Just kidding! Please stop sitting by the mailbox waiting for yours to arrive.

But seriously, what does a “master” of any art look like? In this Walk-and-Talk, we’ll dive into what qigong mastery is and isn’t.

What I hope you’ll remember most from today’s post is this:

Mastery is a journey, not a destination.

Write that down on a sticky note and put it where you can see it!

Click play, and let’s talk about what the mastery journey looks like.

Now I’d love to hear from you. Are you a master of another art? Are you on the path to mastery with qigong? Leave me a comment below!

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post Am I a Qigong Master? Are You? appeared first on Flowing Zen.

“You can’t learn qigong online,” he said.

I was chatting with a colleague via Skype. He was expressing his concerns about my new project, a comprehensive online qigong course for beginners.

(Click here to learn more about that project before registration closes.)

His concerns are actually common in the qigong world. Many teachers share this idea that qigong can’t be learned online.

“I used to think the same thing,” I told him. “But you know me. I need to test everything. And when I tested my theory, it quickly became obvious that I was wrong.”

If you still think that qigong can’t be learned online, then you’re wrong. It can. 

The truth is that online learning works amazingly well for the art of qigong.

Here are 9 reasons why:

1. Harry Potter Pictures

I love books. I’ve got hundreds on my shelf, and many of them are about qigong.

Some of you probably started learning qigong from a book. I did too.

But the truth is that books don’t cut it for an art like qigong.

With books, you can’t teach the smoothness of a qigong pattern, or the correct sound for an exhalation, or the proper speed of a technique.

I have one book that used an innovative technique. There were little pictures of a technique in the bottom corner. By flipping the pages quickly with your thumb, you could see the technique in motion.

Very cool…for 1995.

But it’s not 1995, and there are better options today.

Online learning is like one of those pictures in the Harry Potter series where the characters move and talk.

Actually, it’s better than that. Keep reading, and I’ll explain why.

2. DVDs Suck

What about DVDs, you ask? Aren’t those better than a book?

Yes. In some ways, DVDs are better than a book.

But they still suck. I could write an entire blog post on why DVDs suck, but here are the top 5 reasons:

1. DVDs are uni-directional. You watch, and that’s it. You can’t ask questions or get feedback.
2. You can’t use other types of media, like guided audios, charts, or documents.
3. There’s no sense of community, of connecting with other likeminded students.
4. You can’t stream a DVD to different devices.
5. Navigating a DVD is a pain in the neck.
6. You don’t get instant access to a DVD. I don’t know about you, but in the age of Netflix, I don’t want to wait 2-3 days for my DVD to arrive. I want it NOW!

Every week, I get emails asking if I have any DVDs.

Then answer is no. I have no DVDs, and no plans to make any.

Why would I make DVDs when online learning is a much better teaching tool?

You can do so many cool things with online learning! (Click here to see all the cool things that are included in my new online qigong program.)

3. Stop, Rewind, Review

If you come to my retreat in Costa Rica, you’ll learn a ton of material in a week.

Let’s be honest. It’s hard to remember everything. Especially when you’re constantly being distracted by beautiful scenery and delicious food.

Online learning is a wonderful compliment to in-person learning because it allows us to review techniques at our own pace.

I know what you’re thinking. “You can do that with DVDs too!”

But DVDs are inferior.

With online learning, you always have the lessons handy — whether it’s your phone, your tablet, or your laptop. You can even log in using someone else’s device.

My students often take their online lessons outside with them on the porch, or with them while traveling.

Plus, online learning allows me to record the actual retreat itself, and then send the materials to the participants.

Can’t do that with a DVD!

4. Shopping for Teachers

When I was in college, we had something we called Shopping Week.

During the first week of the semester, you could sit in on any class, whether you were registered or not.

Needless to say, the good teachers had packed classes, and the bad teachers had empty ones.

Personally, I love this kind of meritocracy.

The internet gives you the ability to shop for good teachers, no matter where you live. 

And you know what? People want good teaching.

They’re tired of having to settle for a mediocre local teacher, or having to fly thousands of miles to learn from a good one.

Here’s an email I received from a gentleman who recently signed up for my online course:

Hi Sifu,

I looked at the videos on the first part of the course this morning and all I can say is that it is all even more than I expected but also it is exactly all that you said it would be.

I have probably seen at least 50 different qigong teachers, mostly on dvd, some on Skype and a few in person. From those that I have seen teach, I would say you would be the best for anyone who is a beginner.

You know how to break it all down into steps, whereas most teachers just demonstrate their form with not enough or in most cases, no break down at all. The student is just supposed to get it all by watching.

I found that to be most frustrating and stressful to the point where I usually would just give up on that form since it was too hard to learn. It was not the form, it was the lack of correct teaching.

– Steve M.

Of course, I’m not the only good teacher out there. But I think many of the best teachers aren’t particularly well known — yet.

I believe that online learning will gradually allow the cream to rise to the top, letting good teachers shine.

5. Qigong is Forgiving

Qigong is a forgiving art to learn. Your physical form doesn’t need to be perfect.

In fact, I encourage my students to butcher the form because it’s the least important thing we do.

Olympic weightlifting, on the other hand, isn’t forgiving. If your form is wrong, you can really hurt yourself.

As long as you have good instruction, it’s hard to hurt yourself with qigong. This makes it ideal for online learning.

6. Qigong Isn’t a Martial Art

Whenever people say, “You can’t learn qigong online,” I vehemently disagree.

But when people say, “You can’t learn kung fu online,” I have to change my tune a bit.

Whether it’s Shaolin Kung Fu or Tai Chi Chuan, here’s what you CAN learn online:

• You can learn the fundamentals.
• You can learn the forms and routines.
• You can learn internal power training methods.
• You can learn strength and flexibility exercises.
• You can review techniques that you’ve learned in person.

Here’s what you CANNOT do online with kung fu:

• Partner work.

If you’re learning a martial art, then you need to do partner work. You need to drill your punching, kicking, throwing, and grappling techniques with another person.

No exceptions. Otherwise, it’s not a martial art.

Luckily, qigong ISN’T a martial art, so it does not require any partner work whatsoever.

7. Group Learning Isn’t For Everyone

By necessity, most qigong is taught in groups. It’s just more cost effective for everyone involved.

But group learning can be problematic for many people.

For example, people with anxiety disorders, people who are known as HSPs (Highly Sensitive People), people who are highly introverted — all of these people will struggle in a live, group setting.

Online learning solves all of these problems. You can learn from the safety of your own home, without the group dynamic.

In other words, for many people, learning online is their ONLY option.

8. A Teacher’s Dream

In the old days, you went to your master’s house every day to learn. Or you lived in a temple, and learned there.

This method didn’t involve actual lessons the way we think of them today.

The masters would just give you small pieces of instruction, and then watch you practice.

When you were ready for something new, the master would give you another small piece of instruction. This allowed you to learn at the perfect pace.

When I ran a brick-and-mortar qigong studio, it was hard to set the perfect pace. I had 18 group classes per week, of all different levels.

From a teaching perspective, it was absolute chaos.

It was impossible to control the curriculum because students jumped from class to class.

Online teaching allows me to have complete control over the curriculum.

Honestly, it’s a teacher’s dream. I can choose the EXACT order for students to learn the material in. And I can even see if they’ve completed the lessons!

Teachers of all subjects are falling in love with online learning, and this is one big reason why.

9. It Works

The proof is in the taste of the pudding.

With qigong, the “taste” is measured in results. If students are getting remarkable results from learning online, then that’s all the proof you need.

And my students are getting results online. Period. (If you’re one of them, then please back me up by adding your voice in the comments below.)

