Issue 57 - Tse Qigong Centre

1 Editorialwith Michael Tse.3 PO Box9 Tui Shou – The Importance of Pushing HandsPushing Hands is a very important part of Taijiquan training.It not only teaches you how to use the Taiji as a martial art,it also deepens your understanding of relaxation and theprinciples of the forms.By Glenn Gossling10 Breast Lumps and TCMThe fear of finding breast lumps is great for many ladies.However if they are found quickly they can be treated in anumber of ways.By Dr Shulan Tang12 Five Levels of TaijiquanContinuing from last issue, we look at the higher levels ofdevelopment of Taijiquan, what they mean and how yourskill changes when you reach them.By Michael Tse16 Qigong MoralityThe practice of Qigong not only improves your health, whenyou have enough energy your mind is clear and your heartis settled you can tell what is right and wrong quite clearly.By Shin Kei18 Jumping TrainingWith the increase in popularity of martial arts films, manypeople want to know how they can be like their heroes.These exercises can help you jump in the right direction.By Wen Xiang20 Wing Chun – The Frustration of LearningOne of the hardest things to studying Wing Chun is how toactually go about learning it. Often it is about how youmentally absorb the information you receive.By Darryl Moy26 Comfort and Quiet Lying Down QigongThese unusual exercises are very good for your health, butunlike others they are all performed lying down.By Zhao Jin Xiang28 Taiji in Caoyang ParkCaoyang Park is not one of Shanghai’s more notable parks.However, although the surrounding might not be sointeresting, there are a few treasures to find that makesthis a special place for the author.By J. Reynolds Nelson30 Instructor InsightA look at two instructors from the Tse Qigong Centre.35 Preserved EggThese are regarded as a delicacy. However they can look alittle off putting, especially as they are sometimes called“Thousand Year Old Eggs”.By Du Feibao & Hong Su35 Book Review: Concise Chinese Materia MedicaA detailed book on Chinese Herbs, their properties andcharacteristics.By Jessica Blackwell36 Fine Tuning the Five ElementsThe Five Elements are the underlying principles of many Chineseskills. It is important to understand their relationship, but alsoas important to understand how to apply them to the real world.By Michael Tse38 Keep MovingAnother tale about Chan and Ma. This time they travel andmeet a surprising obstacle.By Darryl Moy40 Shou GongShou Gong is a very important movement in any Qigongexercise. It is used to calm the body and settle the Qi, so youmust know how to do it correctly.By Jessica Blackwell42 Swimming DragonMore movements from this rare form, which is part of the DayanQigong system.By Michael Tse44 The Failure of Media InstructionWith the increase and improvement of technology, do we reallyneed to find a teacher, or is there an adequate alternative?By Adam Wallace45 Feng Shui and the BedroomThe final part of our look at what makes good Feng Shui in thebedroom and what things should be avoided to ensure apeaceful nights rest.By Michael TseCover Feature...Cover Feature...Cover Feature...22 Fierce as a Tiger – The BroadswordThe Broadsword is one of the mostpopular weapons in the Chinesemartial arts. Not as elaborate as thesword, the broadsword is a much morepowerful weapon and requires fitnessand power to perform. However, likeany skill there are no secrets only timeand practise will earn you success.By Michael TseCover Feature...Cover Feature...Cover Feature...

POBox POBox POBox...Can’t SeeVisualisationDear Sigong,My teacher has mentioned thatthe Tse Qigong Centre might be able tohelp with some questions and concerns,as a result, I would very much appreciateany guidance you can offer to thefollowing question.On page 48 of the Sept/Oct 2000magazine there is an article by AmyThanawalla called, “Mind Over Matter”.About half way down the first columnthere is a passage which reads: “On theother hand, many Qigong systems, theKunlun Dayan Qigong System included,are opposed to this method of usingvisualisation to induce energy flow.” I’mafraid that I cannot quite grasp what Amywas trying say here and would appreciateany further explanation. The reason formy interest is that I include a small set ofexercises in my morning routine fromWong Kiew Kit’s book which includeinduced Qi flow. As I recognise thatsomething powerful and significant ishappening when I perform theseexercises, I am keen to understand themas much as possible and be clear in myown mind how compatible they are withthe other things I am being taught.Yours sincerely, NGDear NG,In the article, “Mind Over Matter”,the topic is about the use of thought toguide the Qi in the body, otherwise knownas visualisation. My teacher, GrandmasterYang Meijun, has talked about this insome detail. When she first began treatingpeople using her Qigong Healing skill,she met two boys who came to her forhelp. One was experiencing sleepingdifficulties and the other was having painsin his back. Without them telling her, shesaid to them you have been practising aQigong method using the mind and youhave Qigong side effects. Of course, theywere very surprised but also a little bitscared. So how did she know?Our minds are very powerful andwe only use a small portion of ourpotential. But when we try to usevisualisation without understanding howthe Qi works in the body, then we cancause more problems. For instance, manyQigong books talk about forming theXiao Zhou Tian (Micro-cosmic Orbit). Thisis effected when the Qi flows smoothlyup the Du Channel, past the Baihui pointand down the Ren Channel. However, theRen and Du Channels are two of the extraordinarychannels. So first the Qi shouldflow through the other eight channelsnaturally before then filling the extraordinary channels. Just because we wantto be rich, does not mean we can wish itto be so. Of course, you can worship andthink about it everyday and maybe it evenit will come true for a short while. But if itwas not in your fate, then the money youget is borrowed money and eventually“We only use a smallportion of our potential.”you will have to pay it back. The same istrue for trying to force the Qi to move incertain ways or go to certain areas of thebody before it is ready.Today when we go to the shops,many of the things we buy have beengrown in green houses, particularly thetomatoes. If you compare the taste ofthese hydro-ponic tomatoes to thosegrown naturally outside under the sunand in good soil, there is such adifference. It is the same with Qigong, weshould let the Qi develop naturally, notforcing it.So why do some methods havevisualisation. Visualisation, when used,should be done when the plant is ripe.For beginners, especially those without ateacher, then maybe the results will notbe good. Today, particularly, people aredoing so many different things. They donot only practise Qigong, but maybe theyalso practise other types of energy work,such as Reiki or even different Qigongmethods at the same time. When youbegin to mix these things, who knowsFarewellDear FriendHelen Philpott, long time student andfriend to many of us, passed away on13th of August 2001.Helen has been a long timestudent with the Tse Qigong Centreand was also a Committee member,nominated by Tse Sifu because of herclear thinking and down-to-earthwisdom. Her wry Kentish humour wasa plus as well.She couldalways be countedon forsound advice,even duringher illness. Shewas a strongwoman whohad a softheart and shecould find solutions where noneseemed to be present. I rememberhaving a long chat with her in Juneabout an incident in my class, where Ihad turned away a student because Ifelt he would be a problem affectingother students. I felt torn in mydecision of whether I was right indoing this, after all Sifu always saysgive people a chance to change theirheart. However, Helen, practical asever, said look at the other side. Lookat the students who are already thereand who keep coming every week andwho appreciate your teachings. Is itfair to take on someone who willaffect their studies, she asked? Iagreed with her logic and felt myheart eased by this. Even though herenergy was low and she was notfeeling well, she took the time to helpme. I know she was the same withothers as well. I know she will bemissed not only by myself, buteveryone in the Centre who knew heras well as by her husband Brian andher cat, whom she said could neverunderstand the concept of thetelephone because to him, when shewas talking outloud, she was talkingto him. Dear Helen, I believe thatsomewhere, someplace you know ourthoughts and hearts and how muchyou are missed.by Jessica BlackwellQi Magazine 3

what the results will be. It is the same formixing herbs and some perscriptionmedicines, sometimes the results can evenbe fatal. So if a student is going to practisevisualisation, then they should make surethat their teacher and the Qigong systemis qualified to be safe. Otherwise, myrecommendation is not to use thesemethods.I know that there are manymeditation books that recommendvisualisation but sometimes this too canbring more tension to the mind.In Qigong meditation, wetry to let go of the mind torelax so that Qi can flowthroughout the bodynaturally. The Qi willknow where theblockages are better thanourselves and will gothere to heal theproblem. This can resultin a warm feeling,tingling, even someitchiness. However,things like hearingvoices, headaches,n a u s e a ,fearfulness andextreme anxietyare symptomsthat somethingis not rightand yous h o u l ddiscuss this with your teacher.In the Kunlun system of Qigong,we do not use visualisation. Instead, werely on the movements to guide the Qi.We gather Qi from nature, the sun andmoon and earth and bring it inside thebody to nourish the internal organs. Themovements also help to release thenegative energy by using dropping downon the heels, fluttering, jerking, flickingand washing motions. The system is verycomplete and by following the completesyllabus, the student will reach a highlevel of health and also understanding ofthe body and Qi.I hope this answers your question.I think that many people have the samethinking. Qi is natural. In some ways, Ialways say, ‘Qi is not special’, becauseeveryone has it. If they did not, they wouldnot be here. Playing with Qi and beingtoo absorbed by it, then you will onlyreach a certain Qigong level. You are stillonly looking in the windows from theoutside.Yours sincerely,Michael TseLearningby D.I.YDear Sir,I have been interested in WingChun since seeing Bruce Lee moviesyears ago and I have always wanted tolearn Wing Chun but where I live therehas never been a school tomy knowledge or in thesurrounding areasforthat matter. Is it possible to gain anybenefit health wise and defence wisefrom books and videos? Also would itbe of benefit building a wooden dummyand practising blocks and strikeson? Please could you give me anyadvice.Yours sincerely, P, Lancs.Dear P,First let me answer your questionregarding the wooden dummy. Mysuggestion would be not to do this aswithout instruction and doing regularpractise of Chi Sau, you will want to usetoo much energy and this goes againstthe principles of Wing Chun. Once youstart this habit, it will be very difficult tobreak in the future.My suggestion is that you learn theSiu Lim Tao form and practise this on yourown. It will beneficial for your health andalso help develop your legs, yoursensitivity and also steady and quietenyour mind. This is important when doingChi Sau so that you will not panic ifsomeone attacks you. I would recommendmy Sifu’s book which is available throughour website or you can order through ouroffice by cheque.It will explain Siu Lim Tao in detailand also show some self defencetechniques with this. My Sifu is one of theworlds most renowned and respectedmasters in the Wing Chun field and hereally proves the system works. Ratherthan buying a video from someone whoyou are not sure about the skill is right,this is my recommendation.Best wishes,Michael TseFeeling SleepyDear Mr Tse,I have been having bad backproblems from my work and so I decidedto attend a yoga class. The class is justan hour but I find it very difficult. Duringthe class, the group goesinto a room inwhich all the“It is good to releasesick energy, but you needto replace it with fresh Qi.”heat is turned on high and the windowsand door are kept closed and then youdo the exercises. By the time you arefinished, you are wet with sweat, so muchthat you can wring out a towel with it. Ihave been twice now but each time I feelvery tired afterwards and I have to gohome to sleep. Can you explain why I donot feel better but actually worseafterwards?Yours sincerely, ML,HawaiiQi Magazine 4

