Customer Reviews

Xing Yi Nei Gong: Xing Yi Health Maintenance and Internal Strength Development

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book contains a fantastic set of exercises for developing flexiblity, tranquility and chi. If you have stiff joints, tendons, ligaments or muscles you will be totally impressed with these exercises. Looking at the pictures and reading the material gives no picture at all to the 'actual' experience of the set. From the very first exercise, which is one of my favorites, you just 'know' this set is going to 'sort' you out. As a Tai Chi practitioner of many years I have not seen a superior set of exercises. I tried 'yoga' to increase flexiblity and stiffness. Although yoga gave some relief, I was still very 'tight' in the morning. A problem, y, very tight left hamstring still did not improve with yoga. After 1 week of doing this set twice a day I noticed immediate improvement. Now after 3 weeks, I am far less tight in the mornings and my hamstring is 50% better, and getting better every week.
One other thing that I was totally impressed by is the opening of the shoulder joints with the first 4 exercises. Why so many? Once you do the set you'll understand why. I found almost instant tranquility from soothing my shoulder joints. All major joints are worked in this set.
For a total strength workout, including abdominals, give exercise 17 a go! My Tai Chi feels smooth and silky. I've been searching for 18 months for some answers. This book has brought great joy to my life as a Martial Artist. I can't imagine my flexibility after a year! My enthusiam for Chi Kung has totally awakened, even though this set is described as Nei Kung. I imagine the difference is Nei Kung includes Internal strength training as well.

This is a great book to have in your collection if you practice Xing Yi Chuan. It has a wealth of information on the art and it's background, and takes you in-depth into the correct posture for San Ti stance practice, which is the best way of building power. There are also some other good exercises and stretches good for warming up, and a section on exercises to do before going to sleep at night. As a reference text for internal martial artists, I find this to be much more valuable than Sun Lu Tang's book, which is a classic, but this is of more use.

The authors should be congratulated for their dedicated effort and research that went into this informative and satisfying text. It has it all- Weapons practice, technical and practical information for bare hand combat, and plenty of historical and lineage info, including the life and times of a superb kung fu practitioner, Wang Ji Wu (1891-1991). Wangs insights and practice methods, including a wonderful set of excercises, are very rich in humor and deep understanding. Not a word is wasted, everything pertains to perfecting the practice of Xing Yi Quan. The pictures of Master Wang himself are super, in his late 90's his every move is robust, firm and in perfect alignment. I had to spend weeks reading this book, because there is a lot of material here, quite impossible to absorb without attempting to integrate and apply the suggestions over time. Classic Xing Yi texts are included here, as well as the excellent input by the editors, but of course, the heart of the book is in the methods, philosophy and character exemplified by Wang Ju Wu and his disciples. I think Xing Yi Quan lovers of all styles will find a lot to learn from this book. Enjoy.

I have had this book for ten years and have been practicing the exercises daily for roughly that amount of time as well. Though I was never really a practitioner of the internal arts, I have a clear understanding of Chi-development.I notice that alot of the readers reviews state that they are practitioners of Xing Yi and for that purpose,this book is helpful in many ways. However, this book is not just for the Xing Yi student,it can be utilized just for the exercises alone as the book states.In the book there are case studies of different types of people most of whom arent martial artists and they have benefited greatly from these easy to learn exercises. If you are student of Xing Yi or any art and have at least some knowledge of chi-Gong and want to do exercises that will give you a lifetime of health and vibrancy, then this book is for you.This book is by far my most prized book. The exercises are easy to do and learn,and with consistent practice can give you a good sense of well being.

This book will not teach you Wu Xing (the five fists of Xing Yi) or any of the animal forms and linking forms. It won't teach you how to fight. It is NOT another "chi gong" book. As the title states, it is "nei-gong" (roughly, "internal work" or "internal exercise") and it is specifically attached to one of the most effective of Chinese internal kung-fu styles, Xing Yi Quan. The historical, biographical and introductory material is excellent and valuable to anyone interested in martial arts, Chinese culture or exercise for health benefits. The exercises themselves are well-sequenced and, unlike so many other books like it (martial arts, yoga, or otherwise), the directions will actually show you how to do the exercises on your own. It still would help to have a highly-experienced teacher such as Tim Cartmell review them with you.

I practice Xing Yi and I do this nei-gong every day. It has deepened my practice and increased my power in a way that decades of hatha yoga couldn't. I recommend this book without reservation to anyone who wants radiant good health (or who wants to hit harder). Wang Ji Wu died at 100. The book pictures a number of Xing Yi masters who lived into their 90s (through the Cultural Revolution - quite a feat!). This nei-gong and this book can do the same for you.

I've purchased many xing yi books but they are all the same. They show five element fist and 12 animals and maybe some basic application. But like most books show "nothing" of the power training required to make the system to work. As the book says, without the proper internal training when you're old you will have nothing. Another great thing is how each exercise is explained in great detail along with photos of the great master performing them. The explanation of San Ti which is of great importance in xing yi was explained in detail as well. Overall this is the best book I've purchased on any internal martial art. Thanks to Tim Cartmell and Dan Miller for sharing this info which is many times kept secret from all but the most trusted students.
This is well worth the money.

at age 100? One only needs to look at the pictures of Wang Ji Wu to see what chi is all about. Oh well, for me its one step at a time. The short letter from Wang Ji Wu at age 100 alone is worth the price of admission here. To the reviewers who gave the book low marks because the book was not about the Xingyi fighting style per se, uh, I realize it is in pinyin, but did you read the title of the book? It is called Xing Yi Nei Gong. To be clear this book is about internal strength training, stretching, taoist yoga and chi gung. If you are looking for a book on Xingyi as a fighting style please look elsewhere. If you want to read about the chi development methods used by Wang Ji Wu you have found a winner here. I must say that nearly everything that Dan Miller (e.g. his book with Park Bok Nam) and Tim Cartmell have been associated with in publishing the past decade has been of very high quality. 4 stars.

Why are the prices on this book set so high???? You can google the title and buy it for 20 bucks!!!!

Before I bought this book I was thinking that Hsing I is already internal and I didn't need anything more in my practice. After being refered to this book, I bought it anyway and am glad I did. In this book you'll find some great history on Hsing I Ch'uan and some great internal sets. I find myself feeling very gracious that much of this material was almost lost and now it is available in the U.S.. We always have to be thankful when more is published on these great systems of Chinese martial arts (Hsing I, Bagua, Tai Ch'i).

I recommend it highly!

This is really a very enjoyable book. The exercises are very good even though they will not be so exciting or (at the least) new for a Chi Kung or Tai Chi practitioner. However I found very interesting to practice them. Every different approach on a known item (considering nei kung) will always open new windows and helps oneself on understanding the own way on practicing. Very nice is the Historical part and the relative photos.
In the end: "not a book you can not live without" but absolutely not a money loss to have it.