The Twenty-Four Rules for Chi Kung Practice

By Yang, Jwing-Ming

["When I began studying Qi Gong (Chi Kung), one of my classmates who had been at it for a while, said that when it comes to feeling your Qi moving within your body, it will take two years to feel anything, and five years to believe it".

"While taking two years to feel the Qi wasn't exactly right, the essence of his comments are still very true. Qi Gong is a path, not a destination, and along that path are many signposts that you will pass. Feeling the Qi, believing you feel the Qi, learning to direct it with physical movements, learning to direct it with just your mind's intent, directing it somewhere in the future, in the past, etc... are all steps along a never ending path".

"The article that follows is designed to prepare you for a life of discipline, not instant gratification. The only true gratification that comes from doing Qi Gong is to enjoy the activity while your doing it, no matter what your level. Gratification that is dependent on obtaining any sort of power will only get in the way of the most sacred of all side-effects of Qi Gong, and that is enlightenment itself".

The Twenty-Four Rules for Chi Kung Practice

"In this section we will list the twenty-four rules which have been passed down by generations of Chi Kung masters. These rules are based on much study and experience, and you should observe them carefully".

Don't be Stubborn about Plans and Ideas

"This is one of the easiest mistakes for beginners to make. When we take up Chi Kung we are enthusiastic and eager. However, sometimes we don't learn as fast as we would like to, and we become impatient and try to force things. Sometimes we set up a schedule for ourselves: today I want to make my Dan Tien warm, tomorrow I want to get through the tailbone cavity, by such and such a day I want to complete the small circulation. This is the wrong way to go about it. Chi Kung is not like any ordinal-v job or task you set for yourself -- YOU CANNOT MAKE A PROGRESS SCHEDULE FOR CHI KUNG. This will only make your thinking rigid and stagnate your progress. EVERYTHING HAPPENS WHEN IT IS TIME FOR IT TO HAPPEN. IF YOU FORCE IT, IT WILL NOT HAPPEN NATURALLY".

Don't Place your Attention in Discrimination

"When you practice, do not place your attention on the various phenomena or sensations which are occurring. Be aware of what is happening, but keep your mind centered on wherever it is supposed to be for the exercise you are doing. If you let your mind go to wherever you feel something "interesting" happening, the Chi will follow your mind and interfere with your body's natural tendency to rebalance itself Do not expect anything to happen, and don't let your mind wander around looking for the various phenomena. Furthermore, don't start evaluating or judging the phenomena, such as asking "Is my Dan Tien warmer today than it was yesterday?" Don't ask yourself "Just where is my Chi now?" When your mind is on your Chi, your Yi is there also, and this stagnant Yi will not lead the Chi BE AWARE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING, BUT DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO IT When you drive a car, you don't watch yourself steer and work the pedals and shift gears. If you did, you'd drive off the road. You simply put your mind on where you want to go and let your body automatically drive the car. This is called regulating without regulating".

Avoid Miscellaneous Thought Remaining on Origins

"This is a problem of regulating the mind. The emotional mind is strong, and every idea is still strongly connected to its origin. If you cannot cut the ideas off at their source, your mind is not regulated, and your should not try to regulate your Chi. You will also often find that even though you have stopped the flow of random thoughts going through your mind, new ideas are generated dung practice. For example, when you discover your Dan Tien is warm, your mind immediately recalls where this is mentioned in a book, or how the master described it, and you start to compare your experience with this. Or you may start wondering what the next step is. All of these thoughts will lead you away from peace and calm, and your mind will end up in the "Domain of the Devil." Then your mind will be confused, scattered, and very often scared, and you will tire quickly".

Hsin (Shen) Should not Follows the External Scenery

"This is also a problem of regulating the mind (Hsin). When your emotional mind is not controlled, any external distraction will lead it away from your body and to the distraction. You must train yourself so that noises, smells, conversations and such will not disturb your concentration. It is all right to be aware of what is happening, but your mind must remain calmly, peacefully and steadily on your cultivation".