Concentrated TrainingDear Mr Tse,I would very much like to haveinformation on training classes in WingChun. I really love reading the wonderfulbook that you and Ip Chun put together.I also enjoyed reading up on the historyand the other beautiful stories of WingChun and the people who influenced itsuch as Ip Man, Bruce Lee as well.I have been practising Wing Chunbut not as much as I should do because Ihaven’t any partner or wooden dummyto practise with but most of all, no oneto follow or learn from. Ineed, no doubt, someonelike yourself who is dedicatedto the art of Wing Chun toteach me. I find it seriouslydifficult as well to practiseeveryday with my othermartial arts. I badly needsomeone to help me withthis, too. I need someone toteach me everyday or helpme everyday, as I findtraining very difficult toaccomplish where I am at themoment. Maybe you couldhelp me on this subject areaif you don’t mind me asking.I get scared of peoplewatching me and laughing atme which has happened inthe past. I have been scaredof this ever since.I realise it’s not likethe movies, and I don’t wantto do it just to be a meangreen,killing machine or tosay “I am the best…look atme everyone!” I don’t want to do it forthat in any way, but I am seeking to study,practise, and train hard like most seriousmartial artists to accomplish thing I wantto do in life. I am now 21 years of ageand I feel it may be too late. I learnedthe art of Karate when I was 15 but Ifound it hard to train and practiseeveryday.I read up on people like Bruce Lee,Cynthia Rothrock, Jackie Chan and theytrain for 7-8 hours a day and you yourselfprobably do as well. This is what I wantto achieve in life. So if you could helpme in this area, I would be most thankfuland grateful, as I realise that perfectionin any martial arts comes from practisingeveryday.I will be looking forward to yourreply and hearing from you.All the best, D, SuffolkDear D,You are a very clear writer andspeak from your heart. I can see you thinkabout things a lot and also worry too.Sometimes, when we think and worry toomuch, we cannot make any decision andso end up doing nothing at all, instead ofdoing a little bit everyday or as often aswe can.Someone said tome, “Comparison leadsto misery.” Sometimeswe see others and thinkto ourselves, “Oh, Iwould like to be likethem”, but maybe it isnot in your fate to be likesomeone else. You areyour own special personand what you achievehas to be for yourself.I understand thatit is sometimes hard topractise. Many peoplethink that I do nothingbut practise all day,however, even myself, Itravel a lot to teachdifferent places and so Iam not always on thesame schedule. I alsowork in my office whenI am in England, writingbook, giving treatmentsand teaching there aswell.The people you refer to train for adifferent purpose than for what I train.That it is not to say they are wrong, justtheir path is different. My main aim is tobe healthy and I apply that principle evento my martial arts and other things in mylife. These people are all in movies or incompetitions where they have to look andbe their best all the time. As such, theirtraining has a different focus. They arenot just training a traditional martial artskill, they are also conditioning theirbodies by lifting weights and doingaerobic exercise.Just because someone trains thatmany hours a day, does not mean theyare healthy. They may even come to apoint where they are losing Qi becausethey are pushing themselves to keeptraining even when they are tired. Acommon phrase in the west is , ‘no pain,no gain’. I disagree with this. Everythingin life is about balance. When somethingis in balance, it will last longer. Thisphilosophy also covers your own concernsabout not practising enough. You shoulddo what you can to fit in with your workor your studies. That does not mean thatif you do not train every day that youshould give up.I think maybe you are putting toomuch pressure on yourself by setting goalsthat are too high, and then you feeldiscouraged before you have even started.I think maybe it would be better if youfind the martial art or skill which you reallyenjoy and a good teacher with whom youcan learn under. Then, if you feel lazyabout practice, just tell yourself, “Okay, Iwill just practise for five or ten minutes.”Chances are, once you have done five orten minutes, then you will want to carryon for the rest of the practice session.Because you are doing something youlove, you find you are enjoying yourself.You will also have a class with peers whowill help you as well. If the teacher isgenuine and of a good heart, then thestudents too should be the same, and noone will laugh at you.A teacher can help guide you, butultimately, it is yourself who has to findthe will power to carry on. I rememberone of my students who desperatelywanted to go to China so he would havethat concentration of someone teachinghim everyday, setting him goals and givinghim a deadline that he would have tokeep. But in the end, even if he went toChina, unless he stayed there for the restof his life, eventually he would have tocome back and find a job and then fit hispractice in with making a living. So itwould be better if he learned to disciplinehimself. Even these stars that youmentioned, like Jackie Chan and even JetLi, they still had to make sacrifices to meettheir goals. But the motivation had tocome from within their heart, not anyonepushing them. Even if they had someonepushing them all the time, if their heartdid not want to do it, then they wouldeventually give up.That is why I say to you, find theskill or art that you will enjoy, hopefullyfor the rest of your life. Then when youdo, just carry on. Take small steps and donot expect big results, then, in the sameway water can wear down stone,eventually you will make progressBest wishes, Michael TseQi Magazine 5

Dear ML,This type of experience is like goingto a sauna. When a person is not healthy,then they will feel some release from this,as when we perspire, we are releasing thenegative energy from the body. However,the benefits even to someone who is ill willnot last long as there is no gathering offresh Qi. It is good to release the sickenergy from the body, but you need toreplace it with fresh Qi. If you are healthy,then you are not releasing negative energy,but your positive energy. In addition, youare also absorbing the sick Qi from theothers in the room. That is why you feeltired afterwards and need to sleep.Yours sincerely, Michael TseChinaStudiesDear Tse Sifu,I am writing to you for advice aboutgoing to China to study. I have heard froma friend who went there for six months tostudy in a Wushu school that the Westernstudents there were not taught with asmuch detail and conscientiousness as theChinese students.Can you advise me?EmailWith regard to going to China tostudy you have to be careful where youchose to study. There are some goodschools and bad schools. It is best if youknow someone who has been there before,who can tell you which is the best place togo. I am sorry I do not know any schoolsas I study on a one to one basis with myteacher and not in a school.Before you do anything try to findsomeone you can ask. Do not send anymoney unless you are really sure aboutit. There are some people who havealready lost their money beacsue they didnot make sure the school was a good one.Yours sincerelyMichael TseQigong forWheelchairBoundDear Sir,I amwriting you inregard to mymother who isc u r r e n t l ywheelchairbound.She isdiabetic andover the lasttwo years hashad both of herlower legsamputated due tocirulation issues. Ihave viewed your tape,“Balancing Gong”, and feelthat the exercises might aid inincreasing blood circulation to her lowerlimbs (as well as improving her overallhealth). She will soon be fitted with hersecond prosthetic leg, but can sheproperly perform the exercises on thetape from a seated position? If there isa series of exercises more suited to hercurrent condition, which can yourecommend?DV, EmailDear DV,Actually, the Balancing Gongexercises would be a very good set foryour mother as nearly all of them can bemodified to suit a seated posture. In thecase of the first exercise, ‘Holding theDantian’, she can use this just to workwith breathing in and breathing out. Forthe remainder of the exercises, she shouldjust work with moving the arms up anddown, and open and closing or touchingthe proper acupoints as described. Theonly movement which I think would bedifficult would be Beautiful Woman Turnsthe Waist so she should disregard this oneand also the two walking movements.She will still benefit a lot eventhough working with just the upper bodyand it will help to nourish the internalorgans, especially the lungs.When she is finished,she can do themeditation tohelp her storethe Qi andrelax hermind. If youlike, youc a np r a c t i s ewith herfrom aseated ors t a n d i n gposition togive hersupport andencouragement.With best wishes,Michael TseLooking forthe DantianDear Michael Tse,Do any of your readers or staffknow of any scientific evidence that theDantian actually exists as an area ofenergy in the abdomen? There is someresearch evidence that meridians can bedetected using very sensitive instruments;it should therefore be possible to detectthe presence of the“Nearly all of themcan be modified to suit aseated posture.”Dantian which is an area of greaterenergy.Practitioners say they can feel theenergy in the abdominal area, but thiseffect may be due to suggestion or beliefwhich can be very influential.Yours sincerely, DSQi Magazine 6

Grouping EnergyDear SigongRecently, my friend and I werepractising Qigong together, and duringthe meditation stage of the session weboth faced each other and noticed adistinct difference in the energy flow.This experience sparked a conversationabout possible benefits and/or dangersof doing qigong as a group activity.I am very aware of a definitespiritual element to Qigong and realisethat by practising it I’m not onlybenefiting my own personal health(physically and mentally) but also I ambenefiting my relationships (both toothers and to the divine).Many spiritual texts that Ihave read, suggest thatproperly structured groups,acting in the interests of thewhole realise a greaterspiritual experience in thegroup dynamic, and thereforeeach individual in the group issubsequently gifted a greaterboost in their own energy.Are there any forms ofQigong that are designed for practisingas a group, or can the usual forms thatI’ve been taught be applied to groupssafely?Kind regards JT,NottinghamDear JT,Your question is very interesting.If you have ever been to my seminars orclasses, you would have noticed that weall gather together at the end in a largecircle to do meditation together. Peoplewill often comment afterwards that theenergy was very strong, stronger thanwhen they meditate at home on their own.Of course, when people gatherand work together towards the samegoal, there is a sense of harmony that willdevelop. There will also develop a strongsense of community. This is very importantwhen studying because there are timeswhen you will come to a plateau and itmay seem you are not making progress.It is easy at these times to get discouragedand maybe even want to give up.However, if you have made friends withthose in your class and also find thatothers have gone through the sameproblem, then it is easier to overcome itbecause of their support.“When people gather andwork towards the samegoal, a sense of harmonydevelops.”I nrelation to meditation, when weare doing together as a group, you havea different mind set. You do not reallyhave the luxury of thinkingabout stopping your meditation to go dothe dishes or call a friend. So your mindis more concentrated. Even if you feeluncomfortable, bored or agitated, youhang in there because to not do so woulddraw attention to yourself. It is easier justto stay and eventually, you may even findyour boredom and agitation just slipsaway without you noticing. So practisingin a group can help you push yourself alittle harder and achieve more than youthought you could.When you practise meditation oneon one with someone, it is more personalbecause you are opening yourself to themboth consciously and unconsciously.However, practising alone is good andalso necessary. If you always rely on agroup for lifting and developing yourenergy, then your level of developmentwill be limited.In regard to there being a specialQigong form for practising as a group, itis not necessary. Any form or set ofexercises can be done as group, eitherwith a teacher leading or everyonepractising their own things in the sameroom. The feeling and results will bedifferent in each case, both for theteacher and the student.Not everyone can be in a situationthat they have a teacher and class topractise. They have the harder roadbecause they are walking that roadalone. If you go to a movie, Ithink most people wouldprefer to go with afriend than on theirown as it is good tobe able to sharethe experiencewith someone.That does notmean that if youdo go to a movieon your own thatyou cannot enjoy it.Maybe you will even findit better as you do not haveto worry whether or not yourfriend likes it or what row you should sitin. You can please yourself.When you practise on your own,you can go to the place you like best anddo the forms you want, in the order youwant and you can meditate for as longas you wish. Unlike in a class which ismore structured. If you can have bothsituations, that is good, but it is moreimportant to develop to the best of yourability in whatever field you happenedto have been planted.Yours sincerely,Michael TseQi Magazine 7

