Master Lam’s Walking Chi Kung

146 Pages·2006·37.92 MB·English

by  Lam Kam Chuen

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MASTER LAM'S
WALKING
CHI KUNG
Master Lam Kamchuen
GAIA BOOKS
A GAIA ORIGINAL
Books from Gaia celebrate the vision of Gaia, the self-sustaining living Earth,
and seek to help its readers live in greater personal and planetary harmony.
Editor Cindy Engel
Project Editor Camilla Davis
Designer Bridget Morley
Photography Paul Forrester
Production Louise Hall
Direction Jo Godfrey Wood, Patrick Nugent
® This is a Registered Trade Mark of Gaia Books
First published in the United Kingdom in 2006
by Gaia Books, a division of Octopus Publishing Group Ltd
2-4 Heron Quays, London E 14 4JP
Copyright © Octopus Publishing Group Ltd 2006
Text copyright © Master Lam 2006
Distributed in the United States and Canada by
Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 100 I 6-88 10
The right of Master Lam Kamchuen to be identified as the author of this work has
been asserted in accordance with Sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act 1988, United Kingdom.
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole
or in part in any form.
CAUTION
ISBN-13: 978-1-85675-235-0 The techniques, ideas. and
ISBN-IO: 1-85675-235-6 suggestions in this book are
to be used at the reader's
A ClP catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library. sole discretion and risk.
Always follow the instructions
Printed and bound in China carefully, observe the cautions,
and consult a doctor about
10987654321 any medical conditions.
if
The journey a thousand Ii
begins from beneath the legs,
(A 'Ii' is a Chinese unit ar measure equal to 576 m [630 ydJ.)
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CONTENTS
CONTENTS
8 ORIGINS OF WALKING CHI KUNG 62 PART THREE
10 Chi Kung The Six Directional Forces
14 How to use this book 66 Up and down
16 The Peacock Opens its Fan 68 left and right
70 Forward and backward
22 PART ONE
Breathing - the Furnace Within 72 PART FOUR
27 Natural breathing Knowing your Steps
28 Natural chest breathing 76 The Crane Steps
30 Natural belly breathing 82 Mo Ca - The Ice Steps
32 Full body natural breathing 88 The 'Spading' Steps
34 Reverse breathing 94 The Bear Steps
36 Reverse chest breathing 98 The ~ide Steps
38 Reverse belly breathing
40 Full body reverse breathing 104 PART FIVE
42 Frequency of practice The Walking Spectrum
43 Breathing and meditation 108 Reverse Walking of the Immortals
112 Carefree Walking of the Taoists
44 PART TWO 116 Forward Walking of the Buddhists
Building the Foundation 120 Stationary Walking of the Medics
48 Strengthening the legs 124 Xing Yi Walking of the Martial Artists
50 Training the muscles 128 Balance Walking of the Boatmen
52 Second voluntary movements 132 March Walking of the Military
56 WuChi 136 Circular Walking of Da Cheng Chuan
58 Understanding your centre
60 Circling your feet 140 Final Words
142 Index
144 About the author/Acknowledgements
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8
Origins of Walking Chi Kung
In order to do anything in this lift, ELUSIVE CHI
Chi is the primal medium of which all things
we must first have energy.
in this universe are made. It is the energy, or
GUAN TSE, ANCIENT CHINESE PHILOSOPHER life force, which forms the essence of every
thing. Current understanding of this elusive,
The marvels of modern technology and intangible Chi, results from the collective
science have transformed our way of life. efforts of hundreds of Chinese scholars over
However, our modern lives are characterized a few thousand years. To understand Chi is
by daily hubbubs and demanding schedules. to have an appreciation of universal energy.
Anxiety and tension have become the norm The concept of Chi is applied far and
in our everyday routine. Somehow, despite wide. In China, it is used and needed in
all our modern marvels, we live in a more medicine, geography, Feng Shui (Chinese
stressful world than our forefathers'. placement geometry), climatology, even in
Peace and quiet have become elusive. cookery. This book focuses on the working
Increasingly, people are recognizing this and of Chi within the body.
turning their attention to the East, where The Chinese choice of the term Chi is
greater emphasis is often given to leading a a story all of its own. The contemporary,
harmonious lifestyle. The ancient Chinese officially accepted, character denotes 'breath'
arts are being rediscovered by the Western or 'air'. It is because of this translation that
world and becoming part of a global culture. Chi Kung is often mistaken as the practice of
The Chinese understand all human simple breathing exercises, yet this choice of
actions (whether mental, physical, or spirit character is worthy of consideration, for Chi
ual) to be manifestations of the dynamics of is formless and insubstantial like air. Some
an individual's energy. times, Chi is translated as 'aura', but this is
With this understanding, each human still a derivative of the word, air.
body is seen to be a reservoir of energies. The ancient Chinese character for Chi
The body is but flesh-deep; an external conveys a different meaning that reflects a
structure housing something greater. It is like deeper understanding. It is portrayed by two
a great lake, not merely defined by its shore elements interacting one upon the other. The
line. Each human life is governed by the whole character embodies the concept of a
dynamics of the body's energy. furnace as being representative of Chi (see
For countless years, the ancient Chinese right, and pages 24-25).
painstakingly observed and studied this Chi is the true face of the inner strength
dynamism. Undaunted, they looked not only of all things. When you look at a great old
at the human body but also at the universe. tree, it radiates immeasurable strength and
The reward for their efforts was the discov power. The exterior is neither threatening
ery and understanding of Chi. The concept of nor dangerous, yet somehow you are
Chi became a pillar of Eastern philosophy. intimidated and dwarfed by its presence.