Many qigong teachers insist that the art can’t be taught online — and yet they’ve never even tried it.

They reject the idea on principle, despite their lack of evidence.

If they tested it, they would see that they’re wrong.

I thought you couldn’t learn qigong online. Then I tested it. I was wrong.

You absolutely can.

I’ve taught over 5000 live classes, and I’ve also taught over 5000 people online, and I can say — scientifically — that online teaching works.

It’s not the same as learning in person, but there’s no question that it works.

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post 9 Reasons Qigong Can Totally Be Learned Online appeared first on Flowing Zen.

Can you feel it? A revolution is coming.

The ancient healing art of qigong is ready to explode in popularity, not just in the US, but all over the world.

When it does, it will revolutionize wellness and health care as we know it.

You’ll see the word qigong on the cover of Time Magazine, you’ll hear Oprah talking about it, hospitals will be hiring qigong instructors, and qigong classes will suddenly appear in local gyms, dance studios, and martial arts schools.

When I first started practicing qigong in 1996, things were different. Qigong wasn’t a movement. It was just an esoteric hobby practiced by martial artists and acupuncturists.

Now, qigong is a cause. It’s a revolution in the making. And it has momentum.

As I’ve said before, I think that qigong will eventually be bigger than yoga.

There’s just one problem.

We’re not ready. And because we’re not ready, the revolution might fail.

By “we”, I mean qigong teachers and students.

I mean myself. And I mean you — the type of person who enjoys reading blogs about qigong and tai chi.

Here’s how the revolution could fail:

1. We Don’t Have Enough Teachers

Let’s do some quick math.

Let’s say that, as revolutionaries, we would like 5% of the US to fall in love with qigong.

Just 5%. That’s not a lot. It’s totally doable.

The population of the US is about 320 million, so 5% of that is 16 million people.

What would it take to bring qigong to 16 million Americans?

Let’s assume that each teacher can manage an average of 100 students. Many teachers are happy just teaching 15 people, and others like me can teach thousands — but let’s use 100 as our average.

In that case, we need at least 160,000 qigong teachers to take care of 16 million students.

We are nowhere near that number now, not even if we include all of the poorly trained and unqualified qigong instructors out there.

Which brings us to our next problem…

2. Our Standards Are Too Low

I’ve noticed a trend in the qigong world. Maybe you’ve noticed it too.

Qigong masters are handing out teaching certificates like there’s no tomorrow.

No bueno.

The problem is that the standards are, in my opinion, too low. Poorly trained qigong teachers can hurt people with incorrect instruction. Of course, the damage is minor compared to, say, what the opioid epidemic is doing, but it still has the potential to give the art a bad reputation.

If this revolution is to succeed, we not only need an army of teachers — we need teachers who are well trained.

It’s not easy, but it can be done. There are ways to certify teachers without lowering standards. I speak from experience.

If you’re an experienced teacher, then you can do the same thing.

3. We Aren’t Planning Ahead

Once we reach the tipping point in this revolution — once Oprah starts doing qigong — it will be too late to start training teachers.

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb 

You have to plan ahead. Or if you didn’t plan ahead, then you have to start now.

When I launched my teacher training program in 2015, people said I was crazy. They said that I would put myself out of business.

It’s true. I closed my brick-and-mortar studio not long after graduating my first class of instructors.

But here’s the thing. As painful as it was, I closed my studio because I was thinking ahead, because I knew that the revolution was coming.

I’m an experienced teacher. I’ve taught well over 5000 live classes to thousands of students all over the world.

Looking ahead, it was clear to me that this experience needed to be passed on to the next generation of teachers.

If you are a qigong teacher, if you’ve got lots of experience — then plan ahead, and start training teachers now. Train them well, and prepare them for the coming revolution.

Or if you’re a qigong student, then prepare yourself for the revolution by getting certified. Train hard, and become a good representative of this noble art.

4. We Are Divided

How many qigong teachers does it take to change a light bulb?

Ten. One to change the bulb, and nine to stand around saying, “Well, we do things a bit differently in our school!”

There are countless styles of qigong. That’s a good thing. It means that people are innovating and modernizing the art.

The problem is that we let these differences divide us.

We mistakenly think that there is only ONE way to do qigong (or tai chi).

Of course, that ONE way is always our way. In other words, many of us have a “my way or the highway” philosophy.

That’s called dogma, and it’s what happens when passion turns into fundamentalism.

It’s a dangerous path. I know because I started down that path years ago. Luckily, I caught myself and got on a much healthier path.

You can do the same.

5. The Empire Will Crush Us

The status quo is Western Medicine.

They are the Galactic Empire. They have Star Destroyers and Storm Troopers and a frigging Death Star the size of the moon.

In other words, the status quo is powerful.

Meanwhile, we are just pesky Rebels who want to start a health and wellness revolution.

We are challenging the status quo. And whenever you challenge the status quo, you should expect to be attacked.

“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted.” – Arthur Schopenhauer

If we want our revolution to succeed, if we want to destroy their Death Star, then we must expect a fight.

The status quo will try to squash our little qigong rebellion. They have more money, better lawyers, better access to the media, and more Storm Troopers.

And yet, throughout history, revolutions have succeeded.

Gandhi overthrew the British Empire. Galileo took down geocentrism. And Luke destroyed the Death Star.

The status quo CAN be challenged.

6. We Aren’t Organized

Years ago, chiropractors challenged the status quo.

They actually sued the American Medical Association for conspiring against the chiropractic profession.

Chiropractors stood up to the Galactic Empire, and they won!

Because of that fight, the chiropractic profession is well organized. They have a strong chiropractic association, they know how to lobby, and they are organized.

The qigong community is nowhere near that yet. Unfortunately, we’re more like our Traditional Chinese Medicine cousins in the acupuncture community.

There is a ridiculous amount of in-fighting in the acupuncture world. They aren’t organized or unified, and they don’t have a strong lobby.

This poses a serious threat to the acupuncture profession because they are challenging the status quo just like chiropractors once did.

If we aren’t careful, the same thing will happen to the qigong community.

We need to get organized, like the chiropractors, if we are going to stand up to the medical status quo.

7. We Are Stuck on Tradition

Tradition is important. For example, if not for ancient traditions of the Shaolin Temple, I wouldn’t have inherited The 18 Luohan Hands qigong set.

The problem is when we get STUCK on tradition. There’s an old story that explains this perfectly:

“Why do you cut the ends off?” he asked.

John was watching his new bride, Mary, cook dinner.

He noticed that, before putting the roast in the pan, Mary cut off an inch from each side.

John wasn’t much of a cook, but this confused him. So he asked her about it.

“That’s just how you make a pot roast,” Mary said.

“Who taught you that?”

“My mother, silly” she said.

John was dying of curiosity, so the next time his mother-in-law visited, he asked her the same question.

“Mary was cooking a roast, and I noticed that she cut off an inch from either end. She said you taught her this.”

“Of course,” Jane said. “That’s how you make a roast!”

“But why cut off 2 inches? Does this do something to the taste of the meat?”

“That’s just how it’s done,” Jane said. “I never asked why.”

Now more curious than ever, John figured that Jane had learned it from her mother. And since Thanksgiving was coming up, and they would have 3 generations at one table, he decided to wait.

“Grandma Elizabeth,” he said. “Your daughter and granddaughter both cook a delicious roast. But they also cut off an inch from each end. They say that’s how you cook a roast. But there must be some reason for wasting 2 inches of perfectly good roast!”

“Oh dear,” she said. “When I was raising my kids, we were very poor, and I only had one small pan. I cut off the ends of the roast so that it would fit it in that pan.” 