Regulate your Sexual Activity

"You should not have sexual relations at least 24 hours before or after practicing Chi Kung, especially martial or religious Chi Kung. The Essence-Chi conversion training is a very critical part of these practices, and if you practice Chi Kung soon after sex, you will harm your body significantly. Sex depletes your Chi and sperm, and the Chi level in the lower portion of your body is lower than normal. When you practice Chi Kung under these conditions, it is like doing heavy exercise right after sex. Furthermore, when your Chi level is abnormal, your feeling and sensing are also not accurate. Under these conditions, your Yi can be misled and its accuracy affected. You should wait until the Chi level regains it normal balance before your resume Chi Kung. Only then will the Essence-Chi conversion proceed normally and efficiently".

"One of the major purposes of Chi Kung is to increase the Essence Chi conversion and use this Chi to nourish your body. Once a man has built up a supply of Chi, having sex will only pass this Chi on to his partner. As a matter of fact, many Chi Kung masters insist that you should not have sex three days before and four days after practice. During sexual relations the female usually gains Chi while the male loses Chi during ejaculation. The woman should not practice Chi Kung after sex until her body has digested the Chi she has obtained from the man. There are certain Taoist Chi Kung techniques which teach men how not to lose Chi during sexual activity, and teach women how to receive Chi from the man and digest it. We will leave the discussion of this subject to Chi Kung masters who are qualified and experienced in it".

Don't be Too Warm or Too Cold

"The temperature of the room in which you are training should not be too hot or too cold. You should practice in the most comfortable environment which will not disturb your mind and cultivation".

Be Careful of the Five Weaknesses and Internal Injuries

"Five weaknesses means the weaknesses of five Yin organs: the heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, and spleen. When you realize that any of these five organs is weak, you should proceed very gradually and gently with your Chi Kung practice. Chi Kung practice is an internal exercise which is directly related to these five organs. If you do not move gradually and gently, it is Like forcing a weak person to run 10 miles right away. This will not build up his strength, instead it will. injure him more seriously.

For the same reason, when you have an internal injury your internal Chi distribution and circulation is already disturbed. If you practice Chi Kung your feelings may be misled, and your practice may worsen your problem and interfere with the natural healing process. There are certain Chi Kung exercises which are designed to cure internal injuries, but to use them properly you need to have a very good understanding of the Chi situation of your body".

Avoid Facing the Wind when Sweating

"Don't practice in the wind, especially facing the wind. When you practice Chi Kung you are exercising either internally, or both internally and externally. It is normal to sweat, and since you are relaxed, your pores are wide open, If you expose your body to cold wind, you will catch cold".

Don't Wear Tight Clothes and Belt

"Always wear loose clothes during practice because this will help you to feel comfortable. Keep your belt loose, too. The abdomen is the key area in Chi Kung practice, and you must be careful not to limit the movement of this area because it will interfere with your practice".

Don't Eat too Much Greasy and Sweet Food

"You should regulate your eating habit while you are practicing: Chi Kung. Greasy or sweet food will increase your Fire Chi, making your mind scattered, and your Shen will stray away from its residence. You should eat more fruit and vegetables, and keep away from alcohol and tobacco".

Don't Hang your Feet off the Bed

"In ancient times the most common place in Chi Kung practice was sitting on your bed. Since most beds were high, if you sat on the edge of the bed your feet would hang off the side of the bed above the floor. When you practice Chi Kung your feet should touch the floor. If they do not, all of the weight of your body will press down on the lower part of your thighs and reduce the Chi and blood circulation. Furthermore, when you practice you should nor put your feet up on the table, because this position will also stagnate the Chi and blood circulation".

Don't Practice with a Full Bladder

"You should go to the toilet before you start your practice. If you need to go during practice, stop your practice and do so. Holding it in disturbs your concentration".

