What is Ki Gong

What is Ki Gong? 氣功

Ki gong is an aspect of Asian health philosophy that believes the body has an energy field generated and maintained through respiration of the body. This energy field is know as Ki기/氣, Ki translated means vapor, gas, steam. The character Ki is made up of steam over cooking rice. Indicating the two main sources of our energy that keep us alive, food and air. Kigong means “energy work” or the art of managing your internal energy to maintain optimum health and longevity.

It is believed that there are many types of Ki just as there are many types of energy. The three basic manifestations of Ki beleived to be concerned with health and longevity, are; Chun Ki (sky or Heavenly energy), Ji Ki (Earth energy), and Sun Ki (Human energy). Chun Ki (Heavenly energy) involves everything from weather, sunshine, tides, climate etc. Ji Ki (Earth energy) absorbs its energy from the Heavens (Chun Ki) and also contains, gravity, heat from the Earth, the Earths magnetic field etc. Sun Ki (Human energy) absorbs its energy from both Heaven and Earth energy.

All of these energies are vital for life, each of these energies constantly change and are in a state of flux in order to keep balance. For example Chun Ki (Heavenly energy) gives rain to the Earth. That rain transforms into Ji Ki (Earth energy) nourishing life on Earth. If any of these energies become unbalanced, they will naturally rebalance themselves. Everything is interconnected, effecting one, effects the other. If the energy “Ki’ in the air is polluted, by nature our energy ‘Ki’ will become polluted.

In the traditional Korean philosophy it is believed everything has Ki, something’s transmit Ki more than others. For example air gives us most Ki. In our bodies the Ki is also taken in through eating, through our skin and mainly as stated, through breathing. When we breath Ki is absorbed and stored in our bodies. The area which Ki accumulates is called the Dan Jun단전 which literally translates to field of energy. The Dan Jun is the area in the lower abdomen about two inches under the navel. The Dan Jun draws, stores and emits Ki as the body needs it. Once Ki is absorbed and stored it is divided/used in two ways; 1) managing Ki, which is distributed through the body so it can function 2) Protective Ki, which is directed to the bodies surface to protect you from outside influences and injuries.

Your Sun Ki (personal Ki) must be kept in harmony with natures energy (Ki). If your Ki is out of balance it will weaken and decay. It can be brought back into balance, through natural (ki gong/diet) or medical assistance. Ki Gong is the way to develop and increase your energy in your body so it may be directed and transmitted through your will/intention Eui /意, so you may apply it to prolong and benefit your life.

The Three Basic Phases of Ki Gong
1)   Accumulating/Storing the Ki
2)   Circulating the Ki
3)   Transmitting the Ki

Storing the Ki/Breathing Ho Hup Bop
Proper breathing is an integral part of martial arts training, incorrect breathing is unhealthy. Consider that the first thing that is disturbed when a person is upset is usually the breathing. Proper breathing helps us stay calm, helps us keep our endurance and coupled with proper mental training we can even control pain with breathing. Just like fanning a flame makes a flame greater because of the increase of oxygen, so to we gain additional strength with proper breathing.

In the Ki gong philosophy it is believed by breathing gently to your maximum capacity, the oxygen and Ki separate in the lungs and the Ki travels to the energy center of the body called the ‘Dan Jun’, as we exhale we expel waste gas Co2. The most important part of the breathing process concerning Ki gong is the point between the inhale and the exhale.

Basic Dan Jun breathing involves gently ballooning out the abdomen and imagine it filling with air. This pulls on the diaphragm and allows the lower tips of the lungs to fill with air, thereby filling the lungs with more air. By pressing our breathing in a downward motion first like the way a vessel is filled, the optimum amount of oxygen and Ki enters the body. Later you will learn to hold the point between the inhale and exhale locking the breath so optimum amounts of Ki are sent to the Dan Jun.

Circulating and transmitting Ki.
Ki circulates through our bodies whether we are aware of it or not. Circulating our Ki through our will/awareness Eui /意for our health and for self defense is a vital part of martial arts training. The first phase deals with gathering and storing the second phase with circulating the Ki through the body through the use of concentration exercises and the Ki Gong exercises, and lastly through Ki Hap (energy unification) to transmit our energy through out martial arts techniques.