I see this phenomenon all the time in the qigong world. I’m guessing you have too.

In all honesty, I’ve been guilty of it myself. But no more.

If we are going to start a revolution — and we are — then we need to strike a balance between following tradition and questioning it.

In the story above, John didn’t throw out the tradition of cooking pot roast. He simply questioned one of the so-called “traditional” methods.

We need to be like John.

The Bottom Line

If you’ve read this far, it’s because you care about the coming qigong revolution.

You are part of this revolution whether you are a new student, an experienced practitioner, or a teacher.

You want what I want. You want the qigong revolution to succeed.

In the spirit of coming together, I’d like you to do something right now.

I’d like you to post in the comments and share your thoughts, not only with me, but with the larger qigong community.

Do you agree with me? Did I miss anything in my post? Do you have ideas on how we can help the revolution succeed? 

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post 7 Reasons Why the Qigong Revolution Will Fail appeared first on Flowing Zen.

If you’ve ever watched a kung fu movie…

…now hang on a minute!

Are there people reading this who haven’t watched a kung fu movie?

If so, then stop reading right now, go rent Drunken Master with Jackie Chan, and then report back to me when you’re finished.

Okay, now where was I?

If you’ve ever watched a kung fu movie, then you’re probably familiar with this line:

“Right then! What’s your style?”

You’ll often hear this just as one of the bad guys strikes a fancy schmancy kung fu pose. It’s time for kung fu fighting!

What’s all this talk about “style,” and what does it mean for the modern practitioner of qigong or tai chi?

I’m going to clear that up for you.

By the end of this article, you’ll understand what a qigong style is (and isn’t), and whether or not any of this stuff even matters to you.

What IS My Style? 

Here’s my dilemma.

Imagine the scene above, with the bad guy striking a kung fu pose in front of me and saying, “Right then, what’s your qigong style, Mr. Anthony!” 

Now imagine me responding not with a kung fu pose, but by stroking my beard pensively and saying: “That’s a really good question, Mr. Bad Guy!”

For years, whenever someone asked what style of qigong I teach, I always answered as follows:

Shaolin Hunyuan Yi Qigong (少林混元一氣功, Shaolin Cosmos Qigong).

But there’s a problem with that answer: It’s no longer accurate.

If you want to understand more about the nature of qigong “styles”, then keep reading. My own journey will help you to see things clearer.

Style vs. Lineage

The truth is that I’ve learned and practiced many styles of qigong (more on that below).

Yes, Shaolin Hunyuan Yi Qigong is the style that I studied deepest. It’s also the only style that I claim lineage too.

But is it really the style that I teach?

(The subject of lineage is closely connected to the subject of styles, so bear with me.)

If you’re new to Flowing Zen, then you need to know some quick history. 

In 2014, I “divorced” my Sifu after 17 years of discipleship.

For the record, I didn’t just divorce him. I was the main whistleblower for a sexual abuse scandal in his organization, perpetrated by one of his certified instructors.

I left — and not quietly — because I believe that his organization condones sexual and emotional abuse. Hundreds of students and many instructors also left for the same reason.

The Politics of Lineage

So what happened to my lineage after my divorce?

Some people will tell you that I no longer have lineage because of my divorce.

They will actually try to convince you that my 17 years of discipleship and my 11 years as a chief instructor just magically disappeared the moment I left.

If you believe that, then you are in the wrong place, my friend.

The ugly truth about lineage is that it’s actually quite political.

And speaking of politics, if I were still in the organization, if I were still an inner-chamber disciple, if I were still the chief instructor in the U.S. — then I would have no choice but to say that I teach Shaolin Hunyuan Yi Qigong.

In other words, I would be required to downplay all the other styles that I learned, and push my lineage’s style to the forefront.

And I would be allowed to write this article.

But now that I’m free, I’m no longer beholden to a master or a lineage.

In other words, I’m no longer obligated to say that I practice and teach Shaolin Hunyuan Yi Qigong.

FREEDOM!

For the first time since I began this amazing qi journey in 1992, I’m totally free.

My freedom is a beautiful thing, and not just for me.

I believe that my freedom makes me a better teacher, and a better artist. In other words, I think that my freedom is a beautiful thing for YOU.

But I want you to know that I’m not just some crazy, rebellious American thumbing his nose at tradition.

Okay I am a bit crazy. And I’m also rebellious. And yes, I’m American.

That’s all true. But it’s also true that there is a long tradition of leaving one’s master, studying other styles, innovating, and then creating a new, modern style of qigong or kung fu!

So I’m in good company.

The Structure of a Style

What does it mean to create a new style?

First we need to figure out what a style actually is!

To understand this, let’s look at the basic building blocks for all styles of qigong and kung fu (including tai chi).

The structure is as follows:

pattern —> set —> style

Let’s start with the most basic unit in qigong (and tai chi): the pattern.

Structure 1: Patterns

A pattern is a single, distinct qigong or tai chi move. Usually, a pattern will have a poetic name.

For example, Lifting The Sky is a famous qigong pattern, and Single Whip is a famous tai chi pattern.

With tai chi, this can be confusing. Beginners often have difficulty seeing where one pattern finishes and another begins.

That’s because tai chi is characteristically fluid, unlike karate, which is much more linear and choppy.

To help you understand this, think of tai chi like cursive writing, and karate like block writing.

Cursive letters are designed to flow together. Once you learn to read cursive, it’s easy to see where one letter stops and another begins.

The same is true in tai chi.

Now that you understand the basic units (patterns), let’s move on to sets.

Structure 2: Sets

A set is an intelligent combination of patterns.

Some people refer to a “set” as a “form.”  For example, the Tai Chi Short Form should really be called a set.

I think the word “form” muddles the distinction between a set and a pattern.

In fact, some people refer to a pattern like Lifting the Sky as a form.

Confusing, right?

The word “set” is better.

Here are some examples of sets:

1. Yi jin Jing (Sinew Metamorphosis) is a famous qigong set,
2. The Tiger-Crane Set is a famous Shaolin Kung Fu set,
3. The 24-Pattern Short Form is a famous Tai Chi set.

Sets are intelligently arranged for various purposes, like easy memorization, energy flow, or in the case of Tai Chi and Shaolin Kung Fu, self defense.

Now let’s move up the structure to a style.

Structure 3: Styles

A style is a comprehensive methodology that includes several different sets, as well as specific training theories.

Think of a style as a curriculum.

For example:

1. Shaolin Hunyuan Yi Qigong includes the sets: The 18 Luohan Hands, Yi Jin Jing (Sinew Metamorphosis), One Finger Zen, Golden Bridge, Cosmos Palm, Small Universe, and Big Universe.
2. Yang Style Tai Chi typically includes the sets: The 24-Pattern Short Form (or the 108-Pattern Long Form), Pushing Hands, one or more weapons forms (like the sword), and auxiliary qigong techniques (like the 8 Brocades Qigong set).

If you can understand this basic structure of pattern, set, and style, then you should find it much easier to navigate the confusing world of qigong (and tai chi).

How Many Styles Are There?

The short answer is: It depends on how you count them.

Part of the problem is that many people don’t understand the hierarchy of pattern, style, and set that I described above.

For example, some people think that Ba Duan Jin (The 8 Brocades) is a style of qigong. It is a qigong set, not a style.

Another problem is that the Chinese tradition of secrecy makes historical study more difficult.

It’s hard to count the number of qigong styles out there, but it’s easy to count the ones that I myself have learned!

