Qigongs

M Hardman · Post by **M Hardman** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:33 pm

Dear All,

I began the task of reading through all of the pdf. files on chinese technique and I came across the word qigong. It just so happens that I started Taichichuan training a few months back and qigongs are a big part of it.

are any qigongs in particular helpful for archery?

Many thanks

Mike

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 2:32 am

Qigong and Taiji are closely related. The value of qigong exercises is that they help you concentrate on deep, regular and natural breathing. That helps with shooting - especially with heavier draw-weights.

S

M Hardman · Post by **M Hardman** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:58 pm

Another thought occured to me:
In the qigongs I am taught, we are taught to just relax so that the 'qi' can flow through your body. Also we are told that qi (and therefore your strength) is stopped by tension. But in archery we must made a 'firm lock' and a 'firm grip', I try to shoot with my qigong principles in mind,but this seems like a contradiction.

So whats better, tension or relaxation?

Many thanks

Mike

taaigihk · Post by **taaigihk** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 2:05 pm

Hi,

in my understanding chinese martial arts' neigongs, qigong included (or at least some of them), are ment to catalyse, or speed up the learning process. I don't think you should directly apply
body requirements of qigong practice into your archery practice, though the latter should benefit from it.

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:29 am

I covered this topic in some depth here:

http://www.atarn.org/chinese/qigong.htm

Have you read it?

M Hardman · Post by **M Hardman** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 4:54 pm

Yes I've read that, I found it very helpful when on the line. Most of the article is repeated is some form or another by my taiji instructors although they refer to fighting not archery. Perhaps this is another case of bad translation between chinese and english. I guess then being firm doesn't mean squeezing?

Many thanks

Mike

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 2:17 am

The basic principle is: we have been given three things: gravity, energy and a rigid skeletal structure. Balance makes the most effective use of gravity; good nutrition and breathing form the basis of the best use of energy, and understanding how to use our natural skeletal structure is the basis for minimizing energy wastage.

Taiji and Qigong look at all these elements and try to form a 'harmony': that is the best, most efficient combination. What you use the combination for - fighting, archery, ploughing a field or writing calligraphy - is up to you.

S

M Hardman · Post by **M Hardman** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:06 pm

Thanks for having the patience for explaining that Mr Selby, I'd never quite considered it that way before

Mike