Mike Sigman shared a link.

Admin · August 26 at 5:13 AM

BaDuanJin Qigong Mnemonic

The Ba Duan Jin qigong is one of the oldest ones around and it is used by both "internal" and "external"
martial-arts. The name Ba Duan Jin refers to eight pieces of silk. A lot of people say "brocade" rather
than silk, but it's silk and silk is a euphemism for fascia, such as in the layers of fascia associated with the
individual channels.

I spotted a mnemonic device on the web that made me happy. It's a short description of what each
move of the Baduanjin qigong is supposed to exercise/strengthen. Happy to find it.

Raise the head to smooth the triple energy meridian (qian, heaven)
Left liver right lung like shooting a hawk (kan, water)
Hold the feet to strengthen the kidneys and waist (gen, mountain)
Look backwards to treat five kinds of exhaustion and seven injuries (zhen, thunder)
Bouncing the toes to readjust the internal organs (xun, wind)
Move the tail like a fish in water to remove excess heat (li, fire)
Clench the fists to enhance the blood flow (kun, earth)
Separate heaven and earth to stimulate the spleen and stomach (dui, lake)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K-0JpiJu-o

YOUTUBE.COM

8 Brocades Qigong Practice

This is the qigong practice of the 8 Brocades, or Baduanjin. Regular practice is believed to improve organ
function and overall wellbeing. It was filmed in B...

Rob Vercouteren That was a good read, thank you!

Nicholas Blewett But...but...sigh!! Keep posted for my new and improved version of these 😉

Mike Sigman We wait with abated breath. Remember, though, that this is a forum about movement
with the dantian.;)

Nicholas Blewett Mike Sigman and there is no movement from dantian in the video linked. Hence my
grubby trolly style comment aimed to bait 😂😊✌🏼
Mike Sigman Well, I just meant don't go too far astray. I just grabbed one of about 30 YouTube
videos to give an example of the BDJ so people could see it. My interest isn't in the choreography, but in
the channels/places that the movements are supposed to work.

It's sort of like someone doing a "really cool-looking Tai Chi form" ... we're more interested in how the
body is moved and what things are engaged, etc. In terms of the actual Baduanjin, there had to have
been some use of jin (jin always accompanies qi in movement), so I'd be interested to hear your
thoughts on how and why jin is being used.

Nicholas Blewett Mike Sigman ya cool. I mean no disrespect of course and I do get that. But from my
understanding and experience of what Jin is then their is very little in this clip and none being produced
but the structure and movement therefore none being cultivated.

And that is not to discredit this style of movement and qigong. Mindfulness movement training is great
for us. But there is no jin here. There is no internal movement. 🙏🏼

Mike Sigman Why don't you start a fresh thread and tell us what you think jin is, Nicholas? It's a
commonly discussed topic on the forum and it might be nice to see a fresh, reasoned perspective.

Nicholas Blewett Mike Sigman there are a few reasons to why I don’t usually engage this type of post /
conversation etc. simply because in the martial arts much of the language is the same but the reality of
the physical movement is typically extremely different. This means that two people are doing very
different things physically but will explain it as if they are doing the same thing - words are often not
enough - especially written words. And so it becomes a two and fro with no point. i know that seems like
a cope out but yeah...when I make videos for my page explaining my perspective then id happily post
here.

Mike Sigman Nicholas, but this is basically a physics and mathematics forum (and physiology and
kinesiology, but those must obey the laws of physics). Anyone can have any view that they want on this
forum, but we ask that they be able to explain their view in terms of physical reality. If someone is sure
that they have a unique but true understanding of movement, they should be able to explain it in terms
of physical (and reproducible) phenomena. As was attributed to Einstein: "If you really understand a
topic, you should be able to explain it to your grandmother".

Nicholas Blewett Mike Sigman totally agreed

Jeffrey Smoley Ba Duan Jin effects as taught by Dr, Zhou Peigen to me: The TCM effects of the Eight
Section Brocade:

Reaching for the Heavens regulates the three visceral cavities housing the internal organs (san jiao): It
regulates all internal organs, from your heart and lungs in your upper torso through to your kidneys and
intestines in your lower abdomen. It relieves fatigue, increases inhalation, and helps prepare your body
for the exercises that follow. It also helps invigorate the muscles and bones of your back and waist and
can help correct poor posture of the upper back and shoulders.
Drawing the Bow places the emphasis on your thorax - the home of your heart and lungs - thus greatly
improving the circulation of blood and oxygen. It also improves the flow of energy in your small
intestine.

White Crane regulates the heart, spleen and the stomach. It increases the flow of energy along both
sides of your body and benefits your liver, gall bladder, spleen, and stomach. This helps to prevent
diseases of the gastro-intestinal tract.

Turning the Head relieves the exhaustion of the five internal organs and