By
eHow Sports & Fitness Editor
Difficulty: Moderately challenging
Things You’ll Need:
- Martial Arts Encyclopedias
- Health Club Memberships
- Jump Ropes
- Martial Arts Supplies
- Martial Arts Uniforms
- Martial Arts Videos
Step1
Begin with meditation to become aware of your own chi.
Step2
Sit comfortably in a quiet place. Be sure you won't be interrupted for at least 20 minutes.
Step3
Inhale and exhale deeply, breathing from your diaphragm. Imagine fatigue and tension escaping as you exhale. Imagine fresh air and energy entering your body as you inhale.
Step4
Isolate muscle groups. Tense a group, such as your neck muscles, for several seconds and then relax. Move on to another area until your body is fully relaxed.
Step5
Empty your mind of stressful thoughts and concentrate on the rhythm of your body. Sense the blood flow, your breathing and so on until you can feel the body's natural rhythm.
Step6
Bring up your awareness (spirit) to the top of your head by imagining a string pulling you up.
Step7
Push your breathing lower until you reach an area about three inches below the navel and two inches inward (the tan t'ien, known as the center of your chi).
Step8
Meditate every day. After several weeks or months you will begin to sense the rhythm of internal energy without the assistance of deep breathing.
Step9
Use your mind to guide your chi's path inside your body. You'll gain increased awareness and natural energy.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Chi has a lot to do with using your core muscles than any mystical energy.
Humans stand on two legs, so we're given muscles to hold our backs erect. As we age, those muscles weaken and tighten (so you should start stretching if you haven't). It helps by using your abdominal and oblique muscles to supplement the back muscles.
The Chinese and the Indians realized the importance of the core muscles and developed Yoga and Tai Chi for you to focus on using your body better.
If you're in the martial arts, you need to breathe deeply anyway. It's like going running - you need the oxygen. You'll also be more alert to what an opponent is doing.
This is no substitute for formal martial arts training. Go take a class and have fun!
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 The chi in your body helps you gain energy for a certain point like the hand or foot to develop power. It helps you focus on that one point, to gain maximum power.