Pushing Hands is a unique skill found in Taijiquan. There are manytraining methods, which help you to understand the key principles of Taiji, whilealso developing your fighting skill. How should we approach training in Tui Shou?The Importance ofTui Shou - Pushing HandsPush hands is one of the key skills ofChen Taiji. It is one of the ways thatTaiji can be trained to develop itsmartial aspect, but in itself it is not‘fighting’. Within the Chen system thereare a number of set patterns for pushinghands. They gradually develop from thesimple one handed circle to morecomplex patterns and then spontaneousplay.The key to push hands is tomaintain the basic principles of Taiji ateach new stage of development. Theseare posture, relaxation and smoothmovement led by the Dantian. If youwant to improve, you should concentrateon these rather than trying to ‘win’. Pushhands should be performed with thesame energy, attitude and attention todetail as the form.The difference is that whenworking with someone else you have topay attention to their movements as wellas your own. You may find that theirmovements interfere or block yournatural energy or flow. You have to learnhow to live with this. These outsideinfluences test your ability to maintainyour posture and relaxation in differentsituations.Your Taiji might be quite goodwhen you do the form on yourown, but how can youknow the depth ofrelaxation? Push handsreveals this very quickly.The smallest of tensions orfaults in posture becomeobvious. For this reason it isas important to watch yourself as towatch your partner.Push hands is a type of trainingjust like the forms. By paying attentionto what you are doing you shouldgradually be able to remove faults. If youfind that your energy is broken by aparticular move don’t be afraid to askyour partner to repeat it, and repeat it,and repeat it until you figure out wherethe fault is and learn how to deal with it.“Push hands should beperformed with the sameenergy, attitude and attentionto detail as the form”Within push hands there are manyenergies and thousands of techniques.The complexity of the system would bequite overwhelming if not for the waythat Taiji’s principles provide a clearstructure for understanding and path fordevelopment. The Old Frame push handsequences move from the simple onehanded static, to the two handed static,then the two handed single step, twohanded five step and finally spontaneousplay. Similarly it is important to begin bylearning how to deal with the basicenergies of Yin and Yang before movingon to Peng, Lu, Ji, An - the first four handsof the thirteen character formulaby Glenn Gosslingemail: glenn@qimagazine.comChen TaijiquanQi Magazine 9

Breast Lumpsand TCMTraditional Chinese MedicineIt is important that ladies check themselvesregularly so that any lumps in their breasts are foundquickly. TCM treats this condition in a number ofways depending on what is causing the problem.The Breast lump is a kind of noninflammationdisease. Its mainpathological changes arehyperplasia of the lobular mammarygland (an overgrowth of cells in thebreast tissue) and cystic degeneration.The condition is different frombreast cancer, but if it is left untreated itmay change to breast cancer. So it is veryimportant that women check their breastsregularly and from time to time visit aWell-Woman Clinic so that a doctor cancheck them. These clinics are staffed bywomen and often operate from local GPsurgeries.In Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM), the main points of diagnosis are:1. This disease is commonly seen inyoung and middle-aged women between30 and 40 years old. The course isprolonged and may last several years.2. There are often a number of hardlumps of different sizes in one or bothbreasts. There is no distinct border linebetween the lumps. The lumps can bemoved freely in a fairly large range. Thesize of the lumps varies along withchanges in the patient’s mood. Theyenlarge when the patient is angry andthey reduce when the patient is happy.In the pre-menstrual period they becomebigger and they get smaller in the postmenstrualperiod.3. There is pain in the breast that is worsebefore menstruation and will be relievedafter menstruation. Ifthe patient is in a badmood she will have anobvious distendingpain and tenderness atthe location of thelumps in her breast.TreatmentConventional medicineusually treats thecondition by surgeryand the removal of thelumps. TraditionalChinese Medicine(TCM) usually treats itby herbal medicinewith a good successrate.Differentiation andTreatment ofCommonSyndromes:1. Stagnation ofthe liver Qi andcoagulation of phlegm.Main Symptomsand SignsThe condition is foundin young women whohave an impetuous temper and angereasily or who are in low spirits or in asilent huff. The patient will feel adistending pain or a stabbing pain in thebreast that will be worse before herperiod and will be relieved afterwards.The lumps in the breast are irregular andmay be enlarged or reduced as thepatient’s mood changes. The tongue ispale with a whitish coating. The pulse istaut and slippery.Treatment PrincipleRelieve the depressed liver. Regulate thecirculation of Qi and remove phlegm toactivate the channels in the breast.PrescriptionXiao Yao Lou Bei San, Cahi Hu, DangGui, Bai Shao, Fu Ling, Bai Zhu, Zhe Bei,Ban Xia, Gua Lou Pi, Mu Li, Shan Ci Gu,Tian Nan Xin.All the above herbs to be decoctedin water for oral administration2. Imbalance of the Chong and RenChannelsMain Symptoms and SignsCommonly seen in middle-aged women.The course of the disease is relativelylong. The patient looks thin and is in lowspirits. There is a low fever in theafternoon, sometimes with accompanyingrestlessness, insomnia,headache, dizziness and irritability,menstrual disorder and amenorrhea. Thelumps in the breast are hard and canbecome cysts. The tongue is slightly redwith a whitish coating. The pulse is deepand thready.Treatment PrincipleHarmonise the Qi and blood in theChong and Ren channels.PrescriptionEr Xian Tang, Xian Mao, Xian Ling Pi,Dang Gui, Ba Ji Tian, Zhi Mu, Huang BaiAll the above herbs to be decoctedin water for oral administration.In addition to the decoction, theherbal patents Dong Ling Cao Pian orXiao Yao Wan can be taken at the sametime to resolve the hard lumps in boththe above typesBy Dr. Shulan Tangemail : shulan@qimagazine.comQi Magazine 10

Five Levels ofQi Magazine 12

In the first part of this article, we described level one andlevel two of practising Taijiquan. To begin with we just try toremember the movements. After that we need to try andunderstand the movements and although we can rememberthem, there is still a lot of stiffness and they can also beuncomfortable. This we need to try and overcome.TAIJIQUAN Part 2Level ThreeOn reaching Level Three, we are more aware of theflow of Qi and the internal movements. Any movement thatdoes not feel right you need to work on. First you must relaxand then you have to follow the principles of the movementto correct it. You must not just let it pass, any movements thathave a problem need to be worked on.The principle of Taijiquan is based on a circle. Everysingle movement moves in a circular way. The waist whichmeans the Dantian directs each movement. Power comesfrom the root, which is your legs. At this level the circles inyour movements change from big circles to medium circles.Generally, big circles can be seen in your hands andwe only see small circular movements in the waist. When wedevelop the smaller circles it means we move the waist morethan the hands. When you come to Level Three, everymovement should come from the waist. No movements shouldcome from just the hands or legs. When we consider whethereach movement comes from the waist, we also need to seeany blockages in the movement and any discomfort in thetransitions from one posture to another. At this level, it isimportant to understand the application of the movement,but this is not the most important thing. You must rememberthe most important thing is the principle of the movementand the flow. Then you can start to let the movements changefrom a big circle to a smaller circle. However, it is not theexternal movement you need to consider it is the internalmovement as the Qi flows through your body and limbs. EveryQi Magazine 13

movement that starts from the inside, moves from the internalbody to the external body.Taijiquan is considered to be natural. Every movementshould move naturally and the Qi is connected to the Dantian.Whether you performing a closing or opening movement, theyare allconnected.W he nyou are at thislevel, thefeeling of theform is verygood, becauseit is allc o nn e c t e d .But when youcome to releasepower,Fajing, thenyou will stillfeel that it isnot naturaland youcannot do itcorrectly. Occasionallyyou will feel that it is all right, butsometimes your Fajing will feel too external. Thenit can make you lose your balance and make youstiff. When you understand the balance betweeninternal and external you know that when you doa movement quickly or with strength, if you feelstiff, then you are not doing it correctly.That is why the first Taijiquan form isperformed slowly. One reason is because we wantit to improve our health, and the second reason iswe want to be able to do it quickly and powerfully.Without doing it slowly first, you will not be able to balancethe internal and external movement together. If you try anduse a lot of power and speed without this balance, you caninjure yourself.Level Three is thought of as “Three Yin and seven Yang”.It is still hard and this is the reason why you feel OK when youdo the form slowly, but when you try it with speed and powerthere are these problems. So, thebest way to practise is still do theform slowly, and when you cometo a fast part with Fajing, holdback and only do it 50 to 70%.So you buildup slowlyand neverdo it 100%.This is like acar with asmall engine.Youcannot tryand make itrun at 150miles per hour or else you will damage it.Performing it this way, you should still beable to do the movement properly with acertain amount of speed and power, onlynot using full power yet.In Level Three you shouldconcentrate on the mind, not on the Qi“If you try and use a lotof power without thisbalance, you can injureyourself.”and not on the power. The mind leads the energy. For example,when you are happy, everything seems easier. When you areupset, everything seems difficult, so you see, your mind leadsyour energy whether it is good or bad.When you practise and emphasise the mind, you buildup a good attitude, a calm mind and concentrate on themovement. When you come to Fajing; the energy should comeFive Levels of Taijiquan10% Yin, 90% Yang is like a stick20% Yin, 80% Yang is low level skill30% Yin, 70% Yang is still too hard40% Yin, 60% Yang is high level50% Yin, 50% Yang is a spiritual LevelEvery single movement is based on Taiji principle,Anything that comes to this Taiji will become nothing.Qi Magazine 14Five Levels of Taijiquan

from your mind instead of from your muscles. The mind buildsup the energy and the energy creates the power.In Tui Shou (pushing hands) you are able to handle thosepeople at a lower level more easily, but when you train withsomeone at the same level you will still use a lot of strength toovercome your partner’s power. This is because internal andexternal are not completely connected yet.So you still need to continue to train. When you are atLevel Three, you are normallydoing more Xinjia (NewFrame), as the Xinjia circles aresmaller than the Laojiao’s.Level FourUsually when youpractise Taijiquan, if you canreach Level Three then this isalready very good. You canhandle ordinary people quitecomfortably, but with certainbig or strong people you willstill find some difficulties.Certain parts of your body arestill difficult to bring togetherso they become oneconnected movement. Forexample, someone may pushyou strongly and you still findit hard to move, or step backor avoid it.To get to Level Four itusually takes about threeyears after you have reachedLevel Three. In Level Fouryour medium circle becomea small circle, so small thatyou can hardly see it.Just a small movementof your waistcreates thecircle and youropponent ispushed or trapped withoutthem even noticing it. Thetiming is so good and themovements fast and powerful.This means that your Qi is flowing along the body andthere are no blockages. When you want to Fajing, the Qi andpower come together.When you do the form, you can perform it slowly, quickly,powerfully or gently and each time it feels comfortable. Butremember you are still “Four Yin and Six Yang”. Although thisis a very high level, it is is not completely even. Why is that? Itis because you are still in control of the situation. You do whatyou want, but when you want something then you need to paya price. Most situations in Tui Shou you can handle very well.You can push them around or even throw them whenever youwant. But you have not reached a level where it happens on itsown.In Level Four your Qi flows and you find you are powerfuland strong, but each time you practise, you still find you aretired. In some way, you are still using your energy. So althoughyou can handle most things in fighting and Tui Shou and youare strong and powerful if you do too much you can makeyourself tired. And so the next day you cannot do so much.Level FiveAt Level Five you are “Five Yin and Five Yang”. This is aspiritual level when your Taijiquan reaches 50% Yin and 50%Yang. So your entire body is like the Taiji symbol: movement,stillness, there is nodifference between Yinand Yang, they are alltogether. Yin is insideYang and Yang is insideYin. This means that youbecome one with theTaiji form. All youreveryday movementsare like the Taiji Form.Practising the Taijiform helps you keep theTaiji principle inside you.It is like you visit an oldfriend and enjoy beingtogether. Every time youpractise, there is notiredness and any effortcomes naturally. Yourbody, breathing andmind do everything youwant by themselves.The circle changesfrom a small circle to nocircle. In the movementsyou measure the circle bythe Qi flowing inside ina circle, but you cannotsee it with your eyes. Thisis a spiritual, natural andbalanced level.Whatever you doeven something otherthan the Taijiquan form,like climbing a mountain,playing football, driving acar all follow the Taijiprinciple and so become a Taiji form. Your lifestyle follows theprinciple of Taiji and you deal with any problems the sameway. You are become a happy and strong person. You do notneed to think about making any effort, so in Tui Shou everythingis natural, all your movements and reactions come becauseyour opponent caused it. As Bruce Lee said, “You do not needto push or hit your opponent, they do it by themselves”.At this level, whenever you look at other martial arts, oreven any other human movement, you can explain it with theTaiji principle. The Taiji principle follows nature and so anythingthat is not natural will have a bad result.That is a high level of Taijiquan. 50% Yin and 50% Yangeverything happens naturally as it does our lives. This is theDao. Practising Taijiquan is a method for us to understand theTaiji principle and so it is a method to help us understand natureand ourselvesBy Michael TseQi Magazine 15

