Demonstrating Qi in Forms.

Without knowing exactly what he said and the context it was in, I can’t really comment on what he meant. But here are some ideas of my own to do with Qi in forms. I should point out my Japanese based training was limited to only a few years, so it’s possible my knowledge on kiai is insufficient to be too critical.

While the karate kiai is indeed a useful expression of internal energy (only done well/correctly by a small number of more advanced practitioners), in my opinion it is the use of breathing in the kiai action that is most important, not the sound made. Having said that, done correctly, the sound is perhaps the most obvious difference betwween 2 karateka doing poor vs good examples of kiai. I have even heard stories of attackers being stopped by the shock of kiai alone.

A good kiai has an open ended sound on the end – usually a vowel sound. This is because a hard sound like a ‘t’ or a ‘d’ requires a stoppage of breath. Likewise an ‘m’ or ‘s’ sound reduses the breath flow in order to continue the sound. Done poorly a kiai can introduce unnecessary tension, damage the throat and vocal folds.

As for demonstrating qi, traditionally we don’t vocalise it in Chinese Martial Arts (although Master Lee was known to do so occasionally in karate based competitions!), we don’t even ‘try’ to show it. It’s about feeling it, and using it. Someone adequately trained can then recognise that it is being expressed. To superficially show it, through shakes, yells, or mystical hand waving will likely only result in you being seen as a poser. I would instead focus on the elements that maximise creation and utilisation of qi.

For example, posture and biomechanics. A good upright spine (and head) with slightly tucked pelvis, feng soong body (relaxed but not limp), no hyperextended joints or cramped limbs, the use of the body as a whole i.e synchronised not independent parts. These assist in your energy being utilised most efficiently.

Next element would be the mind. This means no distractions yet full awareness of the surroundings, relaxed and calm yet fully focussed, and an absolute clarity of the moves you are doing and why they are being done i.e intention and applications.

Next element would be eyes, which show the visualisation of the opponent/s targets and the techniques being delivered. Eyes will generally lead the limbs/body into the technique and change of directions and show the focus and commitment of the technique.

Last element that comes to mind is the flow and breakdown of the form. If it is a constant string of techniques one after the other than it probably looks like a memorised routine rather than a sequence you are living out in the moment. Of course it is a memorised routine but we run the risk of getting to the point where the form is done on autopilot and we forget to maintain the individual purposes of movements/techniques.

“An amateur practices until he gets it right, a professional practices until he can’t get it wrong”.

Even a professional needs to make sure he is ‘in the moment’, else he won’t do his best work.

Having moments throughout the form where you can highlight or hold the last technique of a combination helps to demonstrate awareness of what you are doing. It also gives you a chance to resettle the focus if needed, and prepare a good breath for the next beat.

Another suggestion for demonstrating qi would be to find moves in the form that could alternatively be executed as a qi gong technique or else add qi gong movements to the (start of) the form. The skill here would be to do so in an organic manner so that it neither detracts or stands out from the routine, only embellishes it. For this, I recommend working with a Sifu.

If anyone has further questions or suggestions on this area, please let me know,

Train well,

Sifu Jason