30/09/2026
Many things about my Sifu, Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit, impressed and inspired me to dedicate myself to the Shaolin Arts. The first and most striking quality was the joy he radiated. The second became obvious when you crossed arms with him in Kungfu or were gripped by his famous Tiger Claw - his internal strength/force.
His dedication to internal force training, and later Qi flow, produced not only an abundance of energy, but also an abundance of joy. His love for spreading the arts, his love for his family, and his love for being with like-minded people created the ideal conditions to share that energy, joy and wisdom.
What I experienced in Sifu was someone who was remarkably relaxed, peaceful and present. These three qualities are also essential for circulating (Yun Qi) and nurturing (Yang Qi) - the two main processes of Qigong.
In our school, we describe the two processes as 'cleansing, building & nourishing'. To gain the best benefits of nurturing energy, one needs the skill of circulating energy. A simple way to circulate energy is to enjoy Qi Flow. Enjoying Qi flow is easy, my Sifu would say - relax, don't worry, and enjoy the flow (you may have to have been there, as this was said with such radiant joy that you had no doubts).
To generate and enjoy a Qi flow, we begin in Wuji, Smile from the Heart, allow the breathing to become relaxed, and then practise the Qigong pattern or patterns. This is followed by letting go, or 'unholding', as I have come to call it. We enjoy the stillness and return to our centre.
There is a beginning, a middle and an ending to our practice.
But it is not what you practise, or the form alone, that produces the results. It is the way you practise.
One challenge we face in daily life is energy depletion. It would be easy to blame our fast pace, work, and family demands for overwhelm and depletion. But that wouldn't be entirely accurate. Another important and often missed aspect of energy depletion is the quality of our awareness.
When we lose awareness, we can seem to lose part of ourselves in that moment. Our mind moves ahead of us, imagining or predicting events or conversations that haven't happened yet. Or perhaps we put more energy and effort into something than the moment actually requires.
Our body may be here, but some part of us is somewhere else.
And when that happens, what happens to our energy?
This is the part I have become particularly interested in: the many levels at which Qigong can operate.
What happens to awareness as we move? Where does our energy go when awareness moves ahead of us? What happens in those little transitions and doorways between one thing and another? And can the qualities we cultivate through Qigong begin to emerge naturally, without us having to carry or produce them?
If this sounds interesting, you can read more about the Qigong workshop I will be offering in London on November 14th.
https://fully-alive.co.uk/london-shaolin-cosmos-qigong/
