Gou Junxiong

Studying any martial art from a book or tape is possible. But to become truly profiecient and skilled in an art, especially an internal art is not easy, and is almost impossible by this method. Keyword being, almost. It has been done in the past, and will be done in the future. Commitment is a big part of the whole deal. In the end it is best to find a competent teacher, even if he only helps you obtain training resources, and then corrects you from time to time. On a side note Liu He Bafa Quan is a rare internal art and was traditionally only taught to those who had first studied the other three main internals (Taiji, Xing Yi, and Bagua) Though I am curious where you found any tapes and books on Liu He Bafa... Perhaps you wouldn't mind sharing a link or two?

Qi(ki, ch'i, chi), is commonly translated as vital energy. It refers to the energy of the body which is garnered from food, water, breath, sunlight, etc. This energy was studied for healing and martial purposes. The martial arts and medical leaders of the time, tended to be buddhist or daoist monks. So the theories of qi were influenced in part by this culture. But not everyone who studied qi was a buddhist or a daoist, and the effects of qi are still being studied in china now, which is an atheist state under the communist regime. I am a practicing christian myself, and have studied qi for three years. I am discriminating in my studies, and I try to seperate the religious theories and beliefs from qi as best I can, and study just true healthful cultivation. I don't find qi to be the energy of God, or the Holy Spirit, nor do I think it is the power of the devil. It is simply the energy of the body, God built our bodies to be self sustaining. By learning how the body flows I can keep it in better health, and increase the benefits of my martial skills. This is just my take on things though.