In the last issue of Qi Magazine, I talked about how Qigong was notonly for health and living longer, but a way in which to accept our endingwith a peaceful heart, as not everyone will live to be over one hundred, nomatter how hard they practise.Qigong MoralityLife TrainingThis time I would like to talk aboutQigong morality. Some people donot like to talk about this side ofQigong, thinking that it sounds too muchlike religion. But is this really so? Religion,by definition, is a belief or reverence ofa supernatural power who is consideredto be the creator or organiser of theuniverse. Religion is the following of aset of rules which that supernatural beingimposes on its followers in order to keeporder. Religion certainly considers thecorrect moral behaviour, but it does notnecessarily consider keeping a healthybody. It can even be said that the way inwhich many followers practise theirreligions, they often damage their healthrather than fortify it.So how are Qigong and religiondifferent?Qigong evolved from naturalmovements that ancient peoples used tohelp them feel better and relieve illnessor injury. These may have been anythingfrom stretching, jumping, dancing,massaging orshaking theirextremities tofeel better.Later thesem ov em e nt sevolved andbecame moreconscious asto direct Qi tothe body ’se x tr e m i ti e sthrough themeridians. These movements wereconnected with breathing and relaxationand came to be known as Daoyin.Daoyin was the precurser toQigong. There have been Daoyinexercises found recorded on bronzes andsilk banners which have been recovedfrom various tombs in archeological digsin China. During this time, there came agrowing knowledge in TraditionalChinese Medicine and also a morestandardised written language. Booksbegan to be written on herbal medicine,philosophy and the meridian andacupuncture theories. Taoism andBuddhism also began to flourish and alsolater Confucianism. These all influencedthe understanding of the human bodyboth mentally, spiritually and physically.One of the oldest surviving texts onChinese Medicine today, written around3 BC, is the Yellow Emperor’s Classic onChinese Medicine. In its pages, we cansee even then that there was a profoundunderstanding not only of the physicalbody, but how the way in which one livesand thinks can affect physical wellbeing.All of these ideasinfluenced the developmentof Qigong and it became away of regulating health bynot living in excess butrather in accordance withnature. It became a wayof making the bodyhealthy throughbalancing the blood andQi through the practise ofDaoyin movements. By“We want so manythings that we havelost the taste forwhat is before us.”nourishing our internalorgans, our emotionsbecome more stable andour hearts more generous.It was understood that overindulgencein things coulddamage the body. Living andeating with the seasons,exercising regularly and not overextendingoneself, these were theways to health.Today, we have lost much of thispath as we have covered much of ournatural surroundings under homes andbusinesses and places of recreation. Wehave lost touch with the starsand moon and sun and liveonly by our alarm clocks sittingbeside our beds. The batteriesto our body clocks have rundown and we push ourselvesto the extreme. We think thatwe will have more fulfilled lives if canexperience as much as possible. But as itsays in Buddhism, ‘five colours can makeyou blind’.With television, radio andcomputers, we hear so much that we aredeaf. We want so many things that wehave lost the taste for what is before us,Qi Magazine 16

continually hungry for new things, newpeople, new experiences. We see somuch, we have to shut our eyes to gainpeace. Our senses are so over-loaded,we can not distinguish between the roseblooming in the hedge and the appleblossom on the tree.Qigong can help bring us back tonature. If we practiseoutside near trees, ameadow or a lake, wecan hear birds singingand see the seasonschanging with eachday. Our body becomesmore attuned to thechanges in the weatherand so we can withstandany changeswithout becoming ill.But what about whenwe go home or back towork. Maybe yourmother is telling you todo your homework or you have a bigdeadline for a report and so you findyourself getting tense and upset. Maybeyou even want to leave and findsomewhere more peaceful. Maybe youeven want to shout back at someone. Butyou know from your practise that losingyour temper can damage your liver. Youknow that worrying too much candamage your spleen. You know thatrunning away will just make you loseheart to face the future and affect yourlungs and heart and kidneys.So Qigong can be used to help uscontrol our emotions. It can also help uscontrol our desires. We all want thingsas this is the way we have been raisedand what we are bombarded witheveryday. But if we practise more Qigong,we can find what is real and what is not.We can see more clearly what we reallyneed and what we are just buying ortrying in order to comfort a feeling ofblues or loneliness. We can also seepeople more clearly and ourselves aswell. And we can see when we need tohold on to something and when to letgo. Qigong can show us how to calmourselves to behave in society, not onlythinking of ourselves, but others as well.Lao Zi recommended breathingexercises to help calm the emotions.When we take deeper breaths, the wholebody will begin to relax and the normalfunctions of the organscan continue. But if weare tense and angry, ourQi will be affected. If itcontinues, it willdamage our internalorgans and physicalhealth. Confuciusrecommended Qigongto help regulate theemotions so one canfulfill one’s duty insociety and not causeharm to others.Buddhists use Qigongmethods to help themind let go of illusions so they can reachenlightenment. So Qigong is not just forhealth, it is also to help us behave better,to know our hearts more clearly and nothurt others. The more we practise, themore calm we will be and the more wewill know what is the right path to takeby Shin Keisihnkei@qimagazine.comKunlun Twinning Hands BaguaNew York:27/28 October 2001This exercise is an advanced form in the famous WildGoose (Dayan) Qigong System. Bagua relates to thenumber 8 and in this form we walk in eight differentdirections, improving body balance and internal Qi.Special movements also stimulate the liver, getting rid ofliver anger and improving circulation and eyesight. Italso creates a strong Qi field and is suitable foreveryone.Contact Adam Wallace on (212) 330 8327or the Centre directlyTse Qigong CentrePO Box 15807Honolulu, HI 96830USACall Toll Free outside Hawaii:1-866 TSE TSE8 (1-866-873-8738)or in Hawaii(808) 528 8501Fax (520) 441 6578tse@wildgooseqigong.comQi Magazine 17

JumpingTrainingEverytime when we watch Wushu practitioners, theShaolin Monks, Jet Li and Jackie Chan doing all thejumping techniques, we are all impressed by their skill.We actually might be able to train ourselves like that.Of course it is better if you have already some martialarts foundation. Also make sure you warm up and stretchbefore you start.These are some techniques you can do on your own.But remember, take it easy. Don’t try too hard, you must developstep by step, from a lower to a higher level.Jumping is very important for many diversestyles of martial art, especially for NorthernShaolin, and of course Wushu. So how do wedevelop the ability to jump with height and energy?1.i 1.ii 1.ii1. Run and Jump upi. Walk forwardsii. Increase the energy. Lift up both hands and palms cometogether (it does not matter which one is on top), and thenlift up the left foot.iii. Jump up with the right foot. Bend the left knee, at thesame time lift up both hands as high as possible.iv. Repeat steps i. to iii. many times until you are comfortabledoing them.2.i2. From Inside Out to Slap the Footi. Step forward with the right foot. Meanwhile lift up bothhands, right hand forwards, left hand backwards.ii. Turn your waist from left to right. Meanwhile lift up the leftleg, hands following the turn to balance.iii. Keep turning 360degrees, lift up the right leg. Slap the frontof the foot with both palms.2.ii2.iii3.i 3.ii3. Turning the Bodyi. Sink the body with right foot forwards, both hands down.ii. Bring up the left foot, keep the knee bent, bring in the heelto the body. Jump with the right standing leg, and liftup both hands.Qi Magazine 18

4.i4.ii4. Closing Chinese Goldi. Lying on the ground with both arms straight above theii.head, stretch out both legs straight.Close up the upper body to the lower body. Let your handstouch the feet at the same time.8.i 8.28.Spinning the body and hold the legi. Left hand opens forwards, right hand backwards to forma straight line. Left bow stance, with the front knee bentand back leg straight.ii. Then spin the whole body 360 degrees and hold the rightleg with both hands.5.i 5.ii5. Grasp the feet as you jumpi. Stand on the ground, and bend your knees. Swing yourii.7. Flying kicki. Standing on the ground, bend your knees. Swing yourii.arms backwards like you are getting ready to jump.Jump up, as high as possible. As you reach the top, holdboth legs.6. Side sit upi. Lying down on the floor, both hands grasp the back ofii.6.iyour head.Lift up your head and leg. First time let your left elbowtouch the right knee, and the second time do the opposite.Alternate both sides.7.iarms to the right side.Jump up, slap the right leg with both hands. As your right,kick up to the air.7.ii6.ii9.i 9.ii 9.iii9. Spinning jumpi. Stand on the ground, swing both arms to the right side.ii. Spin the whole body round, meanwhile lift up both handsand jump up as high as possible.iii. Land on the ground and repeat the exercise.10.i10. Lift up the head and the tail.i. Lie on your stomach, on the ground. Stretch both arms outstraight in front of your head. Legs also out straight.ii. Lift up both hands, head and legs at the same time.Developing those 10 jumping techniques will make yourbody strong, improve coordination, can help with slimming, andincrease flexibility. They also help make the waist and legs verypowerful, with lots of energy.All these exercises should be done on both sides, and doas many repetitions as you like. Start with a small number in thebeginning and develop in to more repetitions. Some of thoseexercises may be too difficult in the beginning, so you can justchoose those you can do until you are stronger and flexibleenough. Then move on to the more difficult ones.After three months of regular practice, your body willbecome strong, so you can jump higherby Wen Xiang10.iiQi Magazine 19

Learning Wing Chun and especially Chi Sau, can be one of the most frustrating things. Iremember my Sifu saying that when you study you always feel stupid. This is because the seniors canalways tie you up in knots, dissolve your best attempt at beating them and seemingly hit you at will.Wing Chun:Most of the time this just adds to the challenge and mostaccept that to reach a good level of skill will take alittle more time and effort. Of course, if it were tooeasy, then it would not be worth having. This is all well andgood, but sometimes you can feel as if you are really gettingno where and that perhaps you will never be able to “get itright”. When people come to this wall, it is often quite a crucialstage in their training. Many never overcome this and drift awayfrom class. However, those who do get by it will improve agreat deal only to hit another wall some time later and thenthey are faced with the samefeelings all over again.I once lookedaround in class and sawthat many peoplelooked too serious,there was no smiling,laughing or jokinggoing on as theyplayed Chi Sau andalthough they lookedas if they wereworking at it, it did notlook like they wereparticularly enjoyingit. This worried me alittle because if youdon’t enjoy what youare doing, why areyou doing it?I decided to tryand find out whypeople find learning sofrustrating and wentaround the room andasked them theirthoughts. When I askedthem why the found learningso frustrating, their answers went some thinglike:I need to improve ….(a specific part of their technique).Whenever I try to do this, I can’t get it to work.I can’t get this part right.Whenever you use this technique on me, I can’t stop you.With all their answers, I noticed that every answercontained the words “I can’t” I then asked them whether theyfelt like this with everyone, or with just when they practisedwith seniors or with me (as their teacher). After a littlepersuasion, they finally admitted it was when they mostly didChi Sau with seniors and with me.This was interesting because quite honestly, I have neverfelt frustrated and fed up when training. I have come acrossThe Frustrationof Learningthe same challenges and problems as everyone else, but theynever left me deflated of took the enjoyment out of my studies.What they were telling me was that they could not dosomething well enough to get through my defences. So I askedthem, “Is that because of what you are doing or because ofwhat I am doing?”From my experience, it does not really matter what youare trying to do, as your seniors and especially your teacherwill be able to tell and so of course, they will either stopyou in your tracks, or let you try and just stop yourtechnique from working. Your teacher is like agardener. He or she plants the seeds and carefullynurtures them. You are like one of the flowers. Whenyou come out to bloom, to you it is a new thing, but thegardener is not surprised, he/she knows exactly whatwill happen in the garden.Also if you could defeat your teacher so easily,how would you feel about that? Of course you want agood teacher whose skill is much higher than yours. Ifyou can find a teacher like this you should be so happy,as you are very lucky! You should not feel frustrated“He is not surprised,he knows exactlywhat will happen”and upset! The problem is that many people just think aboutthemselves and what they want to do. They do not thinkabout how their actions affects others and what others willthen do as a result of their actions. No one should be so selfobsessedto think it is all about what they are doing.So instead, when your techniques do not work againstyour seniors, it might not be because you did not do it correctly.In fact you may be able to perform it perfectly well. It is becausethe seniors have more experience than you do. So instead ofsaying “I can’t.”, you should say to yourself “How did he stopme?” or “How did he do that?”. Then you will not only learnmore, you will not put so much pressure on yourself and youwill appreciate how clever your opponent is. Then, if you doget hit you will try and work out why, and when you cannot hityou will try and find out why not. So if you are always learning,then you should always be happy and enjoy what you aredoingBy Darryl MoyQi Magazine 20

