Chi: Breath (mystic, translation, easter)

[Master Vigil]

In eastern culture chi (ki) is a very much prized force. The ability to use this force can be very useful in life, whether in art, meditation, martial arts, or just living. What is everyone's idea on this mystical force?

[Runt]

I am not familiar with it except through martial arts. A fighter's yell is supposed to be a method of tapping into chi and using it in a variety of manners (focus, breathing, absorbing blows, and powering attacks).

[LeNinjaChic]

I don't know much about it either, but want to learn more. I know that when I practice yoga, that I am in better control of my breathing and that keeps me calmer in stressful situations. I also notice (like as of late) when I am not practicing yoga, that I am more easily stressed out, although I am able to consciously think about my breathing and that helps some.

I thought chi was more than just breath, but an actual energy force in the body? Is that right or am I thinking of something else?

[Master Vigil]

That is right LeNinja, it is very difficult to translate chi or ki into english. The best people can come up with is breath, spirit, energy, life, force, etc... But no concrete translation. The one I like best is breath because every living thing breathes. It is because of this that every living thing exhibits chi. And the best way to focus and harness your chi is through breathing.

And yes runt, in korean the yell is known as ki hap, or spirit breath. It is the expelling of the breath with the yell that maximizes the chi or ki for better power, speed, and accuracy.

Breathing is very important in meditation, and in life. If you stop breathing, you die. Therefore, breath is very important to an eastern thinker. When one meditates it is best to breath with the stomach and not the chest, so to not move the shoulders. For the shoulders hold the neck and head in place. And if the head moves, the passage of chi can be blocked, therefore the breath is most important. When doing walking meditation (my favorite), one must breathe with every step so to allow the chi to pass freely with the bodies natural movement.

I've seen people do crazy things with chi... bend spears, lay on broken glass while getting concrete slabs broken on their chest, do 2 finger handstands (one handed), yeah, it is an amazing thing once you can harness it. It is the only thing that is sort of supernatural that has physical proof.

[LeNinjaChic]

How interesting. Do you have any links or sources for this? I'm especially interested in this two-fingered handstand thing and any other scientific research that has been done.

Thanks 8)

[Master Vigil]

My best sources are personal sources. i have witnessed people doing this many times. The Shaolin monks sometimes do demonstrations around the temples and show these things. There has been shows on discovery channel that try to figure out how people can do these things. The best they came up with was that they have mind over matter. The 2 finger handstand I saw done by a monk at the shaoling temple in new york. I think they have a picture of it online. You could try to search for it and see what you come up with. As for sources discussing the scientific research, I have none at the moment. However, you can look so many places and see people bending spears, breaking steel rods over thier heads, stuff like that.