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by Ben Tang

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POWER BEYOND STRENGTH- KI

Does strength and power mean everything in a fight?
Does mass equate to a definite win in a brawl?

Having spent most of my life where Asian martial arts are sewn in the fabric of my society, I have observed that the similarity with all these various arts (i.e Wushu,Taekwondo, Karate) have one thing in common.
None really emphasized on the need to bulk up or strength training instead, the emphasis were on the need to train mind focus especially in advanced level.

During my training in Taekwondo,my korean instructor spoke in great length about focus and ki power in advanced training as opposed to agility and speed during beginners' lesson. To proof his point, he demonstrated the breaking of the top part of a coke bottle with a mere tap at its bottom. When asked how he conjured the feat, he simply said FOCUSED QI.

SHAOLIN MIND BENDING TECHNIQUES
The first time I went to a Shaolin demonstration,I had serious doubt on their highly publicised Superhuman feats. I thought that there must be some trickery in their ability to conduct the body breaking feats without breaking any bones let alone a contusion.

I have personally witnessed shaolin monks bending steel rods with the throat, lying face down and lifted into the air via the abdomen with spears, breaking steel pipes with the head, lying on a bed of nails while a stone slab is smashed on the chest. All the props were of course inspected by volunteers in the crowd prior to being used for demonstration. Having observed such dumbfounding feats, it has drawm my interest to investigate on this matter.

Such amazing feats were performed by the young shaolin monks who look like ordinary scrawny kids. In fact,some look kind of pale and malnourished; hardly the image of someone who can withstand the impact via pure grit and strength.

EXISTENCE OF HIGHER STRENGTH?

I believe that Qi or Ki (in Japanese) do exist. Despite it being unseen and not measureable using our conventional scientific measuring tools, it does exist. Most Asians are very familiar with the Qi concept. It is widely referred to as a force in traditional healing as well as martial arts.

Qi - A Chinese Concept

According to Chinese medicine text, Qi is a type of life force that exist in all living things.An imbalance in Qi will usually result with health problems. The main aim of chinese medicine in curing such individuals are correcting the yin and yang balance and hence affecting the overall Qi of the person.

The Qi is also widely believe to be a vital component to determine the level of a Chinese Wushu (martial art) practitioner. The level of competency of the practitioner is determined by the level of "Qi that flows within them". Those who can manipulate their Qi well are able to leverage on their Qi to defend or attack an opponent effectively and effortlessly.

Based on many chinese wuxia ( martial arts) literature, the Qi component is widely mentioned as a force that is used by the practitioner to perform amazing feats i.e. deadly palm attacks, walking on blades of grass, destroying stone boulders with the Qi generated from their hands or swords, invincibility from strikes of sword or spears etc. However, these are just stories and perhaps dramatised in fiction instead of reporting true accounts of such ability.

KUNG FU - The meaning..

Other martial books often describe the Qi as a force that can be utilised for offensive or defensive purposes. Most books on Chinese martial arts or wushu writes about the need to master the Qi power. There are two integral part to mastering Chinese martial art -Kung (WORK) Fu (FORM).Chinese words can never be literally translated, therefore the meaning differs with the context of the description. In Chinese Wushu, Kung Fu's "WORK" is equivalent to the meaning of training of Qi and "FU" will mean form i.e. the choreography of arm and legs that depicts the style or form of Kung Fu they are displaying.

Each wushu school have a different style and this is unique to each school; therefore anyone would be able to tell that the style that this chinese pugilist uses is different from another.

Destroying Qi?

As reported in many Chinese Martial Art canons, Qi can be destroyed by an opponent with stronger Qi. The Qi can also be "harmed" if the practitioner is unable to control it during its manifestation. Intensive training of Qi incorrectly can lead to a state called "possessed by demon" Those "possessed" will usually display symptoms of dementia, lunacy or may even result to a violent death with blood coming out from 7 orifices.

Ki- The Japanese Version

In Japan, Qi or better known as Ki is also widely recognised as a force in martial art. Aikido practitioners are very familar with this concept. The word Ai- Ki- Do literally means art of conjoining Ki. I am a practitioner of Aikido and has personally witnessed Qi in application.

Ki power demonstrated :
2 plastic cups are filled with water and each placed on a separate table. A bamboo ( diameter about 1 inch) is placed on top of the cups acting as a bridge. The master will attempt to cut the bamboo bridge into halves with a wooden sword that is rather blunt.

I witnessed an amazing feat that could not be replicated by others who tried numerous times. At the speed of a single heart beat, the Aikido master halved the bamboo bridge with a clean cut WITHOUT SPILLING a single drop of water or breaking the cups.

Others have tried but failed miserably; either breaking the cups or the bamboo not broken into 2 pieces.

So, is Ki working behind this master's ability?

When asked, the master simply replied that it is the Ki generated from his arms and extended to the wooden sword. He also added tha one will require many years of Aikido training to unleash the power within.

I have yet to achieve what has just been described, however; like most Aikido yudansha ( black belt equivalent) I am able to perform the unbendable arm.

UNBENDABLE ARM

The unbendable arm is a unique demonstration of Ki power in Aikido.
As the name implies, unbendable arm is an ability of the Aikido-ka ( practitioner) to resist a challenger from bending his arm. If the Aikidoka does not use the aikido way to react to the folding of the arm by the challenger, he will succumb to the force and will experience stress & pain due to the bending force.

On the contrary, if the Aikido technique is applied to neutralise the bending, the aikidoka's arm will be free from pain and despite how hard the challenger tries, the arm will not bend. For the challenger, it feels like pushing against a wall.

To add perplexity to the feat, the Aikidoka's arm feels soft during the application of Aikido technique indicating that muscles are not flexed.

In fact, if the muscle are flexed and counter strength is used to prevent the bending, it will result in a tug of war. The stronger will then prevail but pain will be felt.

If the Aikidoka is physically weaker than the challenger, he will still be able to perform the unbendable arm if he uses the Aikido method instead of his strength.
It is fairly easy to learn this method but, to be able to resist the bending with the slightest effort can be difficult. Practice under a master is strongly recommended because one has to learn how to deviate the opponent's Ki in order to demonstrate this skill.

Skill or Qi ?

I belief it is both. To be able to conjure up such Qi to apply in any technique; be it for self defense when attacked or for demonstration, one requirement remains unanimous- the need to TRAIN hard.

Learn more about this author, Ben Tang.

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