Northern ShaolinChun Yuen QuanSeminars withSifu Michael TseTo book or for moreinformation contact:Tse Qigong CentrePO Box 59Altrincham WA15 8FSTel 0161 929 4485Fax 0161 929 4489tse@qimagazine.comFive TigerBroadsword27/28 October, 10 to 4pm.Maria Assumpta Centre, 23 Kensington Sq. W8 5HN.This is a very energetic and exciting broadsword form which ispart of the Northern Shaolin system of Grandmaster Wu ChunYuen. It is unusual in its use of long flags on the end of theweapon. These are to used to confuse an opponent by theircolour and noise. The name hints that this broadsword ispowerful enough to deal with five tigers.Cost: £120 in adv members of Tse Qigong Centre.£160 in adv non members *includes membershipParticipants must have their own broadsword.Broadswords can be purchased through theTse Qigong Centre.DamoStaff24/25 Nov 10 to 4pm.Maria Assumpta Centre, 23 Kensington Sq. W8 5HN.Due to popular demand, Michael Tse will be teaching another session on the Shaolin Damo Staff. This will be anopportunity for those to continue on from last time and also for complete beginners to take up this highlyenjoyable form.The form originates from the Northern Shaolin temple. It builds up a lot of energy in the body and also developsbalance and coordinationCost: £160 in adv members of Tse Qigong Centre. £200 in adv non members (includes membership)Price includes White Wax Wood Staff. Reduction for those who attended previously and so have their staff.Qi Magazine 21

Qi Magazine 22

Fierce as a TigerTheBroadswordThe sword is a weapon for fighting and defence. Insome terms it even means power. In the west there are allkinds of different swords of different shapes and sizes, andthese are all called swords. However in China there are onlytwo main types of sword. One is a straight sword and theother is the broadsword which is often called a knife or sabre.In Chinese the straight sword is called a “Jian” and thebroadsword is called a “Dao”There is quite a difference between astraight sword and broadsword. Thestraight sword is lighter, more subtle andneeds more skill to be used correctly. Thebroadsword requires more speed and isheavier. So you can say that the straight sword isYin as it does not depend so much on strength,but is more based on skill, while the broadswordis Yang as it requires strength and speed and theskill is a little easier to master.Today both these types of sword are nolonger used as weapons of war as today we havemore powerful weapons. These old traditionalweapons are no longer effective enough and taketoo long to use. If you had to go to war and fightand you had a choice between a sword or machinegun, I am sure you would not choose the sword.So today we do not practise with thesetraditional weapons to fight wars, instead we usethem to help us develop our physical and mentalskills. Today’s world places everything in our mindsand there is not enough physical exercise andmovement. So we have become heavier and sufferfrom illnesses we did not have in the past. This isQi Magazine 23

ecause in the past, the life of the average person was morephysical, more balanced than our lives today.I have mentioned the straight sword in the past, so thistime I will introduce the skill of the broadsword to our readers.The broadsword has over 5000 years of history. Inancient times, when people needed to hunt and defendthemselves against wild animals to survive, they needed somekind of weapon. At this time the earliest swords were created.They needed a weapon which was heavy and sharpand also easy to carry. People began to tie sharp stonesto sticks and this was a very powerful weapon. Laterthey began to sharpen the stones to make theweapon even more effective.In Nanjing, China a “Seven Holes StoneBroadsword” was found which was used over 4000years ago. This tells us that the ancient Chinesepeople had broadswords very early on. After many,many years and after China had discovered howto use metal like iron and copper, they beganto make metal swords and also otherweapons like spears, axes, etc. Mostweapons were made with a woodenhandle and metal blades andthese were very powerfulweapons.China has recordsof different kinds ofweapons trainingwhich are over3000 years old.In the beginningallEvery style of martial art has its own way of moving, butwhen it comes to weapons training, we see a lot of similaritiesin the skill. It is the attitude and energy which are differentbetween each style.The broadsword technique contains many differentskills, chopping from right to left, chopping from leftto right, cut from the bottomto the top, straightchop from top to bottom, stabbing,fast chop, horizontal chop,block the above chop, pushforwards, carry theweapon along, pushupwards, circle, carry theweapon downwards, point, jerk up,press, separate, jerk down, hold,rotate, opposite rotate, etc. there are allkinds of different skills to master.However, when you practise thebroadsword, you must also concentrate onthe other hand. In most situations, the palmin open and the thumb is closed. When youpractise the broadsword, and in fact allweapons, you must consider the other emptyhand. This hand is used to balance your wholeposture. If your whole body, arms, hands, legs“ChineseMartial Artsalso considerdevelopinggood health.”the weapons trainingwas very simple and direct. Aftermany years of development and practicethe training began to mix with dancing fordemonstrations. This took place during the Spring and AutumnPeriod. From there things developed even more.Chinese Martial Arts are not just based on fighting skill.They also consider developing good health. When you trainwith a weapon, you should be even more healthy, have goodco-ordination as well as develop more physical power.So they put all these elements and skills together tocreate a form (a series of movements). Each form exercises thewhole body and covers the hands, eyes, legs, stepping etc.are correct, then your weapon will be very powerful, andthis will also help to bring you good health. If you justconcentrate on the weapon if will make your body unevenand one side will become too strong and the other side will beimbalanced. Thisis one majordifference bewteenChineseMartial Arts andthe west. ChineseMartial Artsconcentrate onthe balance of thewhole body, notonly on the strongpart. You need tomake sure the restQi Magazine 24

of the body is in a good,balanced position andshape, otherwise, when youare older you will have allkinds of problems. Chinesephilosophy says, “Set up agood, correct foundationand the future willautomatically be good”.When using thebroadsword, there are somebasic training exercises forus to practise. The first is“Going round the head.” Inthis exercise you hold thebroadsword so the the hiltof the handle points up andthe tip of the blade pointsdown. You then rotate thebroadsword over your headfrom left to right and then from right to left. This training willhelp you get used to the broadsword while it moves in differentangles. Make sure you are familiar with the broadsword andthen you will know how much energy you can put into it.Afterwards you should practise so the sword goes aroundyour back and to your waist all in one rotation. When you havepractised enough, you will create a certain energy around yourbody and the broadsword will become your friend. it will protectyou once you hold it and the energy will come to you and yourspirit will lift up. Of course, this takes a lot of practice.When you practise the broadsword, you need to makeevery movement clear and understand where are the soft partsand where are the strong parts of the movement. Usually, justbefore you use energy, you need to relax, but do not lose yourposition. When you use energy, it comes from your whole bodyand reaches the tip of the sword. This is a clear and correctmovement. Your eyes and hands are always together facingthe direction where you are going, this brings the correctconcentration. After one attack is complete, you must considerthe next. You never stop in one position without coveringyourself.When you use the broadsword, it should bring up yourspirit and you should not have a gentle attitude, this is because,“The broadsword is like a tiger,” powerful and frightening. Thusyour opponents will be scared of you when you come close tothem.The broadsword is always at the centre of your enemyso it will be powerful, even if you enemy has a long weapon.Once you get to the centre, then the long weapon is uslessand the broadsword will be more powerful then the longweapon.They say that at the end, when you have reached a highlevel in the broadsword, once you hold it, others will feelnervous and scared of you. When you fight with the sword,people will hear the wind made by the sword, but cannot seethe blade. So your movements become so fast, it is hard tosee. When you move with the broadsword, even if people throwwater at you, your body will not get wet.This is a very high level. Your broadsword skill will befast powerful and clear. Once your broadsword is good, thenyou can start to practise with double broadswordsBy Michael TseQi Magazine 25

Comfort and QuietLying Down QigongNot all Qigong exercises consist ofmovement. This Qigong set involves lyingdown exercises and is excellent for thosewho find it difficult to learn movements.Comfort and Lying Down Qigong is a systemfor nourishing your Qi when you are in a lyingdown position. It is especially good for thosewho find it difficult to practise Qigongmovements and is also good for a wide variety ofdifferent conditions. The practice of Comfort andQuiet Lying Down Qigong develops the mind, bodyand breathing all together. It can also develop moreQi so you have good health and longevity.The system has lying positions for all kinds ofconditions, it includes lying on your back and sides indifferent postures. Some are opening and some areclosing. The hands are also placed in various positionson the body to connect with acupuncture points. Thishelps to heal any illnesses and gather more Qi.If you practise regularly, you will find your Qi isstronger and so you have more energy to deal with everydaylife. You will find your need for sleep may decrease and it is alsogood for those people suffering from stress.Basic Method:1. Lie on a bed or mattress on the floor, but makesure it is wide enough and will not slide aroundwhen you move your body. It should also not betoo hard or too soft. It should be comfortableand not affect your position.2. Lie on the mattress and relax your whole body.Your mouth and eyes should be closed and allowyour Qi to sink to your Dantian.3. Keeping your eyes closed, imagine a light comingdown from the sky to your eyes. Slowly bring thelight to your nose, and from your nose, bring itto the Middle Dantian, finally it should moveslowly to your Dantian.4. Recite this sentence off by heart, “Exhale to theSun, inhale to the moon. Healthy and livelonger.” Keep the light at the Lower Dantian,however, you should remember not toconcentrate on the light too hard. Your attentionshould be on the Dantian but not concentratingon it really hard. Stay like this for half an hour toone hour. How long you stay is based on how youfeel. The best is to start by lying there for a shorttime and when you practise more, slowly increasethe time. To avoid falling asleep, concentrate on yourbreathing and your Qi. For instance, bring the Qi toyour limbs as your breathe out through your mouthand breathe in through your nose.5. Shou Gong (Ending Exercise)Recite the following by heart, “Three treasures, likeheaven, earth and mankind, all become one.Everything will be good.” Then imagine all the Qislowly going back to the lower Dantian and keep itthere. Slowly open your eyes and allow your spiritto return to normal before sitting up and leavingthe bed.The following are the lying down Qigongexercises. Pay attention to the details and follow themand then you will benefit a great deal.Basic Method:Qi Magazine 26

