Kung Fu begins with sensation. For those
fortunate enough to learn from a skilled teacher, the journey is often
smoother. A master can guide you through hands-on practice, helping you
directly experience Qi. With their guidance, your sensitivity to Qi sharpens,
and your skills improve over time.
But what if you don’t have access to a
master? Can you still discover the feeling of Qi on your own? Absolutely—you
just need the right approach.
Starting the Fire
Think of lighting a barbecue. First, you
pick a calm spot, away from strong winds. You ignite the most flammable
material as kindling and surround it with charcoal, ensuring there’s enough
space between the pieces for air to circulate. With this setup, a single match
can light the entire grill.
Similarly, Qi is a natural force that
exists within everyone. Just as we instinctively laugh at comedies or feel
sadness during tragedies, we have an innate ability to sense Qi.
A renowned Chinese medicine practitioner
once categorized people based on their natural sensitivity to Qi:
- Highly Sensitive (Type A): Feels Qi
immediately.
- Sensitive (Type B): Feels Qi after
a short time.
- Less Sensitive (Type C): Feels Qi
after prolonged effort.
- Insensitive (Type D): Feels no Qi,
regardless of effort.
To test your sensitivity:
- Stretch out your left hand and relax it.
- Form "sword fingers" with your right hand (two
fingers extended, resembling a sword, Google the image).
- Draw small circles with sword fingers about 10 cm (4 inches) above your left palm.
- If you feel something immediately, you’re Type A.
- If it takes some time, you’re Type B.
- If it takes a minute or more, you’re Type C.
- If you feel nothing, you’re Type D.
This test isn’t about excluding anyone. It
simply helps set realistic expectations for your journey. While Types A and B
may progress quickly, Types C and D can still succeed with more guidance.
Sensitivity can also vary based on factors like mood and physical condition, so
don’t be discouraged—every living person can learn to work with Qi.
Discovering Your Firestarter
The palm is one of the most sensitive areas
for detecting Qi. This is your "firestarter." Your ideal practice
setting is wherever and whenever you feel least disturbed—this is your
"environment." Relax your muscles and joints, allowing them to
"loosen up." This is akin to arranging charcoal for a fire.
When ready, hold your palms as if cradling
an invisible ball, in a position that feels natural and comfortable. You can
sit or stand—just don’t strain yourself. Quiet your mind, focus your spirit,
and let your palms "listen" to each other, like two Bluetooth devices
pairing.
Visualize a basketball between your palms.
Feel its weight and presence. Then slowly transition to a same-size balloon,
noticing how the sensation changes. Finally, let the balloon transform into a lighter
big soap bubble, and observe the evolving sensation.
This exercise needn’t take long—3 to 5
minutes is sufficient for beginners. Afterward, save the above feeling in your
memory.
The First Spark
If you feel something invisible filling the
space between your palms—like a magnetic force pushing them apart—you’ve begun
to sense Qi. Resist the urge to intensify this feeling by squeezing or
pressing. Let it grow naturally. If it feels pleasant, let that comfort flow
from one palm to the other.
When you sense the "bubble"
between your palms expanding and contracting on its own, you’ve experienced the
essence of "Song" (鬆)—the state of relaxed tensionlessness essential to Kung Fu. Save this
feeling in your memory. This is your first "firestarter," the spark
that can ignite your journey. Though small, this spark holds immense potential.
As a Chinese poet once said:
"Where sunlight doesn’t reach,
Youth quietly blooms.
Moss, though tiny as a grain,
Learns to blossom like a peony."
— Yuan Mei, Moss (袁枚, ‘苔’)
Similarly, Qi arises naturally when you’re
in the right state of "Song." The more relaxed and open your palms
feel, the better your state. This transition—from basketball to soap
bubble—follows this principle.
Moving Forward
This first experience is not theoretical
knowledge but something felt and remembered. It’s like falling in love—you can
only truly understand it when it happens to you. Without direct experience,
even the most detailed Kung Fu texts remain lifeless words.
A skilled teacher accelerates this process
by demonstrating the state of relaxed Qi for the student to feel directly. As my
grandmaster once said, "I pass my comfort to the student." Through
this experience, the student begins to grasp the concept of "Song."
Relaxation allows Qi to flow outward and
merge with the surrounding space. Only when Qi manifests in this way can it be
considered genuine Kung Fu "Song." This objective result forms the
foundation for teaching, learning, and validating skills.
Even without a teacher, you can capture
this feeling through the ball-holding exercise. As you practice, you’ll refine
your ability to distinguish sensations: first the basketball, then the balloon,
and finally the soap bubble. With time, you’ll move beyond feeling your palms
to sensing Qi extending outward.
A Lifelong Journey
This first spark is the beginning of a
never-ending journey of self-discovery and improvement. From here, every
posture and movement—whether standing, walking, or practicing forms—should aim
to express and replicate this feeling of "Song."
Gradually, this sense of relaxation will
spread throughout your body: from your hands to your wrists, shoulders, legs,
and beyond. With practice, you’ll feel your body’s parts "talking" to
each other, all connected through Qi.
Your Kung Fu journey begins with this first
spark. Take it step by step, and the path will unfold before you.
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