Chien Chuan
East Of England Martial Arts Centre
CHI And Kung Fu
Ching Chuan
Sifu
Club info
Ching Chuan
Chien Chuan
Stances
Forms
Kung Fu
Chi
Yin and Yang
Reading
Chinese Terms
Translation Tool
Class Schedule
Humour
Home
The conclusion and constructs from Eastern traditions provide models of reality that are different from that of the west - or so it may seem at first. Often it's more a difference in methods of description.
A key premise in Eastern thinking is the existence of energy as associated with the human body known as Chi. For thousands of years chi has been thought of as a specific force; in China it is referred to as Chi or Qi; in Japan as Ki; in India it is Prana. Use of this energy is commonly reported and witnessed through acupuncture, fire-walking, homoeopathy, acupressure, and the martial arts. Some people perceive the presence of energy more easily than others, but the ability to perceive it is inherent in everyone. Perception of energy is enhanced by the person's acceptance that it does exist. Expressions like "I'm running out of steam," "I feel high," or "My spirit is low" can all be related to our own experiences with our energy fields. This perception is aided by exercises and techniques designed to stimulate energy flow - namely Chi Kung ( pronounced chee gung). From the broadest viewpoint, as Einstein stated, "everything is made up of energy," or as the Chinese say, everything is a form of Chi. There are two main working models of energy Chi flow in relation to the human body we would like to consider. The East Indian idea of chakras and the Chinese concept of meridians; each with their own set of terms or descriptive language. First, there are always background energy fields - all pervasive, diffuse, non-organized vibration which permeates the whole body. It is responsive to forces surrounding and passing through it, but has no form of its own. It is sometimes referred to as the background music of the body. Heat radiating from the body is one example of this energy. In addition to heat emanations, a number of more subtle vibrations together constitute the aura or auric field. There are people who are sensitive to the vibrations of these auras in that they can either see, feel, and/or hear them in others. Second, there are vertical energy flows; the body itself acts as a conduit or channel for energy passing through it. The configurations of the body mould the energy into specific forms, most notably the skeletal system with its associated seven major energy centres or chakras; namely the muladhara, svadisthana, manipura, anahata, vishuddha, ajina, and sahasrara. Examples of sources of energy passing through the body would be the sun, moon, and earth. Westerners may think in terms of the gravitational and heat forces, to name just two, each can generate and thereby influence the human body. More on Chi to follow.
