Traditionally in Kung fu training began when one was a small child in order to truly develop the awesome power and potential of the fighting arts.

Internal power generation was the primary focus in training and this was something that could take up to ten years or more.

It was thought necessary to first strengthen the internal organs for later rigorous physical development and protection from enemy attacks.

The foundations of the art that became known as “Iron shirt chi kung”, lay in the process of building and producing “chi” which means air, or life force energy. Iron short was a method of protecting the internal organs from external damage by surrounding them with a shield of this chi energy. This in effect meant enemy blows merely bounced off the chi-kung practitioner.

Mastering internal power was demanding and time consuming. This power had to be practised regularly, until it could be felt throughout the entire body. Chi would flow evenly through every limb.

Practices may have included such things as throwing straight punches for up to one thousand times a day for several years or leaping up steps whilst carrying different weights. Upon removing the weights the student could then leap much higher after this training.

Taoism and internal power

Taoism - the way of the universe - has formed the foundation pillar of many people's lives in China over the years and still does to this day.

How does one live in the flow of Tao? A good starting point is learning one of the internal martial arts. The internal martial arts have a way of leading you into a greater sense of harmony and peace with yourself and your surroundings. This aim has long been a part of Chinese culture and the physical mechanical aspects of the internal arts are designed to lead you to this mental and spiritual place slowly but surely.

The Tao is the source of all energy and life and, ideally, an individual should seek to harmonize themselves with it in order to achieve maximum contentment and beneficial success.

Connectedness is at the heart of Taoist philosophy. Breathing is connected to diet which is connected to energy which is connected to your surroundings which are connected to your breathing; everything is connected to everything else in a non-linear way - the Tao is all and in all.

When studying the internal martial arts in a classroom environment it is important to remember that after you one and half hours are over your study doesn’t end there. Participating in an art such as Tai-chi means learning to integrate its concepts and principles into every aspect of your existence and at every minute of your day.