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One of the biggest mysteries of the martial arts is internal energy. Wudan arts, like Tai Chi Chuan and Pa Kua Chang and Hsing i claim it. Supposedly it takes lifetimes to build, but when you get it you can defeat attackers with just a sigh and a brush 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.
It is absolutely vital that you have phenomenal basics, not just good, but utterly phenomenal. What this means is that you must drop the weight of your body when striking or blocking, and do so with such awareness that you actually create an energy beam down your leg. You must arrange the parts of your body so that they form an unbroken chain for the energy to flow through, very important that they are relaxed, because chi will flow easier through a relaxed body.
Now, you must make sure that you move the parts of your body at the same time. Everything starts together, and everything stop together, this is called Coordinated Body Motion. Analyze your body so that when it swings into alignment all of the pieces are moving in harmony, and with consideration for their mass and size and shape and so on.
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 analogy and drill 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 collides on the 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 karate all the time, but we didn't think of it as internal energy because it didn't have any undue significance, it was just the way we moved.
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 all methods, rely on the direction of awareness. It is an idea that moves awareness, and the course of this consciousness can be called Chi, or Ki, or Prana, or pneuma, or intention. Now, the real question here is whether you have the patience to invest your movements with chi, or intention, or whatever you want to call it.
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.
It is absolutely vital that you have phenomenal basics, not just good, but utterly phenomenal. What this means is that you must drop the weight of your body when striking or blocking, and do so with such awareness that you actually create an energy beam down your leg. You must arrange the parts of your body so that they form an unbroken chain for the energy to flow through, very important that they are relaxed, because chi will flow easier through a relaxed body.
Now, you must make sure that you move the parts of your body at the same time. Everything starts together, and everything stop together, this is called Coordinated Body Motion. Analyze your body so that when it swings into alignment all of the pieces are moving in harmony, and with consideration for their mass and size and shape and so on.
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 analogy and drill 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 collides on the 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 karate all the time, but we didn't think of it as internal energy because it didn't have any undue significance, it was just the way we moved.
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 all methods, rely on the direction of awareness. It is an idea that moves awareness, and the course of this consciousness can be called Chi, or Ki, or Prana, or pneuma, or intention. Now, the real question here is whether you have the patience to invest your movements with chi, or intention, or whatever you want to call it.
About the Author:
Al Case has taught martial arts for 4O plus+ 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
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