04/09/2026
Seeing that is is kind of turning into "The Year of Qigong" for my practice, I thought I'd just drop this little tidbit from one of my longtime favorite teachers and practitioners of Qigong, Taijiquan, and White Crane Kungfu:
A definition of what Qigong is by one of my favorite Qigong/White Crane Kungfu writers, Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming:
"According to Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming, a renowned master and author on the subject, Qigong is part of the traditional Chinese health care system (TCM) that integrates physical postures, breathing techniques, and focused intention.
At its core, Dr. Yang explains that the term consists of two Chinese characters: “Qi” (vital energy or breath) and “Gong” (work, accomplishment, or skill). Therefore, Qigong is defined as the “skill of working with Qi” or “energy cultivation.”
Dr. Yang emphasizes that Qigong is a comprehensive science that involves three fundamental aspects, often referred to as the “Three Regulations”:
Regulating the Body (Tiao Shen): Achieving physical relaxation and proper posture to allow for unobstructed energy flow. This often involves specific stances and movements.
Regulating the Breath (Tiao Xi): Focusing the breath—often making it deep, slow, and rhythmic—to stabilize the mind and charge the internal energy.
Regulating the Mind (Tiao Xin): Cultivating a state of “quietude” (the meditative mind). This involves concentration and visualization to guide the Qi throughout the body’s meridians.
From Dr. Yang’s perspective, Qigong is not merely exercise; it is an integrated system designed to balance the body’s internal environment, enhance immune function, and improve longevity. He frequently categorizes Qigong into two main types:
Soft Qigong: Focused on healing, relaxation, and balancing internal energy.
Hard Qigong: Focused on the manifestation of power, typically for martial arts applications, where the Qi is utilized for striking or conditioning the body to withstand impact.
In his extensive body of work, Dr. Yang is known for his emphasis on the physiological and scientific mechanisms behind these practices, arguing that Qigong is a natural human capacity that can be systematically trained to reach higher levels of health and mental clarity."
