Neigong Neigong,
also spelled nei kung , neigung, or nae gong, referstoanyofasetof Chinese breathing breathing,, meditation and spiritual practice disciplines disciplines associated with Daoism with Daoism and and especially the Chinese the Chinese martial arts. arts. Neigong practice practice is normall normallyy associate associatedd with the so-called so-called “soft “soft style”, style”, “inter“internal” or neijia or neijia Chinese martial arts, as opposed to the category known as waigong waigong or “external skill” which is historic historicall allyy associate associatedd with shaolinquan or thesothe so-ca calle lledd “hard style”, “external” or wàijiā or wàijiā Chinese martial arts. Both have many different schools, disciplines and practices and historically there has been mutual influence between the two and distinguishing precisely between them differs from school to school.
particular movemen movementt to have a particular result. One of the benefits of martial nei gung exercises is the relaxation of blood vessels, nerves, muscles and sinews to help the body body move move more more freely reely.. With With the body body movin movingg freel reelyy and an excess of blood moving to a particular area with little or no effort, the practitioner can possibly develop many benefits. These benefits may include: •
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There There is both martial and non-martia non-martiall neigong. neigong. Well Well known known exampl examples es of martial martial neigong neigong are the various various breathing and focus trainings taught in some traditional Taijiquan,, Baguazhang Taijiquan Baguazhang and and Xingyiquan Xingyiquan schools. schools. An example of non-martial neigong is the discipline known as Daoyin.. Daoyin
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Neigon Neigong g and the int interna ernall martia martiall arts
an ability to move faster faster (speed is crucial in martial arts) the health benefits of being relaxed in increase in connection to your legs, spine, arms and head increased stamina
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increased athletic ability and health
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Neigong exercises that are part of the neijia tradition involve involve cultivating cultivating physical physical stillness and or conscious conscious (deliberate) movement, designed to produce relaxation or releasing of muscular tension combined with special breathing techniques such as the “tortoise” or “reverse” methods. The fundamental purpose of this process is to develop a high level of coordination, concentration and technical skill that is known in the martial arts world as neijin (). neijin (). The ultimate purpose of this practice is for the individual to become at one with heaven or the Dao (). (). As Zhuangzi As Zhuangzi stated, stated, “Heaven, earth and I are born born of one, one, and and I am at one one with with all all that that exis exists ts ( ( , , )".
an ability to hit with more force force
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The martial art school of neigong emphasises training the coordination of the individual’s body with the breath the breath,, known as the harmonisation of the inner and outer energy(), creating a basis for a particular school’s method of utilising power and technique.
faster recovery from injury to the hands
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regulating blood pressure pressure actually experiencing the channels of the body as they truly are, which can possibly be different from the books developing developing an authentic dan tien that t hat is consciously consciously nourished nourished and deliberately deliberately formed formed which is not defined in the books greater sensitivity for sparring and fighting
It is important to understand that anyone anyone looking to learn Nei Gung sincerely, is more likely to learn it from a good teacher of internal martial arts like Hsing-Yi (one of the easiest and most powerful forms of martial cultivation). It is rare to learn authentic Daoist practices from a true master of the subject as quite a lot of the Nei Gung skills are an essential part of a complete system of martial arts. There are people who claim that Nei Gung is a philosophy, this is incorrect. There are intellectual intellectual guidelines guidelines to the practice of Nei Gung, but it is 'Inner Work' which means effort has to be put in to develop real, substantial and testable skills. This is not something that can be imagined imaginedor or talked talked about, about, only only from from direct direct experi experienc encee and hard effort can an understanding of Nei Gung develop. A true practitioner and teacher will take you on a journey growing your inner-world and showing you how to demonstrate the skills you are developing.
Martial Nei Gung is about developing internal power. One way to possibly achieve this is to train particular exercises regularly where the breath is matched with movements of blood or to effect the movement of blood throughout the body. Through these exercise exercisess it can be possible to move the blood to a particular area during a 1
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Neigong and meditation
This type of practice is said to require concentration and internal reflection which results in a heightened selfawareness that increases over time with continued practice. Neigong practitioners report awareness of the mechanics of their blood circulation, peristalsis, muscular movement, skeletal alignment, balance, etc. What is said to be occurring as the result of continual practice is a type of internal alchemy, that is a refinement and transmutation of the “Three Treasures” or San Bao (), in Chinese. The Three Treasures are known as Jing (), Qi () and Shen () and can be loosely translated as Essence, Vitality and Spirit. According to Daoist doctrine the Three Treasures can be described as three types of energy available to humans. The Dao De Jing purported to be written by Lao zi states in chapter 42 that “The Dao () gives birthto the One, the One gives birth to the Two (Taiji () or Yin and Yang ()) and the Two gives birth to the Three (which some interpret to mean Jing , Qi and Shen , or sometimes Heaven Tian , Earth Di and Man Ren ) and lastly the Three gives birth to the 10,000 Things (Wanwu ); 6 which is all that exists in heaven and on earth.
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See also • •
Baguazhang
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Dantian
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I Ching
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Qigong
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Silk reeling
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Taijiquan
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Traditional Chinese medicine
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Xingyiquan
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Zhan zhuang
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Zhang Sanfeng
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References
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Further reading •
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Blofeld, J. Taoism, The Quest for Immortality, Mandala-Unwin Paperbacks London, 1989. ISBN 0-04-299008-4 Cheng, Tinhung. Tai Chi Transcendent Art , The Hong Kong Tai Chi Association Press Hong Kong, 1976. (only available in Chinese)
Wile, Douglas Lost T'ai-chi Classics from the late Ch'ing Dynasty State University of New York Press, Albany, 1996. ISBN 0-7914-2653-X Wu Gongzao. Wu Family T'ai Chi Ch'uan (), Hong Kong, 1980, Toronto 2006, ISBN 0-97804990-X Keen, Thomas. 60243-000-6
Iron Vest Qigong.
ISBN 978-1-
Danaos, Kosta, Nei Kung, The Secret Teachings of the Warrior Sage, Inner traditions, 2002, ISBN 089281-907-3 Chen Kaiguo and Zheng Shunchao, Opening
the Dragon Gate. The Making of a Modern Taoist Wizard.. ISBN 0-8048-3185-8
Miller, Dan and Cartmell, Tim “Xing Yi Nei Gong: Xing Yi Health Maintenance and Internal Strength Development”, Unique Publications, North Hollywood, 1999. ISBN 0-86568-174-0
External links •
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EXTERNAL LINKS
Neigong.net is a site devoted to original texts of neigong, neidan, neijia and qigong Interview with Nei Kung practitioner, Master C.K. Chu Video of Nei Kung practitioner, John Chang website for Xing Shen Zhuang practice as a foundation training QigongJouranl.com a website dedicated to all things Qigong and Neigong Explanation of Nei Gong in the practice of standing postures (Zhan Zhuang)
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Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses
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