QIGONG ( Chi Kung ) - Secrets of the Use of Breath - Qi in Shaolin Practice

The technique of inhalation and exhalation in connection with movement and tranquility

One of the ancient treatise on the secret tradition of Shaolin Pugilism quoth: "Inhalation and exhalation are the Breath-Qi, movement and tranquility are the heart. One movement of the heart corresponds to one inhalation. In that case a force is not applied, the position is void. When in the process of a heart movement an exhalation is done, the force is applied and the complete position is held. However, the base of tranquility is concentration and the base of a movement is Jingshen, the Spirit of Essence. Inhalation will be strained and sharp and exhalation diligent and dissipated.

The Heart is the primary commander, the Breath Qi is an advance, the Eyes are standards and banners. If the eyes grow dull, the vision is not concentrated, so you do not see clear indications and as a result of it movement and tranquility loose the right sequence, the regular sequence of the input and output is upset, hence the disposition will be destroyed and the position lost.

Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to determine the position of the eyes to comprehend this technique. If the vision is normal, it means that the Breath - Qi comes to the eyes. The Will Zhi must rush here. If the Will rushes to the eyes, the Breath Qi follows it. One movement of the heart - and the whole body obeys the order; Jingshen, the Spirit of Essence becomes cheerful, the wave of valour heaves. It is the only right explanation of movement and tranquility. All movements of the body, the legs and the arms must be agile, this agility is obtained through training the Breath Qi. A quick movement - and the Breath Qi rushes ahead. If you have no need to fight, everything is normal. If it is a fight, you win."

"...Inhalation and exhalation are called the Breath Qi in the speech, movement and tranquility, in the first place, say about the heart. The heart did a movement, Breathed Qi and force disappeared; if there is no force and the stance is empty, you have no sufficient strength. Then the heart moves, there is a Breathe-out and force appears; if there is force, your position is filled and you have sufficient strength. 

The heart is the marshal of the body and the Breath Qi is the dignitary who goes in advance. The eyes are standards and banners; if they are clouded, you loose orientation, do not comprehend the meaning of enemy's disposition and can not determine movement and tranquility. If the sequence of inhalation and exhalation is mixed up, you are threatened with a defeat during a fight. That's why you should pay more attention to the position of eyes. 

Eyes are of great importance in the practice of combat arts. Improve the ability of your vision of the disposition and the arrangement of your enemy, because your will follows the movement of your eyes. A heart movement must set into motion all hundred joints of the body and the essence of the man's strength comes from the lungs. In this case the body is full of the tiger's energy; in a glorious fight you will be able to shake seas and to move mountains. 

It is necessary to control and regulate the sequence of inhalation and exhalation, movement and tranquility by taking inside the Breath Qi and concentrating it in a bundle. Each movement of the body is permeated with the single Breath Qi, as a result of it both arms and legs become quick and strong like those of a monkey. The man moves like the lightning in the sky and joyfully he triumphs after victories in all combats!"

Shaolin Kung Fu  OnLine Library

Shaolin Kung Fu  OnLine Library

Instructions on how to do "external" exercises 

During the fourth watch one must stretch joints and remove from the body Breath Qi, raise up nine times, step down nine times and strengthen his members. An exhalation is like a vulture catching fish with its talons and inhalation is like a huge bird Fen spreading its wings. During the hour zhi persistently and tenaciously do the exercise called "The wind waves a willow", the exercise called "The diamond fist" should be done during the hour hai. 

After your meal do exercise called "Metal finger" many times, then break a man of wood with the edge of your palm. With the open heart train the exercise "I use my crown" to break a brick and afternoon break a stone with your elbow. When the Breath Qi reaches the top of Kunglun, do the exercise called "Diamond foot". Walk one thousand li's (li is a Chinese measure of length equal to about 600 m) with small bags with sand and stones hung up to your legs; when your Breath Qi leaves the Cinnabar Field, sweep the yard. 

When the Breath -Qi accumulates in the Cinnabar Field, raise up and crush trees like a gush of the Black Wind. When the Breath - Qi leaves the Cinnabar Field and reaches the point Baihui, the wind moves down, rushes through the market and draws the bow. You, like a bow, bend forward and punch in the stance of the tiger, concentrate your Breath Qi, return to your heart and direct it to the base of your feet. 

The Breath Qi permeates both feet and you stand like a rider on a horse, as steady as the mountain of Taishan, as if a ladder to the sky. If you transform your Breath Qi, you will become an arrow flying in the fight. You use subtle spiritual force and fly over with the speed of the wind as if unsolved mystery...

On the unity of inhalation and exhalation in a fight

The body must be energetic and the activity of arms and legs coordinated. You should realize the position of the eyes and distinguish the direction of arm movements; one should observe the degree of remoteness, one should take into consideration the age and the build; if they move towards you, you move together with them, if they retreat, you chase.

Unify inhalation and exhalation and attain your aim in one motion. However, one should be attentive: when you put to motion the Breath Qi, smoothness is preferable; when you use the Breath Qi, speed is preferable. If the motion originates in you, it is better to do it during exhalation; if the motion is accepted by you, it is better to inhale. The body must be quick and livid. The arms must be quick and fast. If you punch with your fists, nobody should see their movements. One must quickly attain speed, that is the highest true secret which essence lies in unified input and output.

Shaolin Kung Fu  OnLine Library

The ways to understand the necessity of keeping the Breath Qi

The Breath Qi is a sequence of input and output. Keeping means the ability to keep and to accumulate internal resources inside the body. Understanding means to understand the nature of Breath Qi so that it would not upset its sequence and that everything would not go upside down. The way is the route of one single input and output which must follow their way and one should but follow them. This follow-up is done according to a certain method. Control and slackness of the body, gaits steadiness, arm movement, advance and retreat, up and down movement - all those factors are permeated with the single process of the Breath Qi. 

If you accept some action, you must do it during inhalation, in that case the inhalation is carried out correctly. If you give back some action, you should do exhalation, in that case the inhalation will be appropriate. It is a moment of acceptance that determines a victory or a defeat; at no account you must permit discord in your actions. That's why all who tried to get the mastery of Pugilistic Arts since ancient times till nowadays had to perceive the sources of the Breath Qi in the human body and only then they should try to understand the principles of Breath and Activity - Lianqi Xin-Gong - and the principles of retaining the Breath. Only in such a way it is possible to improve actions of the human body.

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