Don't Scratch an Itch

"If you itch because of some external reason, such as an insect walking on you or biting you, do not be alarmed and keep your mind calm. Use your Yi to lead the Chi back to its residence, the Dan Tien. Breathe a couple of times and gradually bring your consciousness back to your surroundings. Then you may scratch or think of how to stop the itching. However, if the itching is caused by Chi redistribution in the Chi Kung practice, remain calm and do not move your mind there. Simply ignore it and let it happen. Once it has reached a new balance, the itching will stop. If you scratch this kind of itch it means that your mind has been disturbed, and also that you are using your hands to interfere with the natural rebalancing of your body's Chi".

Avoid Being Suddenly Disturbed or Startled

"You should avoid being suddenly disturbed or startled. However, if it does happen, calm down your mind. You must absolutely prevent yourself from losing your temper. What has happened has happened, and getting mad cannot change anything. What you should do is prevent it from happening again. Most important of all, though is learning how to regulate your mind when you are disturbed".

Don't Take Delight in the Scenery

"It is very common during practice to suddenly notice something that is going on inside of you. Perhaps you feel Chi moving more clearly than ever before, or you start to sense your bone marrow, and you feel elated and excited. You have just fallen into a very common trap. Your concentration is broken, and your mind is divided. This is dangerous and harmful. You have to learn how to be aware of what is going on inside you without getting excited".

Don't Wear Sweaty Clothes

"This happens mostly in moving Chi Kung practice, especially in martial Chi Kung training. When your clothes are wet from sweat you will feel uncomfortable, and your concentration will be affected. It is better to change into dry clothes and then resume practice.

Don't Sit When Hungry or Full "

"You should not practice Chi Kung when you are hungry or when your stomach is full. When you are hungry it is hard to concentrate, and when you are full your practice will affect your digestion".

Heaven and Earth Strange Disaster

"It is believed that your body's Chi is directly affected by changes in the weather. It is therefore not advisable to practice Chi Kung when there is a sudden weather change, because your practice will interfere with your body's natural readjustment to the new environment. You will also be unable to feel and sense your Chi flow as you do normally. You must always try to remain emotionally neutral whenever you do Chi Kung; even if you are disturbed by a natural disaster like an earthquake, you must remain calm so that your Chi stays under control".

Listen Sometimes to True Words

"You need to have confidence when you practice Chi Kung. You should not listen to advice from people who do not have experience in Chi Kung and who are not familiar with the condition of your body. Some people listen to their classmates explain how they reached a certain level or how they cured a certain problem, and then blindly try to use the same method themselves. You need to understand that everyone has a different body, everyone's health is slightly different, and everyone learns differently. When the time comes for you to learn something new, you will understand what you need. Play it cool and easy, and always have confidence in your training".

Don't Lean and Fall Asleep

"You should not continue your Chi Kung training when you are sleepy. Using an unclear mind to lead Chi is dangerous. Also, when you are sleepy your body will not be regulated and will tend to lean or droop, and your bad posture may interfere with the proper Chi circulation. When you are sleepy it is best to take a rest until you are able to regain your spirit".

Don't Meditate When You Have Lost Your Temper or are Too Excited

"You should not meditate when you are too excited due to anger or happiness. Since your mind is scattered, meditation will bring you more harm than peace".

Don't Keep Spitting

"It is normal to generate a lot of saliva while practicing Chi Kung. The saliva should be swallowed to moisten your throat. Don't spit out the saliva because this is a waste, and it will also disturb your concentration".

Don't Doubt and Become Lazy

"When you first start Chi Kung, you must have confidence in what you are doing, and not start doubting its validity, or questioning whether you are doing it right. If you start doubting right at the beginning you will become lazy, and you will start questioning whether you really want to continue. In this case, you will not have any success and your practice will never last".

Do not Ask for the Speedy Success

"This is to remind you that Chi Kung practice is time consuming and progress is slow. You must have patience, a strong will, and confidence to reach your goal. Taking it easy and being natural are the most important rules".]

