On Saturday I spent six hours getting my first real introduction to Qi Gong and really, to internal martial arts training in general. In those six hours Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit led us through the first eight movements of the Eighteen Lohan Hands. According to Grandmaster Wong, daily practice in just one of these eight movements was enough to improve my health, vitality, and longevity.

Class started after an exuberant entrance by Wong. Waves and smiles and wishes of happiness for everyone. We all gathered in front of him and spread out with room to move. Gave me hope that class would largely be more practice than preach but after 15 minutes with the first movement I realized it would be the other way around. Most of the students had questions and Wong's answers were always lengthy. I'd say the course was two thirds talking and one third practicing.

After each movement we would stand still in a form of standing meditation and were instructed to "play with our chi" - this is where he kind of lost me. Although I don't think I was the only one, I think I was in the minority. Sneaking peeks (we were supposed to keep our eyes closed) I observed all manner of "chi play". People gently swaying like grass in the wind (Wong was like this), people convulsing, a few people doing stylized kung fu or tai chi moves, even one guy doing what I think was the Running Man.

Me... I think I'm a swayer but it's hard to say. Is it my chi or is it gravity? Scott assures me if it were chi I would know it - so, it's probably gravity. The idea is to relax, completely relax, and to clear your mind. Like in meditation where you are supposed to clear your mind I suspect with this you are to clear your muscles. One student asked how we were supposed to completely relax and remain standing, for if we totally let go we'd surely collapse. Wong's response was to think of an athlete, how when they are performing their skill they are still relaxed. Having played many sports I know what he was talking about but find it difficult to translate to a situation where you are doing absolutely nothing. So I stand. I breath. I try not to think about anything. And I wait. And I sway. Well, I get so relaxed my body leans one way and then the "I don't want to fall" mechanism kicks in and I sway the other way. Eventually my calves start to burn. Is it because I'm not used to standing like that for so long? Or could it be a blockage of chi? Wong said that any pain we felt could be the result of chi being blocked. Given the damage I've done to my ankles it seems plausible.

Since the course I've practiced my qi gong twice upon waking up in the morning. I stand quietly for a few minutes, then, go through the movements, and finish with some of the standing meditation. There is definitely a difference when I am done but that again might just be me waking up and getting my blood flowing. Nevertheless, although a skeptic, I'm open to the idea that by doing certain movements and by breathing deliberately we are able to improve our energy levels. And yes, I believe that by mastering control of this energy people are able to perform amazing feats. So I will continue my morning qi gong and hopefully in a few months I'll be able to report that my chi is flowing -- I just pray it doesn't have me doing the running man.