AKS Quarterly Newsletter

The DoJo

Dave Thomas
8th Dan AKS

The Power of Chi (Ki)

Dave Thomas

Chi is one of the intangible elements of the martial arts that we share with our students. With training, one can achieve incredible physical power as well as mental focus. The Chinese call it Chi, the Japanese call it Ki. It is an inner strength that increases our abilities expotentially.

In western terms, the physical phenomen is referred to as an involuntary "adernaline rush." This extraordinary strength is within every person and is usually brought on by a catastrophic incident. Some years ago, our local newspaper reported a 12 year-old Muskegon girl picked up the back of a car that her father was pinned under. The car had slipped off the blocks while the man was working underneath. The girl grabbed the rear bumper and walked it off her father and saved his life. When a local reporter asked her to hoist the car again, she was no able to lift it at all.

Black Belt magazine once did an article on Chi and wrote about an average man that happened on a traffic accident; a semi truck was on fire and the driver was trapped inside. Emergency personel felt the fire was too involved and wouldn't approach the vehicle. The man jumped out of his car and ripped the truck door off the vehicle, saving the truck driver's life. The man had had a tragic event involving a fire in his life, that forced him to take extraordinary action. Again, extraordinary feats of strength brought on by great trauma that can not be repilcated in our normal lives.

For most people, Chi is involuntary and short-lived. What is different for martial artists is we can access Chi on demand. Mr. Lieb explained how one of his students defended himself in a street altercation against three opponents and put them in the hospital. He said the student focused only on defeating the assailants.

Mr. Lieb said he had the Chi experience when he was fighting in a national tournament in Washington DC. His opponent had scored a point and was now "running" the ring, trying to run-out match time. Mr. Lieb said "When I grabbed his uniform, I shredded it. I ripped 3 tops off the guy in the match. They had to keep stopping time to get him a new top. Oh, I won."

I have had two experiences where I felt my power and techniques approached a level I had never experienced before. At the time it was un-nerving and I actually feared that I could have caused serious injury. I stepped back from sparring for a time.

How does the martial artist develop the ability to implement Chi by choice?

Routine training teaches us that we are capable of surpassing the mental and physical limits we set for oursleves. Learning to ignore outside distractions and focus as we work-out is the beginning.

Time and training are the key elements in developing Chi. Certainly kata training helps us develop our discipline and inner strength. We tell our students to focus only on the form and execute it as if against real opponents. Continually practicing forms to achieve flawless techniques is more mental training than physical.

There is also another aspect to Chi, and that is the ability to remain calm and composed when confronted by someone with hostile intentions. I personally have had several occasions where someone threatened to harm me. I remained calm and in control. There was no panic, no fear, no emotional response, my voice was placid and collected as I explained there were better options than assaulting me.

I think my unflappable response caused the person to rethink his combative intentions. As I explained that fighting was not the best option, in my mind I am assessing my targets of choice if he decided to make good on his threats.

Mr. Lieb always taught us to remain calm and use your words first, it is one of the greatest lessons he gave us.