Over the last 24 years, I’ve studied and practiced the following styles of qigong:

1. Shaolin Hunyuan Yi Qigong
2. Chu Style Nei Kung
3. Yan Xin Qigong
4. Yi Quan
5. Cosmic Freedom Qigong
6. Wild Goose Qigong
7. Primordial Qigong
8. Dragon and Tiger Qigong
9. Zhineng Qigong
10. Spring Forest Qigong
11. Holden Qigong

Note that I did not study all of these styles as deeply as #1. I did, however, practice far more than the average student. 

Although this post is mainly about qigong, it’s worth talking briefly about kung fu as well.

What About Kung Fu?

Historically, some styles of qigong were embedded within (and kept secret by) styles of kung fu or karate.

For example, until the 20^th century, you couldn’t learn Shaolin Hunyuan Yi Qigong without also learning Shaolin Kung Fu (at least not in my lineage).

So for the sake of clarity and transparency, let me quickly list the major styles of kung fu that I’ve practiced (including my first karate style, which had some Japanese Qigong embedded inside)

1. Goju-Ryu Karate
2. Northern Shaolin Kung Fu
3. Southern Shaolin Kung Fu
4. Tai Chi Chuan
5. Baguazhang
6. Wing Chun Kung Fu

If you didn’t get the memo, all styles of tai chi are actually just sub-styles of kung fu. You can read more about that here.

If I were forced to give an answer to the question of how many qigong styles still exist in the 21^st century, I would estimate that there are about a dozen well-known styles, plus another 2 dozen lesser-known styles, plus an unknown number of highly-secretive styles that will gradually emerge over time.

And don’t forget that there are over 100 different kung fu styles!

Yikes!

Why So Many Styles?

I know what you’re thinking. Why are there so many frigging styles?!?

To me, the answer is simple: Artistry.

Name one art that has remained unchanged over a period of a hundred years, let alone 1000! Artistry — real artistry — involves creation. And creation involves innovation.

Take Mozart. Sure, he’s a “classical” composer, but in his time, he was a major innovator.

So was Picasso. So was Jane Austin.

Qigong is an art. And like all arts, it is alive. It is not the same art today as it was 1000 years ago.

In the final analysis, this is the most satisfying answer to the question about why there are so many different styles of qigong.

In other words, there are many styles because, in the history of qigong, there have been many, many artists.

The Ironic Truth 

In truth, the style of qigong that I inherited wasn’t really Shaolin Hunyuan Yi Qigong.

My ex-Sifu heavily modified the qigong that he learned from his teacher.

And guess what? His Sifu did the same thing.

It’s also worth mentioning that, in the 21^st century, there is widespread resistance to innovation in traditional Eastern arts when that innovation is done a Westerner.

People don’t even blink when a Chinese master makes changes to a qigong or kung fu style — but when a Westerner like me does the exact same thing, they get all huffy.

For example, I recently received this message in my inbox:

“I find it outrageous and disrespectful that you invented your own style of qigong and call it Flowing Zen Qigong. Only an arrogant American would do such a thing. No thank you! I’ll stick to traditional styles like Chilel and Shibashi.”

If you don’t get the joke, here’s why this is so funny:

• Chilel Qigong was invented in 1995.
• Shibashi Qigong was invented in 1979.

Both of them are modern styles based on traditional lineages — just like mine!

Oh well. People will always find something to be outraged about. 

Meanwhile, I’ll continue to master my art, and also the art of teaching.

Taking the Good, Discarding the Bad

Back in 1992, I learned a life-changing lesson from my first karate teacher, Sensei Bonnie Baker.

“Take the good, discard the bad,” she said, over and over.

That advice has turned out to be a godsend. Today, it’s helping me more than ever.

It means I’m free to take the good and discard the bad — and that’s precisely because I am no longer beholden to any lineage or master.

And that, my friends, is a beautiful thing — especially when you live in the information age!

The Information Age

The information age can be problematic for beginners. How do you sift through so much information? How do you tell the good from the bad? Who do you trust?

(My advice is find someone you trust, and then follow them for at least 6 months.)

For someone like me, the information age is a bonanza.

By “someone like me,” I mean someone who has already completed a 17-year apprenticeship, learned face-to-face from a dozen masters, and put in well over 10,000 hours of deep practice.

I’m in a fantastic position to take take the good and discard the bad.

With so much information at my disposal, plus the ability to sift the good from the bad — ask yourself this question:

Why on earth would someone like me NOT incorporate new ideas into my traditional style of qigong?

Or as T.S. Eliot put it:

Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better…. 

No Really, What’s Your Style?

Okay, so after all this — what style of qigong do I teach?

At this point, it feels disingenuous to continue saying that I teach Shaolin Hunyuan Yi Qigong.

What about all the stuff that I’ve learned from other teachers that I now incorporate into my teaching?

What about the stuff from Shaolin Hunyuan Yi Qigong that I’ve discarded?

The truth is that you could go learn Shaolin Hunyuan Yi Qigong from 4 different teachers, and none of them would teach what I teach.

I’m finally ready to admit what I’ve known for years:

I no longer teach Shaolin Hunyuan Yi Qigong!

Boy, that felt good to get off my chest!

Oh wait, I still didn’t answer the question, did I!

Introducing My New Style!

I’ve thought long and hard about what to call my style of qigong, and I’ve come up with the follow name:

Big Tony Qigong!

Okay, I’m just joking.

But actually, that’s exactly what some masters have done. They just have cool Chinese names. I’m a bit jealous.

Since my website is Flowing Zen, I think it’s logical to call start calling my style Flowing Zen Qigong.

It fits. My teaching emphasizes the importance of a Zen state of mind, and also the importance of energy flow.

Also, the name “Flowing Zen” is fluid enough to allow for evolution over time. Because, as you can probably guess, I’m not done evolving.

I’m an artist, and I will continue to deepen my mastery of qigong until the day I die.

And thanks to qigong, I expect that day to be at least 70 years in the future!

Summary

• We’ve seen that there are countless styles of qigong, and kung fu. 
• We’ve seen that styles are composed of qigong sets, which are composed of qigong patterns. 
• We’ve seen that masters in many lineages innovated, gradually creating new styles of qigong. 
• We’ve seen that I’ve learned many styles of qigong, and that I’ve also learned to take the good, and discard the bad. 
• And we’ve seen that I’m ready to start calling my style Flowing Zen Qigong.

So what does all this mean for you? What’s your takeaway?

It depends on how you reacted to this post.

Were you nodding while reading it? Did you resonate with my ideas of innovation, artistry, and mastery?

Or were you shaking your head the whole time? Were you offended, like the guy who sent me the angry email? Do you prefer strict traditions that (supposedly) remain unchanged over time? Do you want to learn the “original” or “orthodox” style of qigong?

If it’s the latter, then I’m probably not the teacher for you. I wish you the best of luck in your search. (And if you come full circle ten years from now, I promise to welcome you back with open arms!)

Either way, I hope that you learned something useful in this article, and that you have more clarity now!

I’d love to hear from you. What do you think about all this talk of style? Do you think I made the right choice? Or should I have stuck with “Big Tony Qigong”? 

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post How to Invent Your Own Style of Qigong appeared first on Flowing Zen.

The look of shock on my face must have been pretty obvious.

“Something wrong?” she asked.

“Sorry, I’m fine,” I said. “Do you by any chance know what I do for a living?” 

“Didn’t you say you were a teacher?”

“Yes — a qigong teacher,” I said.

“No way!”

This conversation happened while I was waiting in the security line at the airport in Costa Rica. The woman was a complete stranger, and just happened to be standing in front of me.

She had no idea about me or my work. 

Two minutes earlier, with no prompting from me, she had started talking about the philosophy of qi.

“I’m taking a class on something called qigong,” she said. “Have you heard of it?”

