Ch'i or Ki
Ch'i (Chinese) or Ki (Japanese) is the internal force in our bodies, the manifestation of our spirit.
~ Aristotle Sabouni
Created: 1993-04-04 |
Ch'i (Chinese) or Ki (Japanese) is the internal force in our bodies, the manifestation of our spirit. It comes from the Taoism, and the universe, or our center (which is our center of balance). And the idea in Martial Arts and Eastern Medicine is that if it is out of balance, you must balance it. And if you're balanced, you can harness it to do things things you might think are impossible.
It varies from a very useful visualization tool (mind over matter), to mechanical techniques (physics), to supernatural force, that George Lucas borrowed for Star Wars. It is real, and can be demonstrated: it just doesn't always mean what people think it means.
Where it comes from?[edit | edit source]
The source of this power is the Tan Tien (Chinese) or Hara (Japanese). This Tan Tien is located about 3" below the navel, and in the center of our bodies. Not so coincidentally this is also where the center of balance for the average human is. The name comes from the idea of "center", and represents our center; center of the spirit, soul, power, and balance. There is a physical center, and a center of balance -- so describing that as a "spot" (Tan Tien) is a convenient construct for understanding.
Superstition[edit | edit source]
The Chinese and the Japanese Cultures are very into superstitions and mysticism (the Japanese a little less than the Chinese) - of course so are occidentals.
| We westerners practice some things like "Don't walk under a ladder", or "don't speak ill of the dead", the number "13" and other superstitious practices, all while ethnocentrically ridiculing other superstitions. So while I don't necessarily believe in the Chinese or Japanese superstitions, I certainly don't think they are any more ridiculous than our own. |
While it is convenient to dismiss superstitions and gobbledygook , we should not do so too quickly. Many superstitions have other intents -- like "not talking ill of the dead" is a way of letting our anger go and not dwelling on the past (or bad). Not walking under a ladder is a good way to avoid having things dropped on top of us. Chinese Feng-Shui (how to arrange living spaces), has some good things for the psyche like visual balance and humans are just less relaxed with their back to a door or passageway. So sometimes the behaviors are significant, even if the cause of the superstition itself may be less than accurate.
Mechanics[edit | edit source]
There is a physical center of balance -- pretending that it is something more may have its benefits. You may not believe in an "power" running through your body, or a spirit/soul. You may not believe in the Tao - the power of nature existing everywhere (Christians might call this "the holy ghost"). Placebo's are beneficial. And faith healers do help people beyond pure placebo effect. Visualization in martial arts and sports does cause an increase in performance. So think it before you dismiss it.
In the case of Acupuncture, accupressure, shiatsu massage, and other oriental medicine, the body is not as broken down into component parts as much as it is looked at interlocked systems, and balanced as a whole. In Oriental medicine there are pressure points or trigger point that stimulate different systems, and by balancing the energies (Yin and Yang) in these systems you can tune the whole. These energies (Yin and Yang) collectively are the Ch'i or Ki in our body, and it is this flow of life force through our body that keeps us healthy. There is another force that runs through all things in nature (and is nature itself), this is partly an explanation of the Tao (or Taoism).
| Many Asian cultures seem to look at the world much more holistically than westerners. Things interact as complex systems, and through understanding the whole, they try to understand the parts. This is why the Japanese can use a mundane task like archery as a way to understand Zen Buddhism (and themselves). They are trying to understand things (life) by grasping the whole. Not fighting to learn, or challenging, sometimes just existing until understanding comes on its own.
Westerners tend to be more deconstructive -- always trying to break things down into its component parts rather than understanding the system. Then later we try to look at all those component parts and see how they relate to the whole (reconstruction). They are different ways to look at the world. The more I have tried to understand the Oriental perspectives, the more I have learned about myself. But that sounds suspiciously oriental in its holistic outlook. |
In the oriental medicines, they have designated systems or organs in our bodies that scientifically don't exist (as defined). Yet, stimulating these nonexistent organs (systems) gets the desired results anyway. So while western medicine and science can disprove the existence of organs like the preheater, etc., manipulating that construct still gets the desired results in many cases. So surprisingly, even if the construct is wrong (inaccurate), it does not mean that the results will be wrong. Ancients though that the sky was painted on, and spinning above us as a ceiling -- yet they still accurately mapped the constellations and predicted many astrological events. Even Western medicine also doesn't always agree with itself -- as in Chiropractors, etc., but their are many that have received the real and physical benefits of these "charlatans". As time progresses the scientific community is learning that there are results that can not always be explained. The Chinese and to a lesser extend the Japanese are a mystical people. Many Orientals have chosen to define these results with a mystical definition, and though all the definitions might not be accurate, results are results.
| Our entire system of math and science is based on (or is just a collection of) many HUMAN constructs. Einstein's theory of relativity or the speed of light is not some immutable law. It is an observation and construct of man to explain relationships. It may accurately match the universe we live in (or maybe not) but for now, these constructs (called laws or theories of science) do help us understand and grasp problems. Even our laws of science have changed (been revised) as we learned more, so our constructs are not flawless -- we need to balance skepticism and scientific theory with an understanding of who and what we are. |
Unbendable Arm[edit source]
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Conclusion[edit | edit source]
The more scientific definition of Ch'i is based on some interesting facts. We (humans) have an amazingly complex electrochemical and electromagnetic system in our bodies (nervous system). By training our brains and bodies to utilize our nervous system and muscles to their full potential, and using technique, visualization and proper use of energy, we are able to do incredible feats.
Since we don't understand the full effects of this electrical, chemical or magnetic energy, we don't understand its limitation. But we do know things like positive attitude helps healing, and stress causes fatigue and disease (mental and physical). We know that visualization and "psyching yourself out" can help or hurt performance. We know that people in times of severe distress can do things like lift far more than we think they should... and others of us, can tap into that, and artificially induce that state at will.
So the feats of Ch'i that are seen as "magic" are not impossible, just not fully understood.
I have demonstrated Ch'i to people (and still do), but I don't think it is magic. Some Ch'i demonstrations are parlor tricks to persuade people to have more faith in Ch'i, and thus their own abilities as they progress. But there's a large percentage of Chi demonstrates that are technique and something else. Using visualization, timing, coordination, training and body mechanics I can hit harder than other non-martial artist or do other "tricks". I explain it in constructs that I understand (physics, training, timing, visualization) -- many others just describe it as a good use of Ch'i. There are elements to this "power" that I do not understand -- but understanding it is not necessary for utilizing it. Just like a complete understanding of astrophysics was not necessary for ancients to create calendars and predict the seasons, phases of the moon, or track the planets.
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