Blog
Welcome to Energy Arts Blogs where you can find valuable articles about the Taoist energy arts to support your learning and participate in our community.
As the foremost Western expert in Wu style tai chi and Yang style tai chi, holding direct lineages from China, Bruce Frantzis teaches six powerful qigong sets, as well as bagua zhang and hsing-i from the martial, health, and meditation perspectives.
Energy Arts Blogs bring practical advice on esoteric topics. From frozen diaphragms to Dune philosophy to martial arts masters, the Energy Arts Blogs page is as diverse as it is useful.
Recent Posts
Qigong for Seniors
Qigong exercises such as Energy Gates Qigong and Dragon & Tiger Medical Qigong are among the most efficient and powerful health maintenance exercises anyone is likely to find. They are gentle, low impact exercises that are easy on the joints and can be done by people who cannot do other forms of aerobic exercise or yoga, and by the sick or injured.
Qigong Breathing
Qigong breathing is based on Taoist breathing methods that focus on returning the way we breathe to what is in harmony with nature. These methods focus on creating a circular breath that starts from the belly and is relaxed. These methods can be practiced sitting or while doing any of the Energy Arts qigong exercise sets.
Qigong and Martial Arts Training
Within internal martial arts, internal power is taught through two primary methods. In the first you learn internal power by first studying neigong/chi gung as a separate art. In the second you will learn how to put the neigong work into your physical martial art form movements as you are simultaneously
learning the forms.
Three Levels of Fundamental Neigong Training
Although internal arts practice and the process of embodying ever-deeper layers of nei gong is a lifetime pursuit for the most dedicated practitioners, at each increment of advancement, the associated health benefits increase significantly. Many students will sacrifice content for form, but it is the internals that supercharge qigong, tai chi and bagua forms—that which makes all the power-generating and health benefits possible.
The Difference between Tai Chi & Qigong
Often at retreats and from students the question arises; “What is the difference between qigong and tai chi?” In this article we will explore this question, understanding that this is a more complex matter than it seems, and cannot be fully answered in a few simple sentences. This is because there are literally hundreds of styles of qigong (chi gung) and five major schools of tai chi with numerous variations.
Inner Dissolving Meditation Method
If you could grant just one wish to most people who recognize their faults or problems, they would wish for them to be gone. They know that they have low self-esteem, some negative thought pattern, grief, inertia or fear, and they would like nothing more than to be...
Tai Chi, Emotional Well-Being and Meditation
Tai chi can be used as a powerful form of Taoist moving meditation, which starts with balancing the emotions—that is, the emotional energy body. Tai chi can also be practiced to acquire martial arts skill and as a health system. The latter is what you might see people...
Acupressure Points and Tai Chi
I am now on the road and already in Europe. I'll be teaching soon and look forward to seeing everyone, especially for the Wu Style Instructor Training, something I have not done for about 10 years. If you can't make the whole training I invite you to come for a week...
Hsing-i Earth Fist
Hsing-i Earth Fist also known as Heng Chuan or Crossing Fist is one of the five basic techniques of hsing-i chuan.
In Heng Chuan the physical motion focuses on the inside of the fist moving horizontally. It is the most difficult of the Five Elements to do well. It focuses on horizontally moving power, and combines the energies and applications of the first four elements (pi, tsuan, beng and pao) into one seamless technique.
Hsing-i Fire Fist
Hsing-i Fire Fist also known as Pao Chuan or Pounding Fist is one of the five basic techniques of hsing-i chuan.
Pao Chuan focuses on diagonal physical motion, and uses the internal energies of Ward Off, Roll Back, Press Forward, Push Downward and Pull Down. It concentrates on moving power diagonally in all directions and on explosive forward-moving power.
Hsing-i Wood Fist
Hsing-i Wood Fist also known as Beng Chuan or Crushing Fist is one of the five basic techniques of hsing-i.
This technique uses straight-ahead physical motion along with the internal energy of Press Forward. Press Forward or Ji is an internal energy that projects forward from its source, on a straight line, along whichever angle you direct it: up, down, sidewards, diagonally or straight ahead.
Beng Chuan is hsing-i’s most well-known attack technique. It is often considered to be the most powerful straight punch in all the Chinese martial arts.
Hsing-i Water Fist
Hsing-i Water Fist also known as Tsuan Chuan or Drilling Fist is one of the five basic techniques of hsing-i chuan.
In this movement physical motion goes from down to up and uses Peng or Ward Off, expansive internal energy. Peng refers to energy rising or expanding from its source. It is the primary yang or projecting internal energy. It is equally defensive and attack-oriented in nature.
Hsing-i Metal Fist
Hsing-i Metal Fist also known as Pi Chuan or Chopping/Splitting Fist is one of the five basic techniques of hsing-i chuan.
In this Five-Element technique, physical motion goes from up to down, utilizing An or Push Downward internal energy. It is a yin internal energy that can radiate energy from both the yin and yang meridians of the arms and hands. It is equally attack-oriented and defensive in nature.
Hsing-i for Health
Although Hsing-i and I Chuan are known solely as martial art forms, they
are in fact some of the most powerful health practices on the planet.
Here’s the basic rule: you go through two stages withany chi practice.
Hsing-i Introductory Videos
Hsing-i Video Demonstration
Pi Chuan (Metal Fist) Qualities
Pi Chuan – Down Chop Variation
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