I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone. That’s why I looked shocked, and why it took me a moment to respond.

All Roads Lead to Qigong

Back in the 1990s, when I first started practicing qigong, no one knew about it. My conversation in the airport would have been inconceivable back then.

Today, more and more people are interested in learning about the Chinese concept of qi.

The philosophy of qi is ancient, and it runs through many arts, including:

1. Qigong (and Neigong)
2. All Styles of Internal Kung Fu (Including Tai Chi)
3. Feng Shui
4. Acupuncture
5. Moxibustion
6. Chinese Herbal Medicine
7. Taoist Bedroom Arts
8. Zen Meditation

If you want to learn more about qi, then sooner or later, all roads eventually lead to qigong.

And this makes sense because qigong translates to “the art of cultivating qi”.

Whether you are an acupuncturist, a massage therapist, a reiki master, an energy healer, a psychic, a yoga practitioner, an interior designer (who uses feng shui), a spiritualist, or even a pianist — you can benefit from learning about qi.

The 12 Things You Can Do With Your Qi

If you study qigong long enough, you’ll learn to do different things with your qi.

For example, you’ll learn how to circulate it in your body, and also how to direct it to your hands.

In short, there are only 12 different ways that you can cultivate the qi, and I’ll explain each of them here.

My goal with this article is to give you a quick overview of the differences between each dimension. Later, I’ll go into more depth, if this topic is of interest. (Leave me a comment below if you want me write more!)

Remember that the dimensions are not linear, but rather circular.

A lifelong practice of qigong will involve many laps through the 12 Dimensions, going deeper and deeper with each successive lap.

Also, remember that the 12 Dimensions are universal, meaning that they will apply to all schools of qigong.

Different schools may use different techniques and different terms, but the dimensions are still the same in essence.

Click here to read more about the 12 Dimensions of Qi Mastery

Dimension 1: Discovering the Qi

To go deeply into qigong, you need to become more sensitive to the qi in general. In other words, you must discover the qi that already exists in and around your body. Discovering the qi is a gradual process of quieting the mind, relaxing the body, and heightening the internal awareness. In my school, we have a series of techniques that we poetically call Entering Zen. We Enter Zen every time we practice our 5-Phase Practice Routine.

Dimension 2: Circulating the Qi

The smooth flow of qi is critical for health and happiness. Once you learn the skill of circulating the qi, you’ll want to continue practicing it for the rest of your life. Circulating the qi is what brings fast results, especially in terms of pain management, improved digestion, emotional healing, and immune response. It’s also what makes you feel energized. In my school of qigong, the primary way that we circulate the qi is with a beautiful and rare technique called Flowing Breeze Swaying Willow (phase 3 of the 5-Phase Practice Routine).

Dimension 3: Aligning the Qi

If your physical structure is not aligned, if your muscles, tendons, fascia, and ligaments aren’t working optimally, if your spine is unhealthy — then you’ll never master your qi. You need to gradually build strength, flexibility, and balance in order to realign your structure and thus your qi. Luckily, qigong helps people to accomplish this regardless of their fitness level or age. In my school, we use a variety of qigong techniques to align the qi, mainly from the 18 Luohan Hands.

Dimension 4: Gathering the Qi

Now that your qi is flowing well, you can start to work on gathering more of it. Qi is the main ingredient in this art, so having more of it is definitely useful! This skill also unlocks greater possibilities with the later dimensions, especially consolidating, transforming, and transmitting the qi. In my school, we use the Warrior Stances (zhan zhuang) as our fundamental method for gathering qi.

Dimension 5: Protecting the Qi

External factors can have a negative influence on your qi — the food you eat (or don’t eat), your lifestyle habits, your environment, even your finances. No matter how good you are at the other dimensions, no matter how much you practice, you’ll plateau in your development if you don’t protect your qi.  In my school, I help students to improve their sleep hygiene, their diet, and also to get rid of negative habits (like smoking).

Dimension 6: Purifying the Qi

Whereas Protecting the Qi is focused on external influences (like the junk that we eat), Purifying is focused on internal influences (like the junk that we think). To reach higher levels of qi mastery, you must purify your thoughts and emotions. In my school, we have a variety of techniques and meditations for purifying, including 1% Forgiveness Meditation, Loving Kindness Meditation, The Gratitude Spark, The Five Animal Play, and Dispelling 1000 Thoughts.

Dimension 7: Mobilizing the Qi

Masters of the internal martial arts (like tai chi chuan) know how to mobilize or summon the qi in an instant. But it’s helpful to learn how to mobilize the qi even if you have no interest in martial arts. Mobilizing the qi is a more forceful expression of energy. This skill helps you to get in touch with the spirit of the peaceful warrior, which will make you more courageous, more decisive, and help you to draw better personal boundaries. In my school, we usually mobilize using techniques from The 18 Arhat Arts, and also One Finger Shooting Zen.

Dimension 8: Directing the Qi

You can’t call yourself a master of qi unless you can easily direct the qi to any part of your body, including any organ. Although this may sound fantastic to beginners and skeptics, it’s actually a natural progression. Most students can do this easily after 6-9 months of dedicated practice. In my school, we use different techniques to direct the qi to different areas. For example, we use Nourishing Kidneys to direct qi to the kidneys, Pushing Mountains to direct qi to the hands, and Separating Water to direct qi to the lungs.

Dimension 9: Consolidating the Qi

Gathering the qi isn’t enough; you also need to consolidate the qi in the major energy centers, or dantians. This dimension goes hand-in-hand with Gathering the Qi, but is more focused on storing the qi rather than just gathering it. If you’ve been practicing qigong or tai chi for years but still can’t feel the golden sphere of energy at dantian, then you need to spend more time consolidating. In my school, we do this in phase 4 of the 5-Phase Practice Routine. We also use other techniques, including Three Centers Merge, Dantian Breathing, and various visualization techniques.

Dimension 10: Transforming the Qi

The Small Universe (or Microcosmic Orbit) is a famous qigong technique for transforming qi (energy) into jing (essence) and shen (spirit). In many ways, all other forms of qigong are child’s play compared to this dimension. Some schools differentiate between qigong (energy cultivation) and neigong (internal cultivation), but that’s just semantical. The two best techniques for this are the Small Universe and the Big Universe.

Dimension 11: Unifying the Qi

The longer you cultivate your qi, the more often you’ll merge with the cosmos, often without even trying. Most meditative traditions aim for a blissful state of union with the infinite, the Tao, Shiva, the cosmos, or God. Sitting meditation is a great way to access this state. If you already have a sitting meditation practice, practicing the previous 10 Dimensions will take it to a whole new level. In my school, we also use Sinew Metamorphosis techniques and the Small Universe to unify the qi.

Dimension 12: Transmitting the Qi

In the 12th dimension, we complete the cycle by giving energy back to your fellow humans. Qi can be transmitted from the hands, and also from the heart. When I teach, when I share these beautiful arts with others, I’m transmitting qi from my heart. I also do hands-on healing, but to this always compliments my teaching. To me, teaching and healing are yin and yang, and they should always go together. In my school, techniques for transmitting the qi for the purposes of healing include: The Sword Finger, Cosmos Palm, and One Finger Zen.

Understanding Skill vs. Technique

As you learn about the 12 Dimensions, make sure that you understand the difference between skill and technique.

Here’s the simplest way to understand the difference:

Techniques are visible; skills are not.

When we’re talking about the 12 Dimensions, we’re talking about skills. Like most skills, they are largely invisible.

For example, if I direct the qi to my index finger, you probably won’t notice. (Some students seem to be able to “see” the qi, but let’s leave this aside for the moment.)

