Customer Reviews

Qigong for Health & Martial Arts: Exercises and Meditation (Qigong, Health and Healing)

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4 star:		(8)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Many years ago, when I was sweating and groaning my way through a daily karate class, I was exposed to chi kung. This book was my first text. The instruction, both text and photo, is exceptionally clear. You will find the Eight Piece Brocade and the Twelve Moving Forms, each of which make a wonderful physical work-out, even if you aren't particularly interested in all that chi-stuff. There is also a set of standing chi kung forms which are very good for learning to notice and direct your chi. The martial section was fun to read as was the section on Chinese yoga.

I used to get pretty banged-up in that karate program, because I was a middle-aged mom in there with a bunch of teens and young men. Every night, I would do these chi kung exercises to get rid of the pain and bruises so I could get back to class the next day. Yes...it works! I am not doing karate any more, but have pursued chi kung through the years. This book is a magnificent introduction to the subject. It's all business; no new-age drivel anywhere.

I bought this book while I was undergoing acupuncture treatment for arthritis. The acupuncturist was also a Kungfu Sifu who recommended the exercises in this book, to supplement his treatments. That was about one year ago, today my arthritis is virtually gone and whenever it acts up these exercises help me a lot.

This book is not going to be the only Quigong book in your library. However, it is a useful one.

Simply, it's an introduction to Quigong in various forms, from exercises to medicine to martial arts. It's not the most consistent book, and there are times where one may wish for more detail or less. However, there's also enough good material on breathing, exercises, history, and what to expect when you get deeper into Quigong that it's worth the price.

If you're an experienced practicioner, it's probably not worth your time, though it may be good for helping others start out.

George Lucas' idea of the force is most certainly real in the asian martial arts. It is your chi or qi, and this book shows you how to develop it. These exercises combine breathing techniques to build up your chi and increase overall health. They are effective and draining, i was exhausted after my first few forms even though they invole little outward movement. The focus is inward and you can feel the results, as your blood and tendons tingle and heat up. The photos didn't really confuse me at all and i have no prior experience. They seem fairly straightforward and along with the descriptions of the form it is easy for a novice to begin building up their 'force'. Good thorough book.

This book was my intro into QiGong and after 10 years I can see how the standing form has helped me become the successful person I am today.

I know this is going to sound a bit silly but, who needs viagra if youve got QiGong. Every time i see a commercial on TV or hear one on the radio Im thinking what a waste of money. The Da Mo style has provided for me. ;^)

Its also is great for weight lifting and working out or just getting out of bed in the morning. And it works wonders for evening out your temper, assuming you have one.

Sorry to be so basic about it but Ive gotta give credit where credits due. Thanks qigong, thank you all things and thank you Dr. jwing Ming.

I have quite a few books about qigong, and I find this one to be the clearest explanation from a practical standpoint of how qigong works. There is a nice division of external and internal practices, and the diagrams and photographs are easy to follow.

This is the book that began everything I've ever learned about Chi and meditation! I have been training for ten years now! I initially picked it up because I wanted to learn the INTERNAL aspect my Kung Fu teacher(Sifu) hinted at as the true power behind the martial arts. I found it to be an amazing explaination of something intangible (chi) explained with real science by a PhD in Physics. Dr. Yang turned out to be one of the most sincere and highest level of expertise authors I could have ever hoped to find on the subject. I have read many other authors on the subject, which he (humbley) encourages you to also, and I still haven't found anything that connects with more substance and no fluff than Dr. Yang's. This is the perfect starting point for someone who may just want to find out if they could meditate and bring more depth to their natural hobbies and sports. Go For It!

Dr. Yang is a wealth of information on internal martial arts. The book is well written and very informative. My only problem is with the pictures. I found some of them difficult to follow. I would recommend this book as an adjunct for someone who is already training in Qigong exercise. Overall, however, an excellent text!

