflected from the body conditions either in health, rehabilitation, or physical power building. 

There are many methods of traditional training for particular results. Qi Gong may involved static and kinetic practices. 

Ziboce's interest is on the study of the characters, and the differences of many kinds of Qi Gong. Ziboce focuses on personal pursue and health improvement. While other forms of Martial Arts concentrate on combat, or boxing with opponents. 

Peter Ziboce September 21, 2005

5. Ziboce Qi Gong

Ziboce's understanding of Qi Gong focuses on Breathing, Mindedness, and Movements. 

Mindedness training involves relaxation. Relaxation may come from the concentration of the mind. There are many religious ways of training which due with mental exercise. For example, Buddhism, and Taoism of China.

In Ziboce's practice, mindedness bases on practical ways consolidated from philosophy and logics derived from religious, medical, and martial arts practices. 

Ziboce's Mindedness refers to the abstract mode of the 3rd level of Ziboce's hierarchies. 

The 3 three levels of Ziboce's hierarchies can be related to ,any forms of Kung Fu. To reach the highest level, one of the way is Zhan Zhuang (Yi Quan). 

Zhan Zhuang has its own philosophy and training methods on body strength, health and rehabilitation.

Zhan Zhuang in Ziboce way, is Ziboce Qi Gong.

Peter Ziboce September 21, 2005

6. Qi 

What is Qi ?

Qi, or Chi, in Ziboce words, refers to all substances appeared in Ziboce's Zhan Zhuang Hierarchies.

A) Internal Qi are those substances that Ziboce considers their existence either subjectively or objectively. Something that can be felt and controlled by human body. Examples are:

a. Visuals - i.e., turns, drowsy, stillness, motions, brightness, darkness, flashes.  

b. Sensations - i.e., heat, pressure, body temperature, moods, smooth, comfortable.

c. Internal organs - i.e., heart beats, pulses,

d. breathing - i.e., dantien, choking.

e. hearing - i.e., resonance, harmonics. 

f. taste - i.e., sweet, sour.

g. muscles - i.e., shaking, tension, relax, strength.

h. nerve system - i.e., pains, reflection, potentials, instincts, predictions, dangers, balance.

B) External Qi, are substances that cannot be directly controlled, or sensed.

For example, pressure points, dim mak, meridians, light generated from human body, hair breathing, 4th dimension, cells, DNA, hormones, viruses, blood flow, supernatural power.

C) The methods to generate Qi, in Ziboce's words, refer to Qi Gong.

Ziboce's Qi Gong refer to masterly of internal existing substances, or internal Qi. Thus, Qi can be obtained, and is safe to learn. 

Peter Ziboce November 2, 2005

7. Ziboce Qi Gong

Internal Qi Gong refers to the exercises that can acquire Qi through Body Movement, Breathing, and Mindedness.

Ziboce's Qi Gong sets include:

a. Shaolin Yi Gun Jing Collections: 12 forms, 8 Brocades, Ziboce's collection.

b. Wah Shan 6 Harmonies & 8 Methods: Tai Chi Ruler, Tai Chi Zen

c. Wudang Tai Chi: 8 forms

d. Emei Internal Qi: 12 postures

e. Martial Art: Yi Quan, Zhan Zhuang, Xing Yi

f. Ziboce Basics

Ziboce considers two aims of Qi Gong, i.e., health and Strength.

For example, either Yi Gun Ying, or Zhan Zhuang can lead to health, or Power Strength depending on the methodology to achieve.

Peter Ziboce November 9, 2005

8. Martial Arts Qi Gong

What are the differences between Ziboce Qi Gong and others?

Other Qi Gong may refer to religious or traditional Qi Gong, chanting, singing, rhymes, Zen Meditation, Reiki, Osho, mantras, praying and breathing.

Ziboce Qi Gong bases on methods for achievable results aiming at body strength. 

Body strength refers to the requirements of Ziboce understanding of Martial Arts. One of which, is RESPONSE.