Soo Ki and Hwa Ki – Water and Fire energies
Soo Ki (Water energy) and Hwa Ki (Fire energy) are the two basic ways human energy (sun ki) manifests itself inside the body. Soo Ki (water) represents the ‘Um’ passive or negative force, and Hwa Ki (fire) represents the ‘Yang’ active or positive force. For example if the bodies energy becomes to ‘Yang’ that indicates that the bodies energy has a build up of Hwa Ki (fire energy). That means blood pressure may rise, the heart might begin to work harder, the blood may become acidic. Anger is an emotion often associated with excessive Yang or fire. On the other hand if the bodies energy becomes to ‘Um’ or has a build up of Soo Ki (water energy) or a lack of Hwa Ki, sadness, melancholy or depression may set in. The blood pressure could drop, a lack of energy and a lethargic feeling may manifest. The ideal situation is to be aware of the balance (Pyong) of your energy and keep it balanced through good environment, exercise and diet. When it is unbalanced by external or internal influences, correct it. Correcting your energies balance can happen in three ways; a) naturally by itself b) with Ki Gong concentration etc. c) medically by yourself or with the assistance of a doctor via acupressure, acupuncture, medicinal balms, herbs, ointments, diet etc.

In training we have an expression:

水上火下 Su Seung Hwa Ha (Gang)
Water Up Fire Down

This relates to keeping the upper body relaxed like water and be active like fire in the hips. If the upper body is tense (fire related) and the lower body weak (stance related) your technique will be ineffective. This is also symbolic of the character for Ki, the fire must be below the water in order for it to cook or create steam energy. If the fire is above then no energy is produced. Similarly, if we keep the hips active and the rest of the body relaxed then we will have Bal Gyeong 發勁or maximum power emission.

An interesting experiment you can do to see the effects of having your fire and water in the wrong place. Have a partner stand naturally with their feet shoulder width apart and have them extend their left arm out to the side shoulder level. Place your left hand on their right shoulder and your right hand on top of their extended arm. Gently and slowly push down on their arm and note what level their resistance is. Now let them shake out their arms and rub from just below their navel to their collar bones three times, and retest their arm. It will be significantly weaker. Reverse rubbing up to down and test again it will be stronger.


Ki Hap – Energy Unification
In the martial arts often when the practioner attacks he/she yells, this is called a ‘Ki Hap’. Literally Ki Hap means ‘energy unification’ basically it means to focus the energy force together. Like a magnifying glass can focus the rays of the sun into a single powerful beam. Ki Hap is more than ‘Yelling’ or vocal harassment. There are both physical and psychological aspects of the Ki Hap. Physically we focus on transmitting our energy through concentration, proper breathing and technique. All of our physical and internal energies coming together at one focused point and being projected out with the Ki Hap. Psychologically we can mental effect our opponents confidence and spirit. A spirited Ki hap can lessen the opponents will through fear, anxiety etc.

The practical application of a sophisticated art
Attention, bowing and the choon be (ready stance) are the first three things we learn in our art. Choon be (ready stance) is the first half of the choon be/paro philosophy. Choon be is not a physical posture but a state of mental readiness. Paro is returning to the beginning but still maintaining that state of mental readiness. It is a mistake to think that standing in front of someone with your fists in front of your abdomen is a practical and effective ready stance for combat. The goal of choon be is to breath in energy, relax the shoulders and center yourself in your hips. This can be done in any physical posture, the most common form is the one first taught. It is vital that one understand the goal is to get into a mental and physical state of centeredness.

By practicing this way we can catch tension as it begins and use the energy in a positive way. A simple example of this is if someone is rude to you. It is natural for ones physical energy to rise when angered, the face changes, the shoulders tense etc. When we sense that through our choon be training we can reverse it and use that energy in a more productive way. When you get angry you give control to the other person, when centered you maintain control.

Try this, right now let your arms hang at your sides, take a deep breath, relax your shoulders and as you exhale allow the tension to be released with each exhale, feel the heaviness in your hands. Do this for a few breaths and you will begin to feel a tingling in your hands from the increased blood flow. You will visually see a difference in color (darker) from this. Without realizing it your tension was slowing your blow flow to your hands. Too much tension can give you headaches, high blood pressure and many other negative health issues.
This simple and practical application of centering with the choon bee philosophy can be applied while waiting in line at the store, sitting in traffic, anywhere.

Remember it’s not a magic word, spell, pill, diet, video or machine that will improve the quality of our lives it is the practice and application of simple truths such a this that will.

Ki gong in the west
For the most part Ki has yet to be accepted and definitively proven in the west. Many of the concepts have a physiological explanation. The martial arts Ki hap for example can be dismissed as simply focusing and psyching oneself up, and throughout history there have been many practioners using tricks to dupe the unknowing with supernatural powers and abilities, which hasn't helped. While many think Kigong is simply a simplistic way of explaining natural concepts, a belief system or Asian voodo, Kigong has endured throughout the ages and helped masses of people. Whether you use Ki terminology or physiological terms, if it works for you isn’t that what is important?

D.Segarra

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