1. Natural and Easy Lying Down Methodi. Lie down on your back with acomfortable pillow under your head.Close your eyes and keep your arms atyour sides. Allow the fingertips to touchthe Huantiao points. (Fig 1,2)This is good for many different problemsand the internal organs. When we are unwell,we easily close up the body and this stops theQi from flowing to the organs.“Qigong develops themind, body andbreathing all together.”2. Covered by Heaven Lying Down Methodi. Lie on your back and lift your arms so they are aboveyour head. Your palms should be about six inches fromthe top of your head so the Laogong points face theBaihui point.ii. Bend both legs and cross your legs. Men should crossthe left leg over the right, and ladies should cross theright leg over the left. The elbows should be slightlybent.iii. Imagine all the Qi passing from the Laogong points tothe Baihui point. Fig 3.This exercise is very good for stress and those people whouse a lot of mental energy. It helps to clear headaches andmigraines and allows the Qi to flow from the top of the headto the feet and so is very good for the relaxation.3. No Worrying Lying Down Methodi. Lie on your back and put your hands on the back ofyour head. The fingers should interlink and crossthe legs as in the last exercise. Fig 4.This is very good for the vertaebrae of the spine andthe neck. As your body relaxes, the Qi flows from theLaogong points to nourish the neck and brain and thishelps to make the body calm.To be continued...By Zhao Jin XiangQi Magazine 27

Just over Suzhou Creek in north central Shanghai lies Caoyang Park. Asmall park in comparison to many of the amenities in Shanghai, Caoyang Parkhas a wealth of activity belying its size. In fact two of the Masters who teach hereare internationally known and their students practise at a high level ofachievement.Taiji in Caoyang ParkTaiji in Caoyang ParkShanghai JournalThe first time I went to CaoyangPark, in August of 2000, I wasstruck by the sheer numbers ofpeople crammed into its small confines.It seemed people practising Qigong orTaiji took up every square meter whileunder the trees ballroomdancing and Tuishou (pushhands) predominated.Around the tables of Mahjongor card players, huge crowdsgathered and under thearbours, large numbers of theelderly chatted socially.We go to the parkspecifically to practice Tuishou& Wu Style Taijiquan withGrandmaster Wang Hao Da.It is here that he is based andhis students train.Grandmaster Wang,(featured in Qi Magazine,issue 48) a senior student ofthe late Ma Yueh Liang, is awell-known and respectedfigure in the west as well as in Shanghai.His push hands ability is second to noneand people come from far and wide topush with him. His students also practiseat a very high level although not one ofthem has all of his astonishing qualities.Back in December 2000 wewitnessed an out of the ordinary affairin Caoyang Park. Master Xu Guo Ming,who studies with Grandmaster Wang,arranged to bring his Lan Shou Quan (aform of external Shaolin Quan school)brothers up to the park for a Tui Shouchallenge. His Gongfu brothers, all intheir 50s, are strong and fit, and it wasto be a genuine encounter between the“everyonegot onquite well and tried tolearn from one another”internal and external systems. He alsoinvited several other prominent teachersin Shanghai to come witness the eventand push hands with GrandmasterWang. Before we went, we wereconcerned that the situation might getout of control but on the day everyonegot on quite well and tried to understandand learn from one another.Another reason we frequentCaoyang Park is to study Chen styleTaijiquan with Master Jiang Zhong Bao.Master Jiang is an accomplished studentof Feng Zhiquiang. A quiet and humbleman, Master Jiang’s ability isdistinguished by hisinternal spirallingand accomplishedproficiency in theapplication of theform. Master Jianghas a uniqueteaching style andover the months wehave studied with himwe have got to knowhim more intimatelythan is typical. Hedoesn’t just teach usthe form and itsapplications but isconcerned that weunderstand thehistory and culturalconnotations of thelessons as well.We enjoygoing to CaoyangPark to study with ourteachers and theirstudents. Every lessonis a special occasionand the people theremake us feel quitewelcome. The park itself however is quitesmall and were it not for its inhabitantsit wouldn’t warrant a second visit. Wehave been to the park at a variety ofhours and it is either very crowded withpeople practising or it is virtually emptywith some undesirable elements hangingabout. While we would highlyrecommend the park for a visit to observeor study with Grandmaster Wang orMaster Jiang; it is probably worth a missfor any other reasonby J. Reynolds Nelsonemail JRN@qimagazine.comQi Magazine 28

Instructor InsightHelen Howes: SuffolkHelen Howes is qualified to teachthe Dayan Qigong syllabus andcan be contacted on 01508548137 (daytime)/01508548134 (evenings)One day in the summer of 1995, I sat and watched a class at my local martial arts centreand fell absolutely in love with something I had never seen before. If I had been told then that Iwould one day teach this exotic and elegant stuff, I would have run away at once! In the yearssince then, my life has changed entirely. My health, which was very bad, has improved enormously,and I spend much of my free time either training or teaching, or in class with my Sifu, Julian Wilde.I have my own small class in Beccles, and this year I am able for the first time to recommend thatone of my students be invited to attend an Instructors course. This makes me very happy!I find that there are great pleasures and some trials in teaching. When a student isvisibly much more alive and well, that is a great reward. When I find just the right way to explaina movement or exercise, that’s a pleasure. When I teach someone half the form and they just loseinterest or find something else to do, then that can be frustrating. I always enjoy the process ofmaking forms, with their long history and tradition sing for a new student. I find much pleasurealso in attending class. The more I learn, the more I want to know, and the more there is to findout.It took a while before I came to appreaciate that I had not just acquired a skill, and allthe health benefits, but also a big and varied and caring family in my fellow students and in myteachers. There is nothing quite like an instructors course for reinforcing that bond and makingnew friendships from all around the world. Qigong changed my life at a point when it was muchneeded; I hope that I may one day leave many other lives changed in the same way.Sue Burton:West WimbledonMy first professional work was as a ballet dancer. I later moved on to acting and, like many other ex-dancers, I startedteaching once I had stopped performing. As a dancer, I also acquired some massage skills and have more recently studiedvarious forms of massage therapy, including Chinese Massage with an acupuncturist colleague. Because he knew I was interestedin therapeutic exercise, he suggested that I might also like to try Qigong.I was very fortunate to find John Hayes’ class close to where I live in South-West London (luckily I also live quiteclose to where the London Tse Qigong Centre is now based). So in April 1996 I took part in my first Qigong class. My firstimpressions were of a group of dedicated students performing fluid, graceful movements and of Sifu’s relaxed, patient teachingstyle. I found it difficult at first (it still is) to drop some of the movement habits engrained from years of ballet dancing, but I reallywanted a new challenge and found Sifu’s class inspiring.When I began to attend Tse Sigong’s seminars, I found out the more I learnt, the more important the ethosunderlying his teachings became to me. Then, when I attended my first instructors course, Sigong said that one of the mostimportant things in learning to teach was to be of Good Heart. This is what attracts me about the Tse Qigong Centre and I amsure this is what makes it so successful.I myself have been teaching Qigong for two years to a group of women, the eldest of whom is in her eighties! Sofar they have learned Taiji Qigong, Balancing Gong and the first part of Healthy Living Gong with me. Each week we warm upwith some self massage, then each student lets me know if they have any particular physical problems, so we can practise theexercises that will be of most help. The group is all very supportive of each other and I am very fortunate to have the support ofanother instructor, Marie Bell, in my class.If I experience any problems I try to follow Sigong’s advice to keep things simple.I look forward to what the future brings for us.Qi Magazine 30

PreservedEggsSometimes called Thousand YearOld Egg, these have a delicious butunique flavour.Preserved eggs are not to everyone’stastebuds but eaten with rice soupor as a condiment with a simplesauce, they can be very delicious. Theproper name for preserved eggs isSonghua Dan which means pine flowereggs. They are so called because whenshelled, the solidified but semitransparenteggs show flowery patters.The more numerous the patterns, thehigher the quality of the egg.Songhua are normally made ofduck eggs. The traditional folk recipe wasto soak the fresh eggs in quicklime mixedwith salt and water. Now eggs are soakedfrom 40-60 days inliquid consisting ofcaustic soda, salt and tealeaves. Another method thatis followed in certain regions isto wrap the unshelled eggsindividually in a clay mixture containingquicklime, salt and grain husk, and theywill become quite edible in 2-3 weeks.Some Westerners have been told to callthem “hundred year old” or even“thousand year old” eggs. This isdefinitely an exaggeration which hascaused some to shy away from this tastybut peculiar Chinese food.One method of preparing the eggis to mix a bit of Chinese rice vinegar withminced ginger root and soy sauce andthen sprinkle this on the sliced egg. Thishelps to remove the slightly astringenttaste of the egg.From “Things Chinese and Their Stories” by DuFeibao and Hong SuChinese herbalism has beenaround for many centuries and is afascinating subject. Chinese herbs areused to restore the balance of Yin andYang forces in the body. Illnesses areclassified in terms of excess or deficiencyof Yin and Yang and treated accordinglywith herbs that have their own particularactions.It is said that each drug (herb) hasits own nature which includes neutral,hot, warm, cool and cold. So if someonehas too much fire or Yang in the body,then a herb that has cooling propertiesmay be used to restore balance. Thereare five flavours of herbs whichcorrespond to the Five Element theory.Concise BookChineseReview Book Reviewboth Pinyin and Latin followed by a briefMateria MedicaShandong and Technology PressThese flavours are:- acrid herbs are sweatinducing and promote the ciruclationof Qi and blood; sweetherbs invigorate theMiddle Jiao and relievepain; sour herbs are usedto treat some chronicillnesses; bitter herbsare used to clear heatfrom the body and stopthe uprising of Qi inthe body; and lastlysalty herbs whichrelax the bowels andsoften tumours inthe body.This book iswritten for foreign readers andso the names of the herbs are given inBook Review Book Reviewdescription and a black and white linedrawing illustration of the plant. The herbis further described through its flavourand what its actions on the body are.Lastly a detailed description of indicationsof when the herb may be used along withthe names of other herbs which it mayused in conjunction with.If you know nothing about herbs,you can follow the classification indexof either actions of the drugsor finding the particularcondition. However, this is notreally a how to guide but moreof a reference tool for thosewanting to learn more or forthose already practising asherbalists. Considering thevastness of the subject, a lot ofinformation is packed into thisbook. It makes a good supplementto other more detailed guides, butit would have been even better ifthey had included the Chinesecharacters.£13.95/$18.95Qi Magazine 35

Fine Tuning theFive ElementsThe Five Elements are one of the basic principles underlyingall Chinese skill. Whether you are studying Qigong, martial arts,Feng Shui, cooking, horoscopes, herbs, philosophy etc. you needknow about the Five Elements.The elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.They help each other and also control each other. It isthe same as our lives, some people you get with verywell and some people you do not get on with. Alsosome things in life are good or useful and some thingsare not. However, whether it is people or objects there is apoint where the friendship or usefulness might run out. This isthe same as with people and things you do not get on with,suddenly you get on and like them very much. It is very commonto hear people say, “I didn’t know it in the beginning, but nowI’ve come to love it.” So basically, our lives are not black andwhite. Good can become bad and bad can become good. Weshould take things easy and not get over excited or too upsetabout things when they go wrong as well as be overly happywhen they go well.Whenever I give a lecture on the Five Elements, I alwayscome across people who mix up the elements with elementsfrom other systems (e.g. Indian, Earth, Water, Fire and Wind,some people will also say Air).People tend to mix up their knowledge of the ChineseFive Elements because today there is so much informationaround which we try to take in to make us more knowledgeable.However, more information and knowledge will not make youenlightened. Why is this? This is because with more informationin your mind then you will have less time to think about onething more deeply. So you know about things on the surfaceonly.As Laozi wrote in the Dao De Jing, “We do not need somany knives, we only need one good, sharp knife.” This is verytrue. If you look around, at very successful people, they areonly good at one thing. Other things they might not be sogood at, so instead they find people who are good at thesethings to help. Then they will have more time to develop theirmain talent to a more advanced level.From my personal point of view, I will spend more timedeveloping my Qigong and martial arts rather than other things.I am still not very good at using a computer or other electricalthings. I know what I need to know, but I will not spend toomuch time on it. I also know that in the future using all thistechnology will get easier and easier, so why spend so muchtime on it now? But developing my Qigong and martial artswill help more people.Qi Magazine 36

