Martial Arts Of The World - Webs

often a vague concept, most traditional martial arts prescribe methods of
cultivating and directing this subtle energy for higher-level students. The
benefits are said to include longevity, good health, power to heal injuries,
and power to injure opponents and to break objects.
According to traditional Sino-Japanese medical theory, qi not only
permeates the universe, it also flows through the human body along paths
or meridians. The flow of qi can be regulated through acupuncture, massage,
or mental intent. Indeed, some researchers suggest that qi is both
emotional and physiological.
Qi is particularly important in the Daoist-influenced Chinese internal
martial arts, taijiquan (tai chi ch’uan), baguazhang (pa kua ch’uan), and
xingyiquan (hsing i ch’uan) and in the Japanese arts most affected by aiki-
Qigong masters
demonstrate the
power of qi by
bending swords or
spears thrust into
their throats. (Patrick
Ward/Corbis)
Ki/Qi 261