"Qigong for Health and Martial Arts" by Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming is not as long or comprehensive as many of his books, but it was not meant to be. In this 175 page manual, which is short compared to some of the lengthy tombs he's written, Dr. Yang provides a very good introduction to the Chinese practice of Qigong, and includes various healing Qigong exercises and massage techniques that are found within the immense body of knowledge that makes up the Qigong cannon. For the person who wants a brief introduction to the health benefits of Qigong and how it can assist one in becoming a better martial artist, this is a good starting point and will most likely create an interest in learning more from an instructor or further resources.

I'll get the one negative out of the way right now. On the back cover, it states, "A complete guide to Qigong training for martial artists!" This statement is bold across the top, and while I understand marketing, this book is not a complete guide to Qigong for martial artists. It is an introduction, and in fact, inside the book, the chapter on martial arts applications is the shortest chapter, and Dr. Yang even states in the three paragraph conclusion, "Space has limited the presentation of the martial applications of Qigong, but the author hopes to publish more information on this matter in the future." I still believe this to be a valuable book, an educational book, a book good for martial artists, but it is not a "complete" guide. I would suggest a martial artist new to Qigong start with this book, and then continue studying with other resources from Dr. Yang and others.

The first chapter contains a good introduction of Qigong. Even though I have studied various methods and resources, I still enjoyed this quick intro to refresh my education. The second chapter focuses on Wai Dan Qigong and the third chapter focuses on Nei Dan Qigong. Both chapters do a good job of explaining the theory behind the practice, the origins of the practice, benefits and how to perform certain exercises. Photographs, charts, and diagrams are used throughout the book to assist with learning. I felt the chapters were about right for a basic text. They were not too long or in depth, and after this introduction, some students will go further into study, but others may feel this is all they really need at this time.

Chapter four is on Qigong and Health and provides some basics regarding Chinese Traditional Medicine. Again, it is not meant to be a complete medical text, but a short introduction to some of the principles and how they relate to Qigong. This chapter includes some basics regarding massage techniques as well.

The fifth, and last chapter, is on Martial Arts Applications, and as I said above, it is the shortest chapter in the book. It contains a brief introduction and then a little on the areas of cavity press, sealing the vein and sealing the breath, and finally golden bell cover or iron shirt. The book also has a glossary of Chinese terms and an index.

While I don't believe this to be a complete guide to Qigong training for the martial artist, I do believe it is very good starting point for the martial artist that does not know much about Qigong. It is a basic book, and a good primer at that. I suggest reading it first, and then continuing on with more advanced resources.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series.

There's a lot of very interesting and useful information packed into this basic, fundamental guide to the science and use of Qigong. For anyone interested in learning about qigong theory and practice - for health and/or martial arts - this is an excellent place to start.

The author, Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming is a renowned martial arts and qigong master who possesses an incredible wealth of knowledge and many years of experience. His biography at the very beginning of the book highlights his years of training and hints at his vast store of knowledge regarding the interrelationships of qi, qigong practice, martial arts and eastern healing philosophies.

The first three chapters of this book present what I feel is one of the clearest and most informative introductions on the subject of qi and qigong theory and practice I have encountered. The book's introductory chapter, which includes an excellent historical survey of Chinese qigong, presents a clear and practical explanation of qigong and how it works. The 2nd and 3rd chapters introduce and explain the external and internal qigong practices for increasing and circulating qi in the body. Both Wai Dan Qigong (External Elixir) and Nei Dan Qigong (Internal Elixir) methods are explained and demonstrated with easy to follow photographs, diagrams and step by step instructions.

Chapter 4 offers an overview of Chinese medicine and includes sections on acupuncture, massage and the use of qigong for medical purposes. In chapter 5, Dr. Yang shares his knowledge of martial arts applications to introduce and explain the "cavity press" and "sealing the vein/breath" techniques, as well as the fascinating "iron shirt/golden bell" training system.

"Qigong for Health and Martial Arts" is a not only a comprehensive introduction to qigong, but also a "how to" manual and a standard reference for anyone interested in - or practicing - qigong.