On the other hand, if I use a qigong technique called Shooting Arrows, the physical form is pretty obvious. My body is moving in a particular way (see below), and it’s visible.

In other words, Shooting Arrows is a great technique for the skill of directing the qi to the index finger. But the skill and the technique are separate.

Let’s look at 3 simple examples to drive this point home:

Example #1: Mary is performing the qigong technique called Shooting Arrows, but she is unable to direct the qi to her index finger even though the physical form of the exercise is correct.

Example #2: Laura is performing the qigong technique called Shooting Arrows, and she is able to direct the qi to her index finger.

Example #3: Jane is standing upright and motionless with her eyes closed. She is not performing the technique Shooting Arrows, but she is nonetheless able to direct the qi to her index finger.

Can you see how the technique and the skill are different? Can you see how one can happen (or not happen) with the other?

One final example: I can use the qigong technique called Pushing Mountains for Dimensions 1 (Discovering), 2 (Circulating), 4 (Gathering), 8 (Directing), and 12 (Transmitting).

To you, it would all look the same. It would just look like Pushing Mountains.

To me, Pushing Mountains would feel totally different depending on what I’m doing with the qi.

In Summary

The 12 Dimensions are a useful way to understand the various classical skills of qigong.

Regardless of the style of qigong that you practice, you can conceptualize the skills using the 12 Dimensions of Qi Mastery.

This will help you to master the qi. And when you master the qi, you master not only your health and vitality, but your entire life.

Now I’d love to hear from you. Did you find this helpful? Do you have any questions? Go ahead and leave a comment below! 

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post Revealed: The 12 Ways of Cultivating Qi appeared first on Flowing Zen.

Greetings from Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica!

There’s no question that daily practice is the key to success with qigong, tai chi, and any meditative art.

But many people fail to practice because they don’t understand the art of learning. They think that mistakes are a mistake!

I’m here to tell you that mistakes are a natural and essential part of the learning process.

If you enjoyed this video blog and want to see more like this, then let me know in the comments below!

The post The Art of Learning (aka The Art of Making Mistakes) appeared first on Flowing Zen.

“Can you also direct the qi to your feet?” he asked.

Mark was a new student in my studio. He told me that he had read a few books on qigong and tai chi. But his first week in the studio was an eye-opener.

He was loving the experience.

“Yes,” I said.

Mark giggled with excitement.

“What about directing the energy outside of your body?” Mark asked. “I read that past masters could do that.”

Mark would often corner me after class and pepper me with questions.

“Sure, I can do that too,” I said. “It’s not as mysterious as it sounds. But we call that transmitting the qi, which is different than directing the qi.”

I walked him over to a chart on the back wall of my studio, which had the following list:

The 12 Dimensions of Qi Mastery

1. Discovering the Qi
2. Circulating the Qi
3. Aligning the Qi
4. Gathering the Qi
5. Purifying the Qi
6. Protecting the Qi
7. Mobilizing the Qi
8. Directing the Qi
9. Consolidating the Qi
10. Transforming the Qi
11. Unifying the Qi
12. Transmitting the Qi

“The class you just took was here,” I said, pointing to #2 on the chart. “Directing the qi to my feet would be #8, and transmitting the qi outside of my body would be #12.”

As Mark stared at the chart, he looked like a kid in a candy store. He was grinning ear to ear.

And that’s exactly how it should be when you are new to qigong and tai chi — you should be excited and awed and even a bit overwhelmed by the amazing new world of qi cultivation.

Ancient Skills, Modernized

A few years ago, I started to feel like there was something missing from my teaching.

I needed something to help my students understand the many different skills that past qigong masters had.

I dove into classical and modern texts on qigong. I experimented. I meditated on the subject. And I practiced diligently.

The result was something  that I called The 12 Phases of Qi Cultivation.

Some of you may remember my older article on the 12 Phases of Qi Mastery. If you haven’t read that article, you can skip it because this one is more up-to-date. (Or you can go read it if you’re a curious cat.)

That was the prototype of the 12 Dimensions of Qi Mastery.

From Phases to Dimensions

The 12 Phases, now called the 12 Dimensions, were originally meant as a simple teaching tool, but the concept has evolved into something much bigger.

Last year, during our annual retreat in Costa Rica, one of the participants suggested that we use the word “12 Dimensions” instead of “12 Phases”.

This person happens to be a professor of theoretical physics at the University of Florida.

He explained that in physics, dimensions are not linear. They coexist and overlap.

This was exactly the concept that I had been searching for.

The 12 skills overlap, and also coexist.

As we explore the 12 Dimensions together, you’ll see why I changed the terms, and why this whole thing is a journey, not a destination.

For example, there is overlap between the 2 skills of directing the qi to my hands and transmitting the qi to another person. If I use my hand to transmit, then both skills must also coexist at the same time. Right?

Seeking What They Sought

There’s a famous Zen quote that has inspired me through my 2 decades of exploring these arts:

“Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise; seek what they sought.” ― Zen Master Matsuo Bashō

In seeking what the past masters sought, I discovered the 12 Dimensions.

I stood on the shoulders of giants. In other words, I built on the knowledge of the past masters, combined with my modern understanding and experience of qigong (and physics!).

If you love qigong and tai chi, then my “discoveries” may help you, regardless of what style you practice.

Then and Now

As I mentioned, past qigong masters get all the credit for discovering and developing these 12 skills.

My work has been to organize, arrange, and teach these skills, not just to a few select disciples like in the past, but to thousands of students.

My goal is for students to experience all 12 skills.

In other words, I don’t want you to just read about these skills; I want you to feel them.

These skills are not mysterious. With proper training and proper practice, anyone can learn and enjoy all 12 Dimensions of Qi Mastery.

A Green Belt in Qi Mastery?

Before switching to qigong and tai chi, I earned 2 black belts in karate.

The belt system is popular. And I know why.

It’s comforting to see an organized path of belts ahead of you. It helps you feel like there is an order to the chaos of learning a complex new skill.

I still remember the feeling of pride after earning my green belt.

Belts are also important for karate school owners. It’s hard to run a successful martial arts business without using belts to increase motivation and attendance.

After I left the karate world, I stopped using the belt system, and I haven’t looked back.

But now, it’s tempting for students to view the 12 Dimensions as levels, similar to belts.

“What level are you?”

“Dude, I just passed my Dimension 4 test!” 

Unfortunately, qi mastery doesn’t work that way.

Mastery in the art of qi cultivation isn’t linear. It’s circular. Or rather, spiral.

The Spiral of Qi and of Life

Our galaxy is a spiral. The “Golden Number” of mathematics maps out to a spiral. In many ways, life itself is a spiral.

The natural order is a spiral, not a line.

Qigong and tai chi are based on the philosophy of yin and yang. In other words, these arts follow the natural order of the cosmos.

Rather than thinking about the 12 Dimensions as a line, think of them as a spiral, like this:

If you look at the spiral above, you can see that by the time you finish all 12 dimensions, you’re basically back where you started — just a bit deeper.

Also, notice the overlap between each skill. This is to remind you that the separating into skills is not black and white.

In fact, the deeper you go into this art of qi mastery, the more the 12 skills become unified.

The Many Levels of Mastery

I’ve been through all 12 Dimensions, and I can perform each skill.

Does that mean I’m done? Am I an Enlightened Mega Grandmaster?

Um, no.

People today are extremely confused about the concept of mastery.

In an article on the subject, What Everyone Ought to Know About Jedi Mastery, I likened myself to a 4th degree Black Belt in qigong and tai chi.

This is just an analogy to remind you that mastery has many levels. It’s a lesson that I never forgot from my karate days — that black belt is only the beginning. (There are 10 degrees of black belt.)

