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When we sleep, we are drawing upon the infinite energy of the Universe. Humans really only need 2 hours of sleep to regenerate the energy. The rest of the hours are usually for the physical body to relax. If you practice chi kung, your sleep time decreases, since your energy level increases. That is why chi kung masters sleep only a few hours a day.

I personally think Tai Chi Chuan is the most effective and the most deadly martial art system in the world (maybe aside from Shaolin Kungfu). Each movement and pattern has a combat application. One pattern can be used to dislocate an elbow, block an attack, or throw the assailant. Of course, internal force is required to carry out the attacks/defense. It is a pity that tai chi chuan has been debased to a mere relaxing dance today.

Yi Jin Jing, like all qigong exercises, require the practitioner to be as supple and relaxed (mentally and physically) as possible. A failure to do so would lead to internal injury and the vomiting of blood from the chest. Most beginners make the mistake of tensing even though they THINK they are relaxed. That's why it's important to learn from a competent instructor or master and not from books or videos.

Hi from the ground up, Thank you for your reply . If you experience what I experienced just once, all your doubts will disappear about chi. It's sort of like saying that you absolutely do not believe that an apple is sweet. When you taste it once, you'll know.

There obsiously is a confusion in the term "hard" and "soft." Hard tends to mean external training and force. Karate, taekwondo, and kickboxing are classifed under hard martial arts. Soft means internal force training, which of course involves the use of chi. Taijiquan, Baguazhang, and Hsing Yi are classified as "soft." Shaolin is classified as hard and soft. Actually, all great arts are classified as both, so therefore taijiquan and the other internal arts are classified as hard also.

Hey, Please go to http://wahnam.com/forum to ask questions regarding qigong training. Shaolin-Wahnam instructors will kindly answer you and guide you. I am not authorized to train or instruct.

Hi, Sifu Wong Kiew Kit is a Shaolin and Taijiquan grandmaster in Malaysia right now. His site is at http://shaolin-wahnam.tripod.com and http://www.wahnam.com Feel free to visit there! "The Art of Chi Kung" is a wonderful book. I practice Three Circle Stance and Sinew Metamorphosis (Yi Jin Jing). For a beginner like you, you should practice "Lifting the Sky" and "Carrying the Moon," especially if you don't have an instructor or master watching you. Lifting the Sky can clear all your blockages and give you a lot of energy if you practice correctly. Correctly, meaning without tension and mind distraction and without forcing the breathing. Hope this helps!

For those trained in the internal martial arts (kung fu, taijiquan, hsing yi, etc.), how long can you hold your zhan zhuang position? What kind of zhan zhuang do you practice? For example. in taijiquan, we practice Three Circle Stance and hold it for at least 30 minutes.

Hi, I apologize for replying now, as this post was posted a while ago. Chest pains, especially from vigorous and strenuous martial arts, is a result of internal injury and chi blockage. Modern western doctors usually cannot identify this, as they find that there is nothing wrong with the patient! My advice to you is to find a qigong master and practice qigong. Your problems should be easily overcomed if you find a competent instructor or a genuine master. Chi blockage results from strenuous breathing and tension within the body. Yours is such the case. Be forewarned, is you practice qigong without the supervision of an instructor or master, you will aggravate your chest pain. Wrong qigong practice can result in the vomiting of blood and decline in overall health.

Does anyone have any experience with Yi Jin Jing (Sinew Metamorphosis)? I would like to hear some personal experiences. After every time I practice, I feel refreshed and happy. My arms feel much heavier. In Standing meditation, I sway with qi current and it is invigorating and refreshing. In taijiquan practice, I can feel my qi flowing easily. My punches feel a lot more powerful and faster. Well, that's my experience! Hope to hear yours soon!