Qi, Dan Tien & Jin Qi is one of the things we have to discuss when we study Tai Chi although I know I don’t understand it. Qi is the most essential matter of the universe and lives in traditional Chinese philosophy and medicine theory. The ancient Chinese martial artists borrowed the word to give a name to their internal strength. I won’t try to define it because I know I can’t. I sincerely hope that some of you will. The points I would like to make here are-
1. What you will experience when you get it. 2. What you need to do to get it. 3. What you need to do after you have it. Since I began teaching Tai Chi here, at least 9 students have experienced Qi at a substantial level to various extents. The time needed to get it varies for each individual. Some spent two years and others as short as three months. Once they get it they all do the same thing, their bodies move with great coordination driven by something in their Dan Tian* . Many things they either could not do at all or could only do "clumsily" become easy and natural. Most of us feel some sensation in our finger tips when we hold the ball for the first time such as warmth and/or swelling. Some even shake uncontrollably. Later on we feel heat forming in our lower belly and spreading to other parts of our body. These are manifestations of Qi being stimulated but not at substantial enough levels to be called obtaining Qi. We are considered obtaining Qi when our Dan Tian starts moving, breathing, contracting and expanding with its movements in turn bringing our bodies to move spontaneously and subconsciously. The body movements caused by the Dan Tian typically includes- 1. Our body gets very light and the ball we are holding rises to bring our body up on our toes. 2. The ball we are holding expands to push our arms apart but keep our hands where they are thus all tendons in our shoulders and arms are being stretched hard. 3. Our legs seem to become noodles and our body collapses but stops before our knees hit the floor. 4. We move, sometimes softly as if performing a Tai Chi form while other times violently as if we are punching or kicking. 5. Our Dan Tian starts to move as if it is floating on water, which brings our body to move like a “willow in the wind”. Some of us will experience all of these things and more while others may only (seemingly) experience very little yet all will still be obtaining Qi. It is such a nice experience that I hope you all will enjoy it regardless of how it manifests itself in you. This is the milestone which marks the beginning of our real Tai Chi training. It indicates that our body has been conditioned to the Tai Chi state. At this point we can shift or focus off of fundamental loosening exercises and move on to more advanced training. With our now loose bodies, we can train for Jin…. * I was taught that this is the area of your lower abdomen that centers approximately two or three finger widths below your navel.
-Jim |
