Ki Gong method

	TechGate: Han Kuk Mu Sul knowledge base Ki vital energy Ki Gong: introduction

The esoteric Ki Gong is part of the Daoist method to "transmutating" Ki (and sexual energy) into spritual vitality and imortality.

Although, there exist a "practical" approach to Ki Gong practice, recognized as a prevention therapy of many health problems. Martial Arts Ki Gong to train mind control over body functions, improving stamina, pain resistance and health maintenance is part of those practical Ki Gong techniques.

in this context, Ki Gong method is constituted by five components:

• Mind focusing;
• Eye movement;
• Breathing;
• Body movements;
• Visualization.

Ki Gong uses combinations of body movements, breathing and visualization exercise to focus the mind into making Ki flow and concentration in a certain manner.

When practicing Ki Gung, mind, eyes, body movement and breathing are to be coordinated, as "the mind is the presence of intention, the eyes are the focus of intention, the movement is the action of intention, the breath is the flow of intention", meaning that through the eyes movement, the mind commands body motion and breath, leading blood and Ki to flow and concetrate in specific areas of the body.

Mind focusing

In Ki Gong, you have to focus your attention on sensations, such as pain, tension, warmth, relaxation, blood flow and beating in different parts of your body; then you will concentrate on the target area. It is like "putting" your mind in that place.

Also, when your mind is focused and concentrated it becomes quieter and it is easier to command body functions normally autonomous. Nonetheless, to get to the point of bein able to quite your mind at will is something to be trained until it gets natural. All exrcises must be done in this no-mind state.

The Third Eye controversy     In 1873 some reserachers found a strange organ in an Australian lizard (Sphenodon punctatum). It was something like a third eye in between normal eyes, with no apparent function. Latter, this organ was identified in all animals, and it was named pineal gland. The pineal gland transforms serotonine into melantonine. Melantonine suppresses sexuality in mammals, and behaves in a cyclic manner, called circadian rhythm. Its function is to discourage reproduction in the wrong season. The pineal gland reacts to light through the nervous system (rthe etinohypothalamic tract to the hypothalamus, and from there to the suprachiasmatic nucleus, going through the sympathetic nervous system to the pineal grand). In this way, it controls mammal behavior, reacting to day/night an seasonal changes. Light stimulates the hypothalamus to make the pineal grand to stop producing melantonine. During the night, melantonine is released. In the very same way, the pineal gland secretes melantonine during times of relaxation and visualization. By focusing the mind and eyes on the midway point between the pineal gland and the pituitary body, an area also known as the Third Eye, a magnetic field is created around the pineal gland, inducing relaxation (brain alfa wave state) and melantonine release. This is the scientific explanation of the esoteric efects of Third Eye meditation.

In the very same manner, you can use this exercise to improve your focusing in fighting situation. This discipline is part of the Ki gong process, and by practicing Ki Gong you can improve your awareness and reaction timing.

Eye focusing

Focus of your mind to a point at the center of the eyes, located between the eyebrows in the middle of the forehead. By this, you may feel a relaxing body sensation and increasing awareness of yourself. This eye focusing is a needed preparation exercise. See the article at your right.

Then, open your eyes smoothly, and coordinate its focusing into the target paths or areas where your mind is working.

Breathing

There exist four breathing methods in Korean Mu Sul Ki Gong:

• Single breath: simple diaphragm breathing. Inhale and exhale tempos are of the same duration. Inhale through the nostrils and exhale through the mouth. Keep your tongue lightly touching the roof of your mouth.
  
  When you inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth, you gather nitric oxide secreted by the paranasal sinuses, which are cavities filled with air and coated with mucosal olfactory epithelium, developed in facial and cranial bones. As sinuses are an evolutionary vestigial anachronisms, prone to infection and obstruction, nitric oxide acts as a sterilizer of the respiratory ways, increasing immune system response and relaxation.
  
  When Ki Gong breathing exercises are performed correctly, nitric oxide secretion helps to increase oxygen intake, relaxation of the body, and focusing of the mind (this is very important to train mind control over Ki and blood flow).
  
  
• "Abdominal" breath: inhale, through the nostrils, pushing your abdomen outward ("Belly" breathing), and exhale pulling your abdomen inward, controlling your breathing with the diaphragm movement;
  
  
• Reversed "abdominal" breath: reverse the diaphragms movement by pushing the diaphragm up when you inhale and down when you exhale;
  
  
• Kihap (기 합) breathing (Ki gathering breathing, or "presssurizing Ki"): used to increase power and focus to attacks and defenses. Inhale, through the nostrils, without moving your abdomen (disguised manner), and exhale through the mouth by pushing your diaphragm down, with an isometric contraction of your abdominal muscles and closing your glottis (Valsava maneuver), just a fraction of a second before the impact.

Traditionally, the different variations of the "abdominal" breathing are called Danjeun breathing (단전 in Hangul, and 丹田 in Hanja), as ancient Masters thought that it was possible to "breath with the belly". In reality, the "belly" or "neonatal" breathing focuses the mind in a point 2 Kun below the navel and 2 Kun inside the body, where is (supposedly) the Ki central storage of the body (which is also our center of gravity). It is behind the CV5 Songmun (석문 a in Hangul, and 石門 in Hanja Ki point in the Conception Vessel.

There exist numerous variations of the four breathing methods mentioned above, in combination to body exercises and visualization and sound vocalization. The countless variations led to the foundation to thousands of Ki Gong schools throughout Asia. The essence is almost the same and the training lead to similar effects, if methaphysical and religious aspects are taken off.

In our Seminars we teach Korean Ki Gong techniques practiced in Taekyon and some Hapkido schools.

Movement

By moving your body in a certain manner, you increase mind concetration and the flow of blood and Ki. By driving your limbs and torso throughout a series of soft, slow motion exercises, you enhance the effects of mind, eye and breath work.

Putting all together

So, when abdominal breathing is combined with body movements, mind control and visualization techniques, it is possible to command blood and Ki flow at will. This discipline is called Ki Gong.

There exists ample support to this allegation, as it is extensively demonstrated and tested by Martial Arts and Ki Gong experts (in different countries) under scientifically controlled environments.

Ki Gong and Kupso Chirigui

There is no evidence of the possibility of projecting Ki onto other people, for good or bad. Even though, Ki Gong practice, leads to better understanding of how Ki flows, permitting to interfere in its mechanisms, to alter that flow through hand manipulation porcedures, as Kupso Chirigui and Ji Ap massage.

On the other hand, Ki Gong training leads to increased resilience to pain, and to resisting the effects of Kupso attacks. Ki Gong experts can close Kupso sensitivity in specific areas of their body.