In fact, black belt was the beginning of a fantastic journey for me, a journey that now has me exploring and teaching the 12 Dimensions of Qi Mastery all over the world.

If we continue using the karate belt analogy, then you need to understand this: You’ll be mastering the 12 Dimensions not only from white belt to black belt, but also through all 10 ranks of black belt.

The Messiness of Mastery

I’ve been practicing the various skills from the 12 Dimensions for decades. And I plan to continue practicing them for many more years.

For example, I still practice Dimension #1, Discovering the Qi, every single day.

It’s not a beginner skill that I learned years ago and then left behind.

If anything, I am discovering the qi in new and beautiful ways. For example, I’m discovering not just the flow of qi in my own body, but how qi flows through a room (which is part of the art called feng shui).

I don’t go in order through the skills. One day, I might focus on gathering the qi. Another day, I might focus on consolidating.

Or I might spend a month deepening my skill of transforming.

This is what mastery really looks like. It’s messy.

I’ve arranged the 12 skills in a pretty, color-coded chart. But your journey won’t look like that. Mine certainly didn’t.

For example, many of you reading this have probably learned some of the 12 skills, but not all of them.

That’s okay. You’ve got the rest of your life to learn and develop the other skills.

Understanding Each Dimension

If you’ve read this far, you’re probably curious to learn more about each of the 12 Dimensions.

Good! I was hoping to pique your curiosity.

But first, I want to hear from you.

If you want me to write more about this, then let me know in the comments below.

I especially want to know which of the 12 Dimensions you are most curious about! 

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post Do You Know All 12 Skills of Qi Cultivation? appeared first on Flowing Zen.

“I’ve been practicing Tai Chi an hour a day for 30 years,” he said,  “but I’m still a long way from being a master.”

It was a beautiful, cloudless day in Golden Gate Park. I was 25 years old, and I had recently earned a black belt in Goju-Ryu Karate.

Tai Chi was completely foreign to me.

“How will you know when you reach mastery?” I asked.

I didn’t mean to be insulting, but the man clearly took offense. A quick scowl, and then he walked off.

I never did get his name.

I Want To Learn The Ways of the Force…

In the original Star Wars, there were obvious signs that Yoda was a Jedi Master. Levitating the X-wing Starfighter out of the muck, for example.

If I saw someone do that, I think I’d be pretty confident that they were a master.

But what about internal arts like Tai Chi and Qigong?

How can we tell when someone reaches mastery?

My question to the guy in the park was sincere, if also a bit naive. I truly wanted to better understand the concept of mastery, especially as it applied to the martial arts.

Although I was new to the martial arts world, I had already spent 2 decades in the classical music world. (Yes, I started playing violin when I was 5.)

In that world, no one really used the term “mastery”.

I never heard anyone at Juilliard say, “Dude, I’m getting so close to violin mastery!”

The whole “mastery” thing I encountered in the martial arts world has always been confusing to me.

After 24 years, I think I finally have a good answer.

I also know why that man’s comment in Golden Gate Park confused me.

Master Anthony, Jedi Knight

People sometimes call me “Master Anthony.” True story.

It always makes think of an earnest, young Padawan from Star Wars.

(Fun fact: Anakin Skywalker was never given the title Jedi Master even though he was more powerful than many of the Jedi Masters on the Council.)

Sometimes, I pretend to use the force to levitate nearby objects. I’m hoping it will magically work one day.

Until then, I’m not even a Padawan, let a lone a Jedi Master.

I’ll keep trying though!

Does NYC Have 13,000 Sifus?

Believe it or not, the term “master” is no where to be found in traditional in Qigong or Kung Fu (including Tai Chi).

The traditional title is Sifu (or Shifu in Mandarin, 師父), which translates literally to “teacher-father”.

Here’s the confusing part: the title Sifu doesn’t denote skill.

Confused? Just wait! The whole Sifu thing gets even more confusing!

In Chinese, there’s another term that is pronounced the same as Sifu, but uses different Chinese characters (師傅 ). This term is an honorific that is used for anyone with a special skill.

For example, this term is commonly used for taxi drivers.

Apparently, I was surrounded by Sifus when I lived in NYC! And that was before Uber!

To summarize: the Kung Fu version of Sifu does NOT denote skill, whereas the Taxi version DOES.

So weird.

In other words, a Qigong or Kung Fu Sifu may be skillful, experienced, and wise – but none of that has to do with the title.

The Violin Master

All this confusion doesn’t exist in the violin world.

After 30 seconds listening to a violinist, you can tell if he or she is a master.

But with Qigong and Tai Chi, it’s trickier.

It might seem logical to measure the health of the Qigong master, and the martial skill of the Tai Chi master.

But is that enough?

For example, a person can be naturally healthy, and that doesn’t make them a Qigong master.

And someone can be an excellent martial artist without knowing a thing about Tai Chi.

So what’s our objective measure of mastery?

10,000 Hours

This brings us to something called the 10,000 hour rule. Personally, I love this concept. It works like this:

“Researchers have settled on what they believe is the magic number for true expertise: 10,000 hours.” – Malcolm Gladwell

In other words, to acquire world-class expertise in an art, you need to put in 10,000 hours of dedicated, concentrated practice.

This is not as easy as it sounds. If you practice 3 hours every day, it will still take you 10 years to reach 10,000 hours.

Not easy, but totally doable.

Am I a Master?

I know what you’re wondering.

“Is Sifu Anthony a master?”

It’s been hard for me to answer that question myself. I can relate to that man I met in the park 20 years ago!

On the one hand, I still feel very much like a student because I have so much to practice.

On the other hand, I’ve put in well over 10,000 hours of practice since I began this journey in 1992.

4th Degree Master?

If forced to give an answer, I would say this:

I think I’m a 4th Degree Black Belt in Tai Chi and Qigong.

There are no belts in Tai Chi or Qigong, of course. It’s an analogy. Let me explain.

In the Karate world, the belt system goes like this. You start at white belt, work your way up various colored belts, and then earn a black belt.

This process usually takes 3-5 years.

In terms of hours, it takes roughly 1000 hours to become a black belt.

But black belt is just the beginning really.

After that, there are 10 degrees (called dan in Japanese). Typically, these are harder to earn than the 1st degree.

I earned my 1st Degree Black Belt in Goju-Ryu Karate in 1995. I don’t do Karate any more, but if I did I’d probably be a 4th Degree Black Belt by now.

So to answer the question — yes, I think I’m a master of Tai Chi and Qigong. But no, I’m not done mastering these arts.

When people use the word “master”, they immediately think of the Super Ultimate Grand Mega Master. A state of perfection. A 10th Degree Master.

But that’s not how this mastery thing works.

You see, mastery is a process. It sounds trite, but it’s the journey, not the destination.

In other words, even Grandmaster Yoda is still mastering his art.

Do You Need a Master? 

I’ve been thinking about this question for two decades.

Do you need a Master?

I’ve already written about spotting a bad teacher (and by extension, finding a good one).

Here’s the problem: a master is not necessarily a good teacher, and a good teacher is not necessarily a master.

I once learned from a famous violinist. He was, by far, the best player I had ever studied under.

But he was an awful teacher.

On the other hand, my best teacher was Louise Behrend. She was not known as a fantastic player, but she produced some amazing violinists (far better than me).

The lesson is clear: you might be better off learning from a good teacher rather than a high-level master.

If you can find someone who is both, if you can find Mr. Miyagi — good for you! Paint that fence!

Master of….

I’m not confused any more. I think I finally understand what mastery is.

If you call someone “a master of ___” rather than using “Master” as a title, things get much clearer.