Coming back to the reasonwhy different cultures have differentelements and explanations; some willuse wind and some air. This is not thesame as the Chinese Five Elements,why is this? The answer is quitesimple. Each culture has a differenthistory and background based onwhere they developed and grew. Sothey will look at nature and base theirphilosophy on what seems to explaintheir experiences. Throughout theentire world there are differentcultures that use different numbers ofelements, some will have only threeetc. But if you look, we are all talkingabout the same thing, so do not letthe elements affect yourunderstanding. All these elementsand systems are to help youunderstand the universe. All theseelements are the keys to open thesecret door to the universe. Once youhave opened it, the key is not thatimportant. What is on the other sideof the door is more important.We can use the Five Elementsin different ways. For example, wecan use the Five Elements to describepeople, let us say that some one isThe Five ElementsIn the NorthernHemisphereThe Five ElementsIn the SouthernHemisphereWestMetalWestMetalNorthSouthNorthSouthWaterFireFireWaterEastWoodEastWood“Once opened the keyis not important whatis on the other side ofthe door is.”Fire. This means that he/she is full of energy, is outgoing andlikes attention. They like colourful things and are easy to geton with when you first meet. On the other side though, theycan become exhausted, depressive, be too pushy and botherpeople, etc. I am sure we all know someone like that.The colour green relates to wood, so if you have a greencarpet you will find more peace. This is because the green carpetwill remind you of green grass and when you see the carpet itwill trigger the memory and feeling as well. This is how colourrelates to our feeling and this can also be explained throughthe Five Elements.The direction North relates to water. This is becauseNorth is cold, with ice and snow. These things are made fromwater. The opposite of this is Fire because it is warm or hot.When you consider the directions,some of you may ask, “What if you are inAustralia, South America, Africa etc. theNorth is hot and the South is cold?” So howcan we work this out using the FiveElements? First we need to understand whyChinese people use the Five-Element Theory.The East is the first to see the sun asthe sun rises in the east. So all the trees andplants will grow quickly as they catch theenergy first. So the East is the element Wood.The West is where the sun sets, which isopposite to sunrise and the East. So the Westis cooler, has fewer plants growing than theEast. This is opposite to Wood and so this isMetal. In the West all the “Metal” things havebeen created, like cars, trains, planes,televisions etc.In China the North is cold and therefore Water and theSouth is hot and the opposite, and so is Fire.This theory fits in the Northern Hemisphere. TheSouthern Hemisphere is different because the Equator is hot.So the North is hot and the South is cold. So in this situationEast is still wood and West is still metal, but North becomesFire and South becomes Water. It is the same as our two palmsthe left is opposite to the right to balance each other.When we study the Five Elements things are not alwaysas simple as we think. At one level, one plus one equals two,but at higher levels one plus one might equal three or minusone. We can have many different answersBy Michael TseQi Magazine 37

Chan and Ma had gone on a trip for a few days. Their teacher oftenencouraged them to go out and see what the world had to offer. After theyhad been travelling a few days, they came across a beautiful hill next to alarge mountainClimbing the MountainKeep MovingThe hill was covered in manybeautiful flowers and plants andhad lots rare of wildlife living there.They decided to explore it a little, so theybegan to climb it, admiring the sceneryas they went.About half way up they came toa clearing with a small inn offering foodand a place to stay the night. They wentinside and were met by a smiling youngman in his mid twenties. “I am afraid weare completely full,” he told them, andlooking around they could see forthemselves. Every table was taken andalthough people were packed in they allseemed to be enjoying themselves.“Unfortunately,” said the young man,“we are always full and you have toreserve a table many days in advance.”Chan smiled, “It’s alright,” he said, “youseem to be doing very well.” The youngman nodded, “My family has to workvery hard at it and soon it will be myturn as well.” Not wanting to interrupthis work, Chan and Ma said farewell andleft. “That did not seem like too muchhard work to me,” said Ma. “No it didn’t,but you never know how much peoplehave to do,” said Chan.They decided to climb a littlefurther and after a while they neared thetop of the hill. The terrain becamerougher and there were fewer plants.The ground was quite loose and it washard going. Just then they came acrossa man with a horse and cart. The cartwas full of mud and the man wasshovelling it out.Chan and Ma greeted the manwho smiled and nodded at them. Chanwas curious as to what he was doing sohe politely asked, “Excuse me sir, can Iask what you are doing?”The man stopped and climbeddown. “I’m making the hill bigger,” Hesaid. Chan was surprised, as he did notexpect this answer. “Why do you wantto do that?” he asked.They man beckoned them to sitdown. “Have you ever heard of thefoolish old man moving the mountain?”he asked them. Ma nodded and said,“Yes he wanted to go to town everyday,but there was a mountain in the way. Hedecided that if he could move it out ofthe way, then it would make the trip totown much easier. But when people foundout they laughed at him and told him itwas impossible and he was a fool. Buthe did not mind and said that if he couldnot do it, then his sonwould carry onand then hisson wouldtake overand theyw o u l dkeep goinguntil themount ai nhad beenmoved. OurSifu told usthis story tomake uswork harderand keepgoing.”T h eman smiledagain andn o d d e d ,“That oldman wasmy Great,G r e a t ,G r e a t ,Great, GreatGrandfather.” He pointedto the mountain that was next to the hill.“I am moving that over here!”Chan and Ma looked at each otherin shock. “You mean you are really tryingto move the mountain?” asked Chan.“Certainly we are,” said the man with asmile. “I don’t understand,” said Chan,“I thought that was just a story to inspireus, I never thought anyone would evertry to move it!”The man pointed back down thepath where they had come from, “Did yousee our Inn?” He asked. They bothnodded. “We have had that inn for a fewgenerations, and we make a very goodliving. In fact we don’t needto worry about anything.Many people come here toenjoy the hillside, see thesights, flowers and animals.When my ancestor started tomove the mountain he neverimagined he would createsuch a beautiful spot, andnow we are enjoying the fruits of hiswork.”“But if you are so wealthy, why doyou keep moving the mountain?” askedChan. “You see, young man, without myancestor’s idea, we would neverhave gotten all these benefits.He gave us the task of movingthe mountain, and although itis not an easy one, it is nowmy duty and I should do itotherwise it means I takeeverything for granted. TheInn and this beautiful hill arenot mine nor my father’s,they have been passed to usto look after and then I willpass the down to make thefollowing generation’s livesbetter. Of course we need towork at it, but if I shirk myduty, then it will fall to mysons, and they will have tosuffer more because of it. Soit is better I do my bit noweven though you may think Iam foolish to endure suchsuffering. If I just take the fruitand do not tend to the plantit will die and what sort ofman would that make me?”Chan and Ma did notknow what to say. After theyhad left the man to his work, they walkedback down the hill in silence. After a whileChan said, “I suppose it is like the skillSifu has taught to us. Although we haveit, it is not ours. We only look after it andwork on it so we can pass it to the nextgenerations.” Ma nodded and said, “Yes,and while we look after it, it looks afterus, so it is our duty to look after it more.”Eventually they came to the footof the mountain and could see where ithad been dug out for so many years. “Dowe climb it or wait until it has moved outof the way?” asked ChanBy Darryl Moyemail darryl@qimagazine.comQi Magazine 38

Shou GongShou Gong is the ending movement whichwe do when we finish practising a Qigong form.It literally means collecting or harvesting the Qi.Shou Gong is very important in our Qigongpractice, but it often neglected or even forgotten.But if we finish our practice without doing ShouGong, it would be like discarding money on thesidewalk. How long do you think the moneywill stay there, especially if there are lots ofpeople walking by?When we do Qigong practice, we are working forQi. Qi means energy and Gong means work, sowe are working for the energy. First themovements open the body and release blockagesand toxins, letting the Qi and blood flow freely.Once we have released the negative energy, then the bodybegins to collect good energy. Once we have it, then we needto store it for later use. If we do not store the energy, it willdissipate and all our work will have been for nothing.With Shou Gong, we bring the energy back to the LowerDantian so that it can be stored there. It is like putting ourmoney in the bank. Qi is the money and our Dantian is ourbody’s bank. The Lower Dantian is the body’s first storehousefor energy and stores the Jing energy. There are also two otherDantians in the body, the Middle and Upper Dantians, eachstoring a different kind of energy.Jing is the first type of energy created by our Qigongpractice. If the Jing energy is conserved, then it will convert toQi and then rise up to the Middle Dantian where it is thenstored. Jing energyrelates to thekidneys whichproduce our sexualenergy and this isthe same for bothmen and women.Qi energy carriesnutrients to theother organs,nerves, tissues andbones in the body. This is what gives us health. Our Shen energyis our spirit energy. When we develop the Shen energy, we arealso developing our intuition. Physically this relates to theopening of the ‘Sky Eye’ and also to the opening of the Baihuiacupuncture point which is located at the top of our head.Baihui means, “Heaven Door”, so when this point is open, wewill be open to messages from the universe and will be able tounderstand more. Some people think that they can just workon developing their Shen energy or opening their Sky Eye. Thisis like trying to run before you have even learned to walk. Wecannot just bypass one and work on development of the other.Just as there are seasons in nature, following a cycle, then ourbodies too have their own cycles and systems to follow.When we do Shou Gong, we bring the Qi back to theLower Dantian because when we are doing the Qigong itself,Qi is moving throughout the body trying to clear blockagesand heal some sickareas. Thereforethe Qi can be“This relates to theopening of the ‘Sky Eye’& also the Baihui point.”anywhere. Weneed to bring itback to theDantian when weare finished, notleaving it at theshoulder or heador feet or elsewhere.Some people will try to use visualisation when doingtheir Qigong, thinking that this will enhance their practice.Actually, this can create even more tension in a mind thatalready is too full. It is better to try and just let go of yourthoughts and let the movements guide the Qi. In the beginning,however, people still will have often have a lot of thinking, butfinishing the exercises with Shou Gong will help relieve thestress from the mind and bring the Qi back to the lower body,so that the energy is grounded. If you have ever carriedsomething very heavy, then you know the immense relief andlightness of body you feel when you set the object down. WhenQi Magazine 40

