One of the biggest mysteries come out of the eastern arts is internal energy. Wudan arts, like Pa Kua Chang and Tai Chi Chuan and Hsing i claim it. Supposedly it takes lifetimes to create this thing called internal energy, but when you get it you can defeat attackers with just a sigh and a wave of the palm.
Atually, the fact is is that internal energy is in many arts, and if it is not, it can be invested into any martial art easily. The principles of internal energy, you see, are very simple and logical, though they take a certain amount of patience. So if you study kenpo or tae kwon do, or even boxing, then get set to step up to the next level, this article is going to give you a hand up.
The most important thing is that you have to have phenomenal basics, not just good, but absolutely phenomenal. What this means is that you must sink your body weight when striking or blocking, and do so with such awareness that you actually create a beam of energy down your leg. You must align the parts of your body so that they form an unbroken pathway for the energy to flow along, very important that they are relaxed, because intention and energy will flow easier through a relaxed body.
Now, you must make sure that you move the parts of your body in a harmonious fashion. Everything starts at the same time, and everything stops at the same time, this is called Coordinated Body Motion. Analyze your body so that all of the pieces are moving in harmony when it swings into alignment.
Now, you've got basics, and here comes the internal energy. Fill a pipe half with sand and cap it. Move that pipe in such a way that when you stop it all the sand strikes the inside of the pipe at the same time.
What I have described, with the pipe drill, which can be done throughout any form, is what internal energy is and does. It is energy swirled on the inside of your body in such a way that it collects and deposits its entire mass inside of the block, or strike, or foot, or whatever, at the same time. We used to develop this type of energy in kang duk won korean karate, way back when, but we didn't think of it as chi because it didn't have any undue significance, it was just the way we did our forms and techniques.
It is helpful if you move slowly, focusing awareness of the motion of energy inside your body. And, to be truthful, the internal Wudan martial arts have arranged their forms so that the growth of internal energy is easier. But you can feel it in Karate, or tae kwon do, or any combative method you happen to study, if you just take the time to appreciate what you are doing.
The real key is that this method, and, to be truthful, all methods, rely on awareness. It is an idea that moves awareness, and the path of this awareness can be called Chi, or Ki, or Prana, or pneuma, or intention. Now, the real question here is whether you can take the time to invest your movements with chi, or intention, or whatever you want to call it, do you have the patience and the awareness to make something significant out of your martial art. - 30300
Atually, the fact is is that internal energy is in many arts, and if it is not, it can be invested into any martial art easily. The principles of internal energy, you see, are very simple and logical, though they take a certain amount of patience. So if you study kenpo or tae kwon do, or even boxing, then get set to step up to the next level, this article is going to give you a hand up.
The most important thing is that you have to have phenomenal basics, not just good, but absolutely phenomenal. What this means is that you must sink your body weight when striking or blocking, and do so with such awareness that you actually create a beam of energy down your leg. You must align the parts of your body so that they form an unbroken pathway for the energy to flow along, very important that they are relaxed, because intention and energy will flow easier through a relaxed body.
Now, you must make sure that you move the parts of your body in a harmonious fashion. Everything starts at the same time, and everything stops at the same time, this is called Coordinated Body Motion. Analyze your body so that all of the pieces are moving in harmony when it swings into alignment.
Now, you've got basics, and here comes the internal energy. Fill a pipe half with sand and cap it. Move that pipe in such a way that when you stop it all the sand strikes the inside of the pipe at the same time.
What I have described, with the pipe drill, which can be done throughout any form, is what internal energy is and does. It is energy swirled on the inside of your body in such a way that it collects and deposits its entire mass inside of the block, or strike, or foot, or whatever, at the same time. We used to develop this type of energy in kang duk won korean karate, way back when, but we didn't think of it as chi because it didn't have any undue significance, it was just the way we did our forms and techniques.
It is helpful if you move slowly, focusing awareness of the motion of energy inside your body. And, to be truthful, the internal Wudan martial arts have arranged their forms so that the growth of internal energy is easier. But you can feel it in Karate, or tae kwon do, or any combative method you happen to study, if you just take the time to appreciate what you are doing.
The real key is that this method, and, to be truthful, all methods, rely on awareness. It is an idea that moves awareness, and the path of this awareness can be called Chi, or Ki, or Prana, or pneuma, or intention. Now, the real question here is whether you can take the time to invest your movements with chi, or intention, or whatever you want to call it, do you have the patience and the awareness to make something significant out of your martial art. - 30300
About the Author:
Al Case has taught martial arts for over 40+ years. This includes TCC, PKC, Aikido, Shaolin, etc. He is a writer for the magazines, and the inventor of Matrixing Technology and Neutronics. You can find out more about Internal Energy, and get a free ebook at Monster Martial Arts