For example, Joshua Bell is definitely a master of the violin.

So call me a master of Qigong, or a master of Tai Chi, if you like.

But please don’t call me Master Anthony.

Not until I levitate that X-wing. Then you should definitely start calling me Master.

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

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Why do you practice Qigong?

Hopefully, you’ve got a bunch of goals, like getting rid of chronic pain, or increasing your energy levels.

That’s great. If you know me, then you know that I’m a big fan of setting specific goals.

However, your #1 Qigong goal should be something overarching, something grand and noble, something that inspires you not just for the short run but for the long haul.

In other words, your #1 goal should be to become a master of Qi.

Master Your Qi, Master Your Life

If we look back through history, we find that Qigong masters had certain skills — like being able to tap Qi from the Cosmos, direct the Qi to any part of their body, or even project Qi outside of the body.

I developed the 12 Phases of Qi Mastery to help students understand the skills they need in order to master Qigong (and also Tai Chi).

These 12 Phases are my own invention, but they are based on classical ideas and skills. I was also inspired by a modern Qigong master named Roger Jahnke, who created his own 10-phase version in his book The Healing Promise of Qi.

The 12 Phases are meant to help you gain perspective on your own Qigong practice.

Reading through the 12 Phases, you will probably notice that you need to work on certain phases more than others. Some of you will be completely unfamiliar with certain phases — a sure sign that you need to spend time with that particular skill.

Introducing the 12 Phases 

The 12 Phases should NOT be viewed as linear. Instead, view them as a spiral.  Imagine each phase is a position on a clock.  

Now imagine making many laps through the 12 Phases, but in a spiraling motion, like this:

For example, I’ve circled through all 12 Phases several times.  I continue to do laps around the spiral, and expect to do so for the rest of my life. Each lap brings me new insights into the art of Qigong.

You can even jump around a bit.  Although I’ve arranged them in a meaningful order, they can absolutely be practiced out of order. These days, I  jump around the phases quite often.

As a general rule, it’s safe to skip a few phases on your first lap through the cycle. Once you’ve completed a full lap, then you can jump around in any way that feels productive.

The 12 Phases of Qi Mastery are as follows:

• Phase 1: Discovering the Qi
  The very first step is to become aware of Qi.  If you’re a beginner, then you must discover the Qi that exists in your own body. To do that, you’ll need to learn to clear your mind, relax your body, and heighten your awareness.  (Examples: Head-to-Toe Relaxation, Smiling from the Heart, Entering Zen.)

• Phase 2: Circulating the Qi
  The smooth flow of Qi is critical for health and happiness.  Once you learn how to do it, you’ll want to continue circulating the Qi through your body for the rest of your life, not only because it will keep you healthy, but also because it will make you feel great! (Examples: Lifting the Sky, Carrying the Moon, Heaven and Earth, Flowing Breeze Swaying Willow.)

• Phase 3: Gathering the Qi
  Now that your Qi is flowing well, you can start to work on on gathering more of it. Qi is the main ingredient in Qigong, so having more of it is definitely useful! (Examples: Hugging the Tree, Pushing Mountains, Golden Bridge, Lifting Water Dantian Breathing.)

• Phase 4: Aligning the Qi
  If your physical structure is not aligned, if your muscles, tendons, and ligaments aren’t working optimally, then you’ll never master your Qi. You need to build strength, flexibility, and balance in order to realign your structure and your Qi.  (Examples: Three Levels to Earth, Dancing Crane, Dancing Fairies, Old Monk Removing Shoes)

• Phase 5: Protecting  the Qi
  No matter how good you are at the other phases, you’ll plateau in your development if you don’t also protect your Qi.  External factors can have a major influence on your Qi — the food you eat (or don’t eat), your lifestyle habits, your environment, even your finances. (Examples: eliminating toxins, improving sleep, building good habits, Willpower Qigong, avoiding negative energy, etc.)  Note: I’ll be writing about this topic a lot in 2015.

• Phase 6: Purifying the Qi
  To reach higher levels of health and vitality, you must work to purify your thoughts, emotions, and your energy.  Whereas “Protecting the Qi” is focused on external influences, this phase is focused on internal ones. (Examples: Five Animal Play, 1% Forgiveness, The Gratitude Spark, Focusing on One.)

• Phase 7: Mobilizing the Qi
  Those who practice internal martial arts must learn how to summon up the Qi and mobilize it in an instant. If you don’t want to practice internal martial arts, you’ll still benefit from learning to mobilize your Qi. (Examples: Old Monk Grinding Rice, One Finger Zen.)

• Phase 8: Directing the Qi
  You can’t call yourself a master of Qi unless you can easily direct the Qi to any part of the body, any organ, or any joint.  (Example: Directing Qi to the Palms or Feet, Directing Qi to the Muscles, Massaging the Internal Organs, Bone Marrow Cleansing.)

• Phase 9: Consolidating the Qi
  To reach higher levels of mastery, you need to consolidate the Qi in the major energy centers (especially the the lower dantian). This phase goes hand-in-hand with Gatering the Qi, but is more focused on storing the Qi rather than just gathering it. (Examples:  Dantian Breathing, Holding the Full Belly, Three Centers Merge, Cosmos Palm.)

• Phase 10: Transforming the Qi
  The Small Universe (or Microcosmic Orbit) is a famous Qigong technique for transforming Qi (Energy) into Jing (Essence) and Shen (Spirit).  In many ways, all other forms of Qigong are child’s play compared to this phase.  (Example: The Gentle Small Universe, The Forceful Small Universe.)

• Phase 11: Unifying the Qi
  This is the wonderful, spiritual side of Qigong. The more you master your Qi, the more you’ll merge with the energy of the Cosmos.   (Examples: Standing Zen, Sinew Metamorphosis, Sitting Meditation, Cosmos Breathing.)

• Phase 12: Transmitting the Qi:  Qi can be transmitted from the hands for healing, and also from the heart during teaching. You can even transmit Qi through public speaking. During this phase, you will complete the cycle by giving energy back to your fellow humans.  (Examples: Opening Vital Points, teaching Lifting The Sky, Transmitting Qi, Radiating Loving Kindness.) 

Skill vs. Technique

In our modern world, we often confuse skill and technique. They are different.

The easiest way to understand the difference is like this:  Techniques are visible but skills are invisible.

For example, Pushing Mountains is a wonderful Qigong technique. The technique itself is visible — the way you move the arms, the breathing, the stance.

But directing Qi to the energy field in the palm of the hand (called laogong) is a skill. You can develop this skill by practicing lots of Pushing Mountains. But if you’re skillful, you can direct the Qi to the palms without Pushing Mountains.

It is entirely possible to do all 12 Phases with less than 12 techniques.  For example, we can use Pushing Mountains for Discovering (Phase 1), Gathering (Phase 3), Consolidating (Phase 9), and Transmitting (Phase 12).

This is why I love the classification of the 12 Phases — because it helps us to focus on what really counts, i.e. skill. In the 21st century, many people know a lot of different Qigong techniques. But how many different skills have they mastered?

Summing Up

The 12 Phases are a helpful way to conceptualize the fundamental skills that Qigong masters had in the past — and that we hope to attain in the 21st century.  I sincerely hope that this classification will help Qigong practitioners of all styles to better master their energy.

In 2015, I’ve incorporated these 12 Phases into my classes in Gainesville.  I plan to blog about the various phases as the year goes on.

For the time being, these 12 Phases will only be taught in the classes in Gainesville. In the future, I might consider doing workshops on each level.

What do you think?  Do you find the organization of the 12 Phases useful? Let me know if the comments below!

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