Hi all,

As part of my research into MA and psycology, I would like people's views on the aspect of Ki, Chi, universal energy...

Do you think this energy is down to physics, i.e. momentum, gravity, natural scientific forces at work?? or..
Do you think this energy is more spiritual, unseen, un-measureable,a focus of universal energy working through us??

I find people's perceptions on this idea very interesting indeed.

Please state what art you practise (if any) and obviously your thoughts =)

Look forward to reading your comments guys!

What a great post! Ha you should see some of the peoples views on this in the forums. We def have the chi/ vs anti chi camps...

My take on it is there is more to life then we actually understand and some things can be explained and somethings science just cant seem to touch (Refer to the Harvard study on buddist monks)

The concept of chi is something which I appreciate although honestly ive never actually experienced it through training (That said im from a Taekwondo background) but I do know what it feel likes on the way home from training after a particular exhausting session and how good I feel.


Kinda a wolly there RR but im still sat on the fence I guess.

I guess it comes down to whether u are open minded or not (closed minded?). Anyway I'm very open minded to these ideas so I would say yea, up to a point I believe in chi etc :).

This is a bit of an interesting topic for me on both a MA level and just a general experience level.

I have a bit of a weird background in Western Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Japanese Karate, and Kendo. I am also living in Japan and speak a level of Japanese so I can see "ki" appearing a lot in everyday conversation.

In Japan there is a kanji (Chinese character) for "Ki" which is used in a lot of words. When I talk to people I often start my greeting with "konnichi wa. Genki desu ka?" which when I translate it literally becomes "Good day. How is your internal essence?". "Ki" is a word that is used all the time in Japanese and essentially means energy and nothing more. If I were to describe someone as "namaiki" (na-ma-i-"ki" ) it would mean that the energy that they give off in their meanings is raw or when I translate it into real English "cheeky bastard". "Ki" in Japanese from my experience has an essence of personal energy but is maybe not that spiritual. It seems that anyone can do anything and it is just a question of being strong enough. Strong people have a lot of "ki" because they train hard and theres nothing more to it when it comes to language.
When it comes to martial arts, people are encouraged to give it there all so having a good "kiai" (energy shout) shows you are putting a lot of effort or energy in. Japanese martial arts have never gone for any kind of spooky "increase your chi and you will become strong," but rather they train like hell and become strong so they are always "genki" (healty, energetic, have high internal energy).

Asked for the spooky stuff that goes on in China, I have no idea. That is Chi, not ki. It may be similar but the attitudes in the countries are completely different. I think for the purpose of this kind of conversation, it would be best to keep the spiritual spooky (potentially superhuman) Chinese attitude towards "chi," away from the "you will be "genki" if you train every day," super rational, our country has robots, Japanese attitude towards "ki"

Just my opinion of course.

Hmm.. from what I've learnt (as a taichi and karate student) Chi and ki represent our body's energy. Although ppl believe that either chi, or ki is the energy used, by studying tai chi I have learnt how to issue chi, and I tell you one can definatly feel chi.

I'm not saying ki doesn't exist (I believe both do) I just haven't yet been able to distinguish a difference.

I think a good translation for the word 'chi' (the calligraphy is of steam coming off a rice pot - therefore the energy of life) is 'animation'. Good posture, breathing, mental awareness and focus will help you to animate your mind and better giving them more life force or animation.

Nice replies guys, I've really enjoyed reading your comments. I especialy enjoyed the post from Tony Swain about the differance between Ki and Chi relating to language. Very interesting concept...

I believe in this energy, I believe it flows through us all, I also believe that to access and connect with this energy one must become centered and calm within to vibrate on a higher level and connect with nature/the universe.
A big part of our brain doesnt get used, I think that with evolution people are becoming more aware that we as humans have more potential to reach. MA is great for this realisation.
But on the same note, while training this calmness and sensitivty is harder to maintain with the phsyical work put into training, but when looking at O'Sensei founder of Aikido for one example, He often says that he could feel someones energy, that before they act he could see a flash of white light?? is this the energy we speak of?


How many people meditate and have felt a deep connection with energy? hightened senses?
Is this also this Chi? universal energy? Ki?

Ryusui_Ryu wrote:

Do you think this energy is down to physics, i.e. momentum, gravity, natural scientific forces at work??

No.


Do you think this energy is more spiritual, unseen, un-measureable,a focus of universal energy working through us??

No.


Please state what art you practise (if any) and obviously your thoughts =)

Look forward to reading your comments guys!

I practice Yang style Taiji, and Cheng style Bagua.

To me, qi is energy, plain and simple.

Great topic.

Ok, I'll keep this simple - if you didn't think I was crackers before-hand, now you really will - the avatar you see for my profile; that's just a mobile phone photograph, which I promise - I haven't edited in any way. I don't know what, how...whatever - I make no claims about what it means.

What's hilarious, is I've tried uploading more photos to my gallery, and they all fail!!! I thought the ME team were editing them out at one stage or refusing to allow them on, until Jason told me they should just upload automatically.

All I know is, they're part of a long list of weird stuff that I experience, that normal 'science' has yet to explain.

One day when I was doing my short form (tai chi) I think I experienced a heightened awareness.

For a very short time my senses became sharper, especially eye-sight, and I could feel this kind of tingling sensation flowing through my body.

It only lasted until I completed my short form, and I'm no master so I don't know if that was my chi I felt, but I still think it is.

I think a danger is for us to experience any strange sensation, and assume it's the flow of energy, meanwhile it could just be our wanting of an experience that makes us feel as if it is.

Sorry don't believe in chi, but do believe in good body mechanics and the nervous system.

I believe the chi is real but it isn't some strange "Star Wars" kind of silliness. When released, it is known to give off an electromagnetic pulse but the pulse isn't chi - it's just an indication of its presence.

To really feel and effectively emit this energy, we must use our bodies. In this regard, chi is like water flowing through a hose. If the body mechanics are fouled, it's like putting "kinks" in the hose and the water (chi) is cut to a trickle. Thus, the great emphasis in the neijia (taiji, xingyi, and bagua) on proper body alignment and mechanics.

To say that it doesn't exist simply because it hasn't yet been measured (or whatever) is pointless...we simply lack the technology at this time to effectively measure it. A couple of hundred years ago, our ancestors would have scoffed at the idea of radiation...but we now know that it exists...and that world isn't really flat, and so on. Eventually, we'll develop some device that is capable of measuring chi in some fashion.