the Qi is at the Lower Dantian, the mind will feel clear and thephysical body settled. You may even find that you are moresteady when you walk and not clumsy to bump into things.Settling the Qi in the body is very important and that iswhy we should not neglect doing Shou Gong. Following aresome guidelines that may help you do your Shou Gong withmore benefits.To DoGeneral: After we finish our Qigong practice, thenwe should do Shou Gong. We should also do ShouGong after we have finished our meditation. Ifstanding, stand with your feet shoulder widthapart, parallel to each other. If sitting, thensit forward on the edge of the chair withthe back straight and both feet placedflat on the floor. Make sure the headis up, not dropped. Eyes should lookstraight forward and only look atthe hands as they come up abovethe head. Once the hands lowerpast the eyes, do not drop thehead to follow the movementdown the body as it will unsettlethe Qi. When the eyes lookahead, they should be halffocused, half not. In this way you areconnecting with the universe and nature.1. Stand with feet shoulder widthapart and lift the hands up and outwardsfrom the side of the body, palms openedupwards to the sky. This is the attitude ofgathering or collecting the energy. Breathein as you lift the arms.Lifting the arms out to the side of thebody opens the chest and aids the lungs togather more Qi. Do not be stingy or lazy withthis movement by not lifting the arms wideenough or high enough. Our lungs are thegovernor for the Qi in the body. The more healthythe lungs, the more Qi we can gather. Openingthe palms helps us to gather Qi through theLaogong points.2. Lift the arms till they reach shoulderheight and then, bending the elbows, start tobring the energy past the top of head, Sky Eyeand face. At this point, the palms should nowface the body.The continuation of this movement helpsto pour the Qi back into the body and alsobenefits the heart because of raising the armsabove the head. In the movement, we first passthe Upper Dantian but also the eyes, ears, nose,mouth and tongue. These relate to our internalorgans, so we are also connecting the Qi withthe internal body. As we lower the hands, slowlyexhale.3. Continue to lower the handsslowly past the Middle Dantian and onto theLower Dantian.There are three channels that run down either side ofthe front of the body on either side of the Ren Channel. Theseare Stomach (Yang), Spleen (Yin) and Kidney (Yin) Channels.The Ren Channel is one of the extraordinary channels. We pourthe Qi into these channels and then onto the Lower Dantian.4. Repeat the same movement a further 2 times.In the end, we have done Shou Gong for a total of threetimes. Three means “multi” in Chinese numerancy. So when wedo three times, the idea is that it will have multiplying benefits.Conclusion:Some people are confused as to when weshould do Shou Gong. Most of you have hadexperience of doing this same movementthree times before we commenceany Qigong exercises. This iscorrect, but in the beginning,we do not refer to this asShou Gong, but just as arelaxation.We do not need todo Shou Gong inbetween every movement,only at the endof an entire set ofmovements or at theend of a form, andthen it is sufficient to doonly once. It is only when we arefinished with our exercises or withmeditation completely that we dothree times.Shou Gong is one of themost relaxing parts of Qigong. Youcan even do it outside of yourQigong practice if you findyourself getting tense or angry. Itwill help you calm downimmediately. However, you must doit slowly, in conjunction with yourbreathing and with as much relaxationas possible. If you do it too quickly, theQi cannot follow the movement of thehands and so you will not gather and storeas much Qi as you could.Sometimes, after a particularlygood practice, I find that when I do ShouGong, I can even feel heat and tinglingin my fingers as my palms pass thechannels. Even in the beginning beforepractice, when I stand and preparemyself to do the relaxation, I find it islike meeting with an old friend. You feelcomfortable straight away. When we dothe relaxation before beginning theQigong, it is exactly the same method.It will also bring the Qi back to theDantian, but this time it is so that youcan have more relaxation and let go ofdistractions. In this way you can getmore benefit from the subsequentpracticeBy Jesscia BlackwellQi Magazine 41

The Dragon is a symbol of China, as we see very often in many Chinesestories. Swimming Dragon Gong is one Qigong form from the Dayan System ofQigong. It is very dynamic and challenging, and the movements imitate a dragon’sbehaviour.Swimming Dragon Gong27 Jingang Points to Heavena b.1b.2ecda. Make a finger sword with your right hand. Slowly bring the finger sword up so the Hegupoint faces the Ren Mai.b. Make a finger sword with the left hand. Swing the right finger sword slowly to the rightand swing the left finger sword round from the back to the front of the body, letting thebody turn 45 degrees to the right. Meanwhile, lift up the right leg.c. Bring both sword fingers to the front, keeping both Hegu points facing the Ren Mai. Theright hand is up and left hand down.fQi Magazine 42

ghi.1i.2ji.3kd. Stretch the right leg forwards and place it on the ground,making a “Bow Stance”.e. As the foot lands, extend the arms a little. The finger swordsshould still face up to the sky. The Hegu point of the rightsword finger should face the Sky-eye and the Hegu pointof the left finger sword should face the Middle Dantian.f. Keeping the same stance, turn to the right, lower the handsso they cross and turn the right finger sword so the palm isup, but keep the left finger sword palm down.g. Push the left finger sword out in a arc to the left, and drawthe right back.h. Turn the right toes to the left as you swing the fingers swordson an anti-clockwise circle.i. When your body has turned so it is facing 45 degrees tothe left, lift up your left leg. Meanwhile, the finger swordsform a straight linej. Stretch the left leg forwards and place it on the ground,making a “Bow Stance”.k. As the foot lands, extend the arms a little. The finger swordsshould still face up to the sky. The Hegu point of the leftsword finger should face the Sky-eye and the Hegu pointof the right finger sword should face the Middle Dantian.This movement transmits Qi to the Sky using spiraling fingerswords. We gather the Qi from the two Dantians: Upper Dantian(Sky-eye) and Middle Dantian and then send it to the Sky. Onboth sides we turn 45 degrees. In the Yijing, 45 degrees is a verypowerful angle and can affect your energy a lot. We send Qi tothe Sky and so the Sky gives you more. So the more you give, themore you gain.Qi Magazine 43

Qi MattersWhile books are informative andfine as reference manuals, theyare not satisfactory as the solemeans of learning. The reader has noconcept of what the movement shouldlook like in motion, especially if thefeatured skill is a form (a sequence ofconnected movements). He cannot seehow the Qi flows or the attitude of theoverall exercise. One problem withcollecting various books is that they oftengive conflicting views and offer differingmethods of practice. So for thenewly initiated it all becomessomewhat confusing.As Qigong is based onnature, the principle shouldalways be natural and themethod should always be simple.Many books on the marketcontain such complicatedmental exercises you can becertain that even the authorhimself is unlikely to practisethem. Also, some bookscan actually cause sideeffectsby offering misleadinginstruction. AChinese man oncewarned me of thedangers of Qigongpractice afterfollowing a book. Hehad endured an outof-body-experiencewhich left himpetrified. It is not Qigong which isaccountable but rather the student whodeviates from the teaching method,following an inadequate guide, or noneat all.The path of Qigong is an on-goingprocess. It demands constant correction,which is probably the most vital step inthe learning process. This is why it ispreferable to study progressively everyweek than to take scattered lessons. Evenfollowing a seminar, you should seekcorrection. Many people mistakenlybelieve they can acquire the correctprinciple of a movement instantaneously.This ability comes only after years ofpractice. Books and videos cannot correctthe student.What do you do if you are desperately keen to learn Qigong but there areno qualified teachers in your area ? Most people are prompted to take the onlyappropriate course of action - which is to purchase video tapes or books. Someappear satisfied with this method - for a while at least, until they becomebored, frustrated, or develop complications.The Failure of Media InstructionMany people would rather viewan instructional video for hours on endthan actually practise themselves.Eventually they will become bored andgive up altogether. The informationcontained on a videotape is limited andbecomes repetitious while learning in aclassroom environment iscontinual. Watchingnever replacesexperiencing asit is the bodyitself which mustlearn the technique.I knowpractitioners whospend hours on theinternet every daydiscussing theory and technique. If theypractised instead of chatting, they wouldall be masters today.Another problem with books andvideos is that they do not provide thestudent with the ‘human’ element.Human beings are sensitive creatureswho need physical contact with othersand interaction. We respond to words ofencouragement, nurturing, and humour,or psychological ‘stroking’. Books andtapes do not provide this stimulus so thehuman element is lost and there is littlefor the reader or viewer to respond to.This is why he will eventually lose interest.Qigong is an internal art and isdeveloped from ‘feel’. As the practitionerprogresses he will be deluged withquestions. If, after following the book ortape, he experiences some sensationswhich he naturally doesn’t understand(i.e. movement of internal Qi or ‘seeingcolours’) who does he turn to for answers- the video producer, the publisher, theauthor ? His only choice ultimately willbe to give up out of frustration.If you want to collect books on thesubject to increase your knowledge it isgenerally preferable to choosetranslations of Chinese texts fromcompanies such as The Publishing Houseof ShanghaiCollege of TCM,or The China,Shandong, andG u a n g d o n gScience andTechnology Presses,among others,which tend to bemore scientific anddependable than booksby (inexperienced)Western practitioners whichhave recently been flooding themarket.Despite the advent of videotapeor more recently advanced technology,such as video conferencing, which allowsmass learning in different locations at thesame time, there is, and never will be, abetter alternative to a qualified andexperienced flesh-and-blood teacher inthe room with you. So if you are fortunateto have access to a weekly class with agood teacher, attend it regularly (even ifit means travelling some distance) andpractise hard yourself to gain a goodfoundation, observe the teacher closelyat all times (even after you think you mayhave acquired the essence of themovement), pay strict attention tocorrections, and don’t be afraid to askquestions. This is the only way toprogress, as it has been for ages past.Skill can never be developed from booksand videotapes aloneBy Adam Wallaceemal adam@qimagazine.com“Some bookscan actuallycause sideeffects”Qi Magazine 44

Our final look at what makes up good Feng Shui for yourbedroom, and how this affects your energy and your sleep.Feng Shui and the BedroomFeng Shui and the Bedroom21. If the bed faces the door, itwill create a draught attacking you. Thisis not good for health and will cause jointproblems and even affect the lungs andliver. If you can, change the direction ofthe bed to avoid the door. If you cannot,try to move as far away as possible fromthe door as you can.22. If you have something like acabinet or cloth hanging over your head,this is not good and will cause headachesand stress. If you can, remove whateveris hanging above the bed.23. If have a light hangingabove the bed, this cancause stomach andkidney problems. Ifthe light or anythingelse is hangingabove the legs,then this can causejoint problems orarthritis. Removethe light or replacewith one that is nothanging or movethe bed to anotherposition.A light hanging down over the bed willcause problemsFeng ShuiThis bed will createheadaches24. If the position of the bed is atan angle to the wall, so it creates atriangle without support for the head,then this can cause relationship problemsand cause headaches as everything isunstable. Move the bed to anotherposition.25. If you store lots of things underyour bed, it can create too much worry,dreaming and stress. It is better not tohave anything under the bed at all.26. If the bed makes noise everytime you turn over, try to fix the bed ifpossible or replace if cannot. This kindof situation will cause you to have a lotof enemies, as it is like someonecriticising you.Qi Magazine 45

No support for the people who sleep here“The most importantthing is how the positionof the bed looksand feels.”27. If there is another bed in yourbedroom in which no one else is sleeping,then this will cause relationshipproblems, with someone beingunfaithful. If it is a guest bedroom, this isokay as you do not constantly sleep there.It is best to get rid of the other bed.28. If the bed is tilting to one side,or if the mattress is uneven on one sideor in the middle, this will cause backproblems. It is best to change themattress or fix the bed.I think we have covered mostsituations of the bed. Many times when Iam giving consultations for people andlook at their bedroom, I can already tellwhat problem they have. Once theycorrect it, then the situation will change.Try to avoid storing a lot of things under your bedHowever, there is another considerationto take into account and this is thedirection best for them in relation to theirdate of birth. There is also the positionof the house to consider as well. Frommy experience, the most important thingis how the position of the bed looks andfeels, rather than the date of birthcalculation. This, I believe, covers about70% and that which relates to yourhoroscope is about 30%. Of course, if youget both right, then you have 100%benefit. If you have more knowledgeabout how to put your bed, then you willhave a better future and relationshipby Michael TseQi Magazine 46

22/23rd Sept 2001London 10-4pmMaria Assumpta Centre,23 Kensington Square,London W8 5HNWudang SwordCost: £120 in adv members of Tse Qigong Centre. £160* in adv non members*includes membership. Participants must have their own sword.