['From the book entitled "The Root of Chinese Chi Kung, The Secrets of Chi Kung Training", YMAA Publication Center, Jamaica Plain.']

[Source: Acupuncture.com]

DIN

BY: SENIOR INSTRUCTOR JAMES R. JONES, JR.

Copyright © 2006-2012 Property of the James Jones Marital Arts Academy

Last time I spoke with you the subject revolved around quietness. Now we want to examine the opposite - Din. Din is a word which means loud noise. Being vocal can be one of your strongest defenses. It can used to draw someone’s attention, as well as cast fear into an individual. The aspects of yelling can give you power, and at the same time help you absorb a hit. Most Martial Arts teach adding a yell upon striking a target. I’ve seen Baseball players use this tactic prior to hitting a ball, and also upon impact. By exerting the breath power comes. Most Martial Artists are taught to breathe 3 inches below the belly button area, and to push out the breath from that location. Timing and practice is the key to make this effective.

Another means of defenses in using Din is involved with the art of distraction. If you find yourself in a situation where you are hiding lets say…”trying to stay alive”. You can throw an object to create noise to drawn your attacker to a different focus. This method is more used when distance is an option. When distance is not an option, and the situation is in close corners, noise can still be used. Tapping the foot to draw the focus of your attacker down, gives you opportunity to strike high. Snapping your fingers to the right or left can draw your attacker’s attention in that direction.

Let’s take a look now at what a strong yell can provide you internally. As mentioned earlier, yelling can provide internal power. This can afford you strength multiplying the force that you would normally not provide. It can also be used psychology as a form of hypnosis. This would in essence gear the mind to focus. To the one giving the yell the mind is thrown into following through, whereas the one receiving the yell is psychologically affected. This holds to a deeper meaning…let me explain. A mind set on following through is less distracted, and is less likely to be distracted. The mind is fixed on completion of it path, which brings into being focus. An example would be the breaking of an object using the knife hand. As marital artist we are trained to see through the object whether it is wood, ice, concert, etc. In other words the target is beyond the surface of the object. There lies our focus. The path is as follows, the mind receives the command instructing the muscles to move the arm, and position the hand into the proper technique. The body is prep to take in air to be centered within the body, when upon excretion the technique is carried out. That is what should happen, but lets look at what could happen. If focus is interrupted, if we are distracted off the path, the object may not break, but our hand might. By executing the internal power of a yell combined with the external technique you have follow through of completion.

I hope that it is evident from this lecture, and the lecture on Quietness that these two areas are connected, and the importance each plays in our overall training to be the best martial artist we can be.

DRAGON KENPO

YELLOW - ORANGE BELT

KNIFE-HAND STRIKING MOTION

AND

BASIC DRAGON KENPO-JUJITSU

METHODS

Grandmaster Reginald Hoover

10^th Dan Kenpo-Jujutsu

The Dragon Kenpo Karate Consortium basic analogy in striking motion for the Dragon Kenpo Karate, and Dragon Kenpo-Jujitsu:

Yellow through Advanced Orange Belt practitioners consists of basic hand motion drills, which will aide the DK stylist in the intermediate ranks with typical creative motion concepts. The basic motion of the Knife-Hand Strike is a very important tool for basic creative hand motion methods in developing intermediate and advanced hand motion creativity! The basic knife-hand striking motion too basic upper body targets are as follows:

I. Upward Striking Motion:

1. Palm-Down Knife-Hand Strike To Throat;

2. Palm-Down Knife-Hand Strike Under Nose;

3. Palm-Down Knife-Hand Strike To Philtrum;

4. Palm-Down Knife-Hand Strike To Side Of Neck;

5. Palm-Down Knife-Hand Strike To Clavicle;

6. Palm-Down Knife-Hand Strike To Upper Ribcage;

7. Palm-Down Knife-Hand Strike To Floating Ribs;

8. Palm-Down Knife-Hand Strike Under Ears At Jawbone Juncture;

9. Palm-Down Knife-Hand Strike To Frontal Ribcage;

10. Palm-Down Knife-Hand Strike To Side Of Face At

Eye Socket;