Response may involve actions, reflex, communications interacting with changes of the environment.

For example, meditation. Ziboce meditation does not end up to an unconscious state, but a clear mind. Relaxation, in Ziboce words, does not mean lost of mind, or mind emptiness, which may cause delay to react.

In the contrast, Ziboce trains up on the ability to response faster. Faster means prediction, calculation, reflection, and reaction. Thus relaxation refers to a CLEAR mind.

The big difference of Ziboce Qi Gong with others, is that Ziboce bears the Martial Arts characters. These characters are built-in throughout all the Ziboce training programmes.

Peter Ziboce November 14, 2005

9. Types of Ziboce Qi Gong

Types of Qi Gong refer to the purposes and training methods. 

Ziboce's understanding of Qi Gong involves 3 main areas:

Body Movement, Breathing, and Mindedness. 

Although co-ordination of the 3 areas is important for Ziboce programmes, their proportions in the training methods differ with the purposes and the body conditions. 

Ziboce purposes include:

a. Power

b. Body Strength

c. Retaining strength from Weakness, or Rehabilitation

d. Exercise during sickness

Ziboce understands that a particular set of Qi Gong will not fit two situations. For instance, the power building, and the elderly fitness.

I would say, Yi Gun Jing of Shaolin Qi Gong, may give different results if worked with different approaches.

Ziboce's skill is on the masterly of the proportions.

Peter Ziboce November 14, 2005

10. Principles

Ziboce principles of Qi Gong include:

a) Contrast

b) Relative vs Absolute

c) Natural as required

d) Responsive

e) Unity as a whole

f) Abstracts

g) Creation vs rigidity

i) Achievable vs Supernatural

Ziboce considers Qi Gong as a kind of Martial Arts, other than merely a sort of physical exercise.

Peter Ziboce November 14, 2005

11. Ziboce Qi Gong System

Ziboce identifies Kung Fu into three states.

A) In the state of CHI, the contents are body framework, movements, breathing, and mindedness. The aim is at co-ordination. 

Ziboce considers this state as Exercise.

B) In the state of TAI CHI, the contents are contradictions, simulations, and visualizations. The aim is at response.

Ziboce considers this state as Kung Fu.

C) In the state of BEYOND TAI CHI (in Ziboce words), the contents are creations, improvisations, and modifications. The aim is at predictions. The achievement is on personality.

Ziboce considers this state as Martial Art.

Peter Ziboce Febuary 21, 2006

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12. Difference between Tai Chi & Qi Gong

Question: Hello. What is the difference between Tai Chi and Qi Gong, they seem to be pretty much the same to me? If they are different, what, then, do they focus on? Thanks.

Answer: Tai Chi and Qi Gong are both exercises for health, relaxation, and meditation.
The main difference between Tai Chi and Qi Gong is on the Martial Art aspect. The movements of Tai Chi are designed based on the applications of combat/ fighting art. That is, a self-defense function.
Whereas for Qi Gong, the origin is from the purpose of health, having a long history of 3000 years (Tai Chi about 1000 years).
Tai Chi has a distinct value for health when practiced in slow motion. That is the form what we commonly practice today. The essential requirement lies on the co-ordination of breathing, movements, and mindedness in related to the line of force/self-defense character. The movements focus on elasticity, re-bouncing, release of power, and physical alignment.
There are many types of Qi Gong. Some are especially good for body strength, and are subject to resisting attacks. What we usually practice now, is based on religious, or medical aspects/theories. For example, mental, mind set, meditation, rehabilitation, healing, meridian and channels, digestion and breathing systems, etc. The movements focus on flexibility, stretching, and twisting.
This is a good question. Thank you for asking. You are always welcome.

Peter Ziboce March 10, 2007
(Allexpert.com)

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Disclaimer: Articles in Ziboce Website do not relate with Alternative Medicine, Holistic Health or any sort of religious care. Sifu Peter Ziboce offers his Kung Fu coaching service based on his understanding of Chinese Martial Art including Tai Chi and Qigong.

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