lifeforce

To be honest I think I'd rather trust an esteemed translator of Daoist and Buddhist texts, author of scores of books, than some random guys on an internet forum.

If you choose the correct translation of The Secret Of The Golden Flower, which is the Thomas Clearly version, you will realise very quickly that this text has nothing whatsoever to do with breathing, sitting meditation or energy work. It is about turning the mind around to see one's original essence. Mindfulness and pristine awareness in all of one's life situations.

Be your own master! Learn a qigong or MA form, practice it EVERY day and your body,mind and spirit will produce it's own medicine.

My wife and family time Xing Yi Nei Gong Zhan Zhuang Deep diaphragmatic breathing Walking in nature with my Siberian Huskies

http://www.amazon.com/Xing-Nei-Gong-Maintenance-Development/dp/0865681740

?????? This forum is full of keyboard warriors and armchair philosophers who make ridiculous statements. I'm taking a break for a while. It's lost its appeal lately and a lot of members who used to make meaningful posts and debates, no longer post or visit here.

Go for it ! A solid school with excellent teachers and students throughout the UK. Tony Swanson is awesome. One of the best martial artists in the UK, IMHO. If you're practicing this, then there's really no need for extra books or teachings. Lee Family style will be all you'll ever need. Best wishes

I'm beginning to get tired of repeating myself !

I not sure how you devised this theory ! As I've stated before, neigong encompasses a wide variety of practices. Not just sitting in full lotus meditating. BK Frantzis uses the term neigung in his system. Are you suggesting that his system is not neigong also ? Once again there is confusion between neidan (inner alchemy) and neigong (inner work).

Then, I may be an exception. May I add that I already had over 20 years of martial arts experience before my foray into neigong, so this obviously helped as a foundation. I agree that a total beginner would need a teacher.

Yes, only half an hour. When I had the set fully memorized, but practiced fewer repetitions, it would only take 15 minutes. This slowly built up over time to around the 30 minute mark. The results come from dedicated, daily practice over a long period of time. I have been practicing 11 years now. I would give it a year, at least, of any form, before noticeable results are experienced.

http://www.amazon.com/Xing-Nei-Gong-Maintenance-Development/dp/0865681740 I don't care what anyone says, this is neigong (inner work).

Hi shenshu. It takes me around half an hour, which includes rubbing down/closing off, a very important part of the practice to not let qi stagnate anywhere.

OK. To be honest I'm not too bothered about the lineage or sub-style of the systems. It's all about practical experience. Thanks mjj becker for starting this thread. It's a subject I'm passionate about. I can't seem to be able to watch the video for whatever reason. If I'm brutally honest I've never even wanted to watch a video of someone performing the set. Before I got the book I had a couple of decades of martial arts experience, albeit in external arts, and so I had a good grasp of movement. For a total beginner however, I would recommend a teacher. I learned the set a few moves at a time, slowly building up over a period of a couple of weeks, until I had the whole set memorized without the need to keep checking the book. Then I built up the repetitions slowly. After a few months practice I started seeing, or should I say feeling and experiencing the results. I should add, that the results are not unique to this system. Any daily, diligent practice over a period of time will yield results. This is the 'gong' in neigong. Also, the results are not always noticed from the outside, if at all, but felt and experienced on the inside 'nei' Neigong = inner work. I think a lot of people confuse the term neigong with the sitting inner alchemy practice of neidan. Neigong encompasses a wide variety of practices, this is but one of them. To say that this system of '...Health Maintenance and Internal Strength Developement' is not neigong is not really correct. I think I maybe the only person on these forums who uses this system, and ONLY this system as my practice. I practice no other form of internal art whatsoever. I can honestly say that this book has changed my life for the better and I don't think I need anything else to supplement it.

Tim Cartmell has practiced both Hebei and Shanxi. However the book refers to a style which has more in common to Xinyiliuhequan. For instance the Santi is 50/50 with a slight forward lean from the waist. From page 4 : 'The style of xingyiquan which Wang Ji Wu taught and practiced is known as the Dai style of xingyiquan (originally called Liu He Xin Yi Quan) because it descended from Cao Ji Wu's student, Dai Long Bang.

My experience with this set has been well documented on these forums so I don't wish to rewrite everything I've posted. I paid £14 for the book way back in 2002 and it changed my life, that's how good it is. Neigong simply means inner work and that's exactly what this set does.

http://www.amazon.com/Xing-Nei-Gong-Maintenance-Development/dp/0865681740 This book, if followed and practiced from daily, diligently over a period of time, WILL change your life.

Xing Yi Nei Gong and San Ti Shi. I'm biased as well

It is probably one of the simplest forms to learn, so video/book learning applies here. There are many varieties to this very underrated form. A lot of people are more attracted to supposedly high level practices. A good, solid foundation in 8 brocades will maybe be all you'll ever need. 6 months of practice should give resistance to infection type illnesses such as colds and flu. The body starts producing it's own medicine. Combine this with a meditation routine and you'll have an extremely effective practice that will serve you for the rest of your life.

Got to be Serge !

For a complete beginner, something simple to learn would be your best bet. Lam Kam Chuen's Zhan Zhuang would be a good start. Start slowly, practice daily and you will start to notice changes after 6 months. 8 Brocades is another very good system worth looking at. I wouldn't try my favourite, Xing Yi Nei Gong until you have a solid foundation in martial arts or qigong. Even though it's awesome Not strictly qigong forms, Five Tibetans and/or Yin Yoga are good choices also. Lots of videos for free online. Have a poke around, see what takes your fancy and devote at least 6 months of regular (preferably daily), practice. Good luck

That book tells you all you need to know. Don't be bothered about visualizing chi, that's not part of the practice. It is a short read and, as you say, simple, but difficult to master. My advice to you would be, if you really would like to make this your main practice, is to follow the instructions as per the book. Don't look for extras. Diligent, daily practice of this method, or any particular method really, the simpler the better, will eventually lead to mastery. Good luck

Good post Astral Monk ! Way back in the mists of time beginning xingyi students had to stand in santi for 3 years +, before they were taught any forms. Sadly times have changed, and people want results quick and are not prepared to do the foundational skills needed to seriously master the art. I, myself was taught the 5 element fists, but I've gone back to the traditional way of only practicing santi for 3 years +. Then I will add the forms to my practice.

I think a lot of people on here equate neigong as being a higher form of qigong, as in the talk of powers etc. Neigong simply means inner work, nothing else.

I also think you know what my answer would be.