11. Palm-Down Knife-Hand Strike To Sternum;

12. Palm-Down Knife-Hand Strike To Elbow Joint;

13. Palm-Down Knife-Hand Strike To Kidneys;

14. Palm-Down Knife-Hand Strike To Back Of Neck:

II. Downward Striking Motion:

1. Palm-Inward Knife-Hand Strike To Side Of Neck;

2. Palm-Inward Knife-Hand Strike To Frontal Ribcage;

3. Palm-Inward Knife-Hand Strike To Inside Elbow Juncture;

4. Palm-Inward Knife-Hand Strike To Side High Ribcage;

5. Palm-Inward Knife-Hand Strike To Floating Ribs;

6. Palm-Inward Knife-Hand Strike To Philtrum;

7. Palm-Inward Knife-Hand Strike To Kidneys;

8. Palm-Inward Knife-Hand Strike To Back Of Neck;

9. Palm-Inward Knife-Hand Strike Under Ears At Jawbone Juncture;

10. Palm-Inward Knife-Hand Strike To Clavicle;

11. Palm-Inward Knife-Hand Strike To Top Of Head;

12. Palm-Inward Knife-Hand Strike To Side Of Face At

Eye Socket;

13. Palm-Inward Knife-Hand Strike To Sternum;

14. Palm-Inward Knife-Hand Strike To Throat Area:

III. Circular Striking Motion:

1. Circular Palm-Up Knife-Hand Strike To The Throat;

2. Circular Palm-Up Knife-Hand Strike To High Ribcage;

3. Circular Palm-Up Knife-Hand Strike To Kidneys;

4. Circular Palm-Up Knife-Hand Strike To Frontal Ribcage Cavity;

5. Circular Palm-Up Knife-Hand Strike To Side Of Neck;

6. Circular Palm-Up Knife-Hand Strike Under Nose;

7. Circular Palm-Up Knife-Hand Strike To Floating Ribs;

8. Circular Palm-Up Knife-Hand Strike To Rear Side Ribcage Area;

9. Circular Palm-Up Knife-Hand Strike To Back Of Neck At Skull Base;

10. Circular Palm-Up Knife-Hand Strike To Sternum;

11. Circular Palm-Up Knife-Hand Strike Under Chin Area;

12. Circular Palm-Up Knife-Hand Strike Side Of Face Eye

Sockets;

IV. Double Striking Motion:

1. Double Left Palm-Down / Right Palm-Up Knife-Hand

Strike To Throat And Side Of Neck;

2. Double Right Palm-Down / Left Palm-Up Knife-Hand

Strike To Throat And Side Of Neck;

BASIC DRAGON KENPO-JUJITSU METHODS

Yellow Belt

1. Left & Right Buddha-Hand Check

2. Single Hand Trap

3. Single Hand Pushing Finger Lock

4. Double Hand Trap

5. Double Hand Finger Lock

6. Single Hand Wrist Lock

7. Single Hand Finger Break

8. Single Hand Thumb Break

9. Double Hand Finger Break

10. Double Hand Thumb Break

11. Double Hand Wrist Twist

12. Outter Reap

13. Inner Reap

14. Elbow Striking Throw

15. Ridge-Hand Striking Throw

16. Palm Striking Throw

17. Minor Hip Throw

18. Major Hip Throw

19. Forearm Smashing Throw

20. Come-Along Hold

Amitofo!

The Real Elucidation Of Zhou:

"The Pre-Heaven Bagua is a theory of the sole Qi's circulation". (It is) an entire heaven theory and was orginated from Taiji. (It is ) the events before the real body is exposed (to heaven ) or born. The Post-Heaven Bagua is divided into Yin and Yang, (which) carries goodness and evil, and keeps changing in it's creation and derivation. (This is ) the real (human) body's event which has already been defected. Before the real body is exposed means brfore birth. (It is) the state of "no action". The marvel of "no action" is that which can be smooth, even in the inverse situation. The Pre-Heaven's smoothness is hidden within the converse, which is able to smoothly naturalize the Post-Heaven's Yin and return it to the face (ie., condition) before birth. ( This) will prevent the real body's injury from Yin Qi. When the real body is already injured, it is already born. ( Therefore, we) should conduct the secret trick which could be helpful (to us). ( this secret trick) is (knowing how) to use inverse within smoothness. Smoothly retreat the Post-Heaven Yin and inversely return it to the Pre-Heaven Yang. ( In order to) return the face (i.e., physical condition) of the Post-Birth, ( we ) must enable (our) Yang Qi to be back to its real body. Conducting the smoothness within the Pre-Heaven inverse means, in the inverse there is a hidden ( relation ) of Pre-Heaven Yin and Yang Five Phases which could return ( our condition ) back to the sole Qi embryo. ( We must ) smoothly neutralize the Posat-Heaven Yin and protect this sole Qi".

Right And Left Cut Horizontally:

"Zou You Pan Qie"

From your relaxed standing posture of both feet positioned shoulder width apart.

Inhale and pull both hands to your chest area. Circle your left hand (palm-up) counter-clockwise horizontally in front of your abdominal area and circle you right hand (palm facing left with thumb upward) counter-clockwise to the right side of your chest. Arch the back and hold the chest in.

Exhale continuing to circle both hands until the left hand (palm-up) is over your right lower ribcage and your right hand (palm-down) is extended out to the right side of your body; keeping the chest thrusting out and torso straight!

Inhale, twisting your body left, turning your right hand until the palm faces upward, moving it to your left. Continuing right hand motion to left lower ribcage area. While circling your left hand forward (palms facing each other) clockwise and up. Circle you right and left hands (palms facing each other) clockwise leaving the left hand one half circle trailing behind. End this moving crane hard gong posture by pulling you right hand (palm-up) back to the chest area while pressing you left hand(palm-down) out to your left.

Repeat 5 more times!

Amitoufo!

Turning–Spinning Qigong

Rotate Palm Posture; [Zhuan Zhang Shi]:

( Roll, Drill, Struggle; ie, expand & wench): wrap supporting eight directions.

Rolling, drilling struggling and wrapping are the four basic technical motions. Zheng ( struggling) translates as to struggle against someone, or expanding and wrenching forcefully. Mastering these four basic techniques, leads to expressing physical skills masterfully in the eight directions. These eight directions consist of the four sides and four diagonal corners):

Left & Right Palm Rotations; (Standard Abdominal Breathing):

Stand at attention with both palms facing downward and start to exhale. Step 15 degrees to your front left with the left foot; shifting 70% of weight on your right leg and 30% body weight on the left. Extending both palms forward and to your left, turning your waist left while rotating your palms outward. This will align your palm and back heel in one vertical plane: Pointing both index fingers up, squeezing your other fingers inward slightly to produce a bow in each palm. Hold this posture while repeating (Eight Standard / Normal) abdominal breathing cycles.

Focusing your eyes on the index finger of your upper left hand and exhale! Reverse your waist and foot motion in the opposite direction until you are again facing forward. Start to inhale as you straighten your arms back in front of you (palms down) and bring your left foot back to the attention position; lowering your palms next to the abdomen, completing you completing your inhalation!

Repeat above in the opposite ("Right" direction using the right foot) for right palm rotations.

Source: B.D.C.C.I. Baguazhang Library. Dragon Walking Baguazhang:

Amitoufo!

The Twenty-Four Rules for Chi Kung Practice

By Yang, Jwing-Ming

BASIC DRAGON KENPO-JUJITSU METHODS

By

Reginald Hoover / Judan Kenpo-Jujutsu:

Street Combat Fanning

Street Combat Natural Weapon Fans: