Confidence in your Chi

Johnlogic121 · Orange Belt

Certain martial artists train in styles that emphsize Chi cultivation for health and self-defense purposes. I have a general confidence that demonstrations involving Chi are usually real and no very badly faked, although I think I have seen some exaggerated examples of demonstrations that rely on muscle power and scientific explanations that don't require Chi. For example, sometimes someone will break a Bo staff over someone else's abdomen, but they hit with the middle of the staff instead of the last six inches, so that the weight of the unsupported end helps break the Bo. But fake examples aside, I believe that Chi can be cultivated for realisitic defense. I would like to take an informal, unscientific survey. How many people feel that they can use their level of Chi for pragmatic self-defense purposes? To qualify my question further, how much will your level of Chi help you in your self-defense efforts, if you don't mind providing an estimate? Is there anybody out there who feels that his Chi flow is enhanced enough to provide for 30% of his total sefl-defense? What about higher levels than that? I am assuming that people will tend to dodge and block and counterstrike with some degree of normality. How much do you think your Chi will help you in a real fighting encounter?
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First Grandmaster - Montgomery Style Karate; 12 year Practitioner - Bujinkan Style Ninjutsu; Isshinryu, Judo, Mang Chaun Kung Fu, Kempo

bushido_man96 · KF Sensei

I don't put much stock in the ideas behind chi. I don't think that chi can be outwardly manifested in any form. I think that most of it is related to body mechanics. If one cultivates himself inwardly, then that is all that he is doing, unless he is performing some other physical training to augment his fighting ability.
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Success is where preparation meets opportunity.

www.chiefswarpath.com

ying&yang · Purple Belt

Your chi , is not something that is going to help you in a fight situation, Chi is only ur training sprit and mental capacity nothing else. What other people say is just tradition.
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I think that there is no 1 style , and that to truly become a great martial artist and person you must take information from where ever you can.

NightOwl · KF Sempai

That 'tradition' also is murky. Chinese practitioners in days of yore would usually undergo what we would now consider 'hard' training (ie, full contact punching and kicking- lots were brawlers to boot). Many ideas of chi are a modern mix of old Chinese medical theories, Chinese superstitions/folk religion, and new age/ 'Mystery of the Orient' marketing as opposed to a long standing practice (unless you consider material from the 70's on 'long standing').

The Shaolin monks give demonstrations of chi, but it should be taken with a grain of salt. Firstly the Shaolin Temple long ago died out (it is now a tourist attraction/ cultural ambassador under the eye of the PRC and contains a curriculum based heavily on modern wushu), and secondly the demonstrations of chi are either doable through determination (they like breaking those thin metal bars) or simple conditioning (the 'spears' they lie on are not sharpened, but would still be painful to lie on for even a short length of time). Other groups such as Yellow Bamboo, George Dillman's system, etc have all failed to work under test conditions.

To me Chi is concentration and focusing your body on something. Can focus help you in a fight? Sure- but it is not an invisible energy force, just willpower and determination.
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Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.

~Theodore Roosevelt

The BB of C · KF Sempai

I don't know how to use my chi yet, so no, I'm not confident I could use it in self defence.
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There is little honor in going down. There is no honor in going down without a fight. --- Victory dwells in the individual, not the style.

Taylor · Yellow Belt

Discussions on "Chi" are compromised by a severe lack of education in it by most practitioners. We learned breathing techniques in Tae Kuk Mu Sul which facilitated some interesting experiences, but they didn't know much about it, or how to pursue it. Form practice also facilitated some interesting experiences, but no one knew what the experiences meant or how to work with them practically.

Then I sought out some Tai Chi practitioners. No one really could explain it. It's rare to get a real education in it nowadays, but I've been lucky to get a real education after a lot of seeking. Here are some clarifications that de-mystify and yet also allow room for some interesting possibilities.

First, 'Chi' simply means breath. Also, the discussion has several levels. The most practical levels that are spoken of in learning the principles are the "Chi" that is will, the intention to do something like strike a person. Then there is the level of 'Chi' that translates that intention into a feeling, thought, or a movement in one's consciousness that proceeds from that intention. These two distinctions are very subtle, but very important to some of the more esoteric conversations about "Chi". Then there is the "Chi" that translates to actual movement in the body, this is "Chi" proper. Then there is "Chi" that translates into Kinetic energy from this. That is also "Chi" proper. There are other names for the other principles. Above all of this is what translates to "Wisdom Mind" which is a different matter altogether.

So, that kind of de-mystifies "Chi" doesn't it? It also opens the door for a discussion of how consciousness participates in the activity of the body and practically how movements in consciousness translates to fighting, doesn't it? This is also able to be utilized in any martial art training. Perhaps this is why the old martial artists kept stuff like this so 'secret'...

I'll find the name of a book I've been reading that finally gives practical, direct instruction on these principles and put in on this post for reference. It's good stuff!

Kajukenbopr · Pre-Black Belt

Johnlogic, can you use Chi for your self defense?

I also believe that people try to "sell" their Chi techniques.

I dont think I use my Chi for Self Defense, however, I believe the movements I have learned for Chi cultivation have been integrated in part into my movements and I can use some of them in practical ways- indirectly affected by Chi.
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<<Kajukenbopr>> Be humble, train hard, fight dirty

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