KarateKid7

neva heard of it :|

How does it improve reaction/power? I understand improving concentration but not reaction/power

I am interested

Kool Fair point and so true

Lol its ok. dont worry. Yeh...that seems to be the emphasis...i was probably thinking out aloud when i said my meditation statement...it was in response to something i read in a meditation guide some time back about meditating upon a tiger for example would give you all the qualities of a tiger...I think this is object specific meditation rather than the broad non focussed open minded meditation...in taiji, u are "going into quiet" but like you say, there are probably different types of mediation

i am probably a rookie in relation to you big guns...but i thought id make a suggestion. one of the laws of kata we are taught is that the moves should flow through and from one another...like a cycle of energy in the kata...i think maybe rather than it being related to ki and chi, you have peformed the kata much better than you might have done before and reached a new level in your kata training...as the goal is to perform without thinking and without emotion...the point being the reflexes become inate in the street......what im trying to say is, maybe its the advancement in your kata training rather than chi development although they are probably linked

Thanks guys. I think i see the bigger picture now. you have all opened my mind. In response to taiji fajin's sarcastic comment about using chi to bulk up, i was just merely making a physiological link. I have heard of bodybuilders which imagine themselves stronger which can boost their strength up to 30% and i was wondering if there are specific chi exercies to help one focus but i realise now that it is about general focus rather than specific focus. Then again, to meditate is to think about nothing or to meditate upon a thought?

What are the benefits of this type of triaining? Thanks

I kno it seems far fetch'd but DO u think it is possible? I.e. change the metabolism of one so that one can gain weight...i.e. can u imagine yourself bigger and exercising and putting on weight and use chi as a catalyst for this visualisation...could any-one guide me? Thanks.

Chi gung...i.e qui gong...i see...thanks

Ice

Sorry to be the rookie in this post but is Zhan Zhuang simply holding a stance for a certain amount of time or does it refer to a specific stance within a specific style...I noticed Night Dragon trains in shotokan karate and ju jutsu and i thought that Zhan Zhuang evolved from chinese martial arts. I am interested and want to implement Zhan Zhuang into my karate training - is this possible without proffesional advice/training? Any tips would be much appreciated.

Thanks to all for their contributions

Thanks dude. Much appreciated.

That 18 Dark Power Internal Hands form sounds...interesting. lol

David and Koryu. Both you advices to me are very useful and I will keep everything in mind. Much appreciated guys. To David, yes i do practice Sanchin with tension in the arms but I am by no means an expert - we are expected to improve our sanchin form as we progress in our training over many years i.e. it shouldnt happen overnight. A question to koryu: in which points do u feel ki/chi in sanchin? in the whole kata or just specific points? the dan tien is 3 inches below the navel and David I think you have found my problem! I have to break this mental image of myself in order to expel breath from the dan tien...Maybe I am trying too much...maybe i am not. A question, should I tense when I kiai or does this waste uncessary energy? THanks again guys.

So u think standing and practicing kicks will actualy improve the kick and improve flexibility if performed intensively and on a regular basis? I do want to improve the range of motion of the kicks...i.e flexibility, height and kicking endurance

Thanks a lot mate. Il keep it in mind.

Fair enough dude. Thanks. I was just wondering if anyone had some first hand experience but ur advice was much appreciated anyhow.

Any replies at all would be so helpful please

I kno chi/means breath and hence exercises are focussed around utilising power in our breath. How can we experience chi/ki for the first time? Which exercises illustrate the effect and feeling of chi/ki effectively? And how is the feeling best described? A magnetic like force...electric like force, etc...Any feedback would be much appreciated as I think my mind is thinking it is feeling chi when i might not actually be feeling it. Also the kiai...I practice karate and when we expel this, i still feel it is coming from my throat sometimes mor than the dan tien hara...is there a way of correcting this? Thanks guys.

I have heard that the V-shape Sitting stretch is an effective way of improving flexibility. If so, how often should I do this stretch and on which phase of the stretch should the emphasis be...i.e how do i really hit the hips and groin (and its ligaments). Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks Basically i need to improve the speed and power and height of my hook kicks, back spinning hook kicks, roundhouses and axe kicks...i think improving flexibility (considering I have limited flexiblilit) would be a good start rite cheerz.

another drill with a partner is that you lay down into situp position whilst holding the ball at ur chest. you do a crunch\situp (harder as your holding the weighted ball) and as you come up, you throw the ball forward to a partner who is standing infront of you facing you (working the chest, shoulders and triceps) and then they chuck the ball back and u absorb the impact into your abs with the guidance of ur hands to avoid injury to organs, etc..then go back and do another situp with the ball and so on. we used to do this as part of circuit training in our dojo for roughly 2 mins for each partner

i have been doing some research in martial arts. being a practioner in karate shito-ryu, i have reached a decent standard of 3rd kyu but my flexibility seems to fail me constantly. i really want someone to help me identify which stretches will help me with certain kicks. like for roundhouse, backkick, front kick, side and hook kicks, which stretches will primarily increase the flexibility of the muscles being employed for the specific respective kicks and thus make these kicks mor efficient to me. i would be ever so greatful if someone could guide me in this matter.

i wud be ever so greatful if u could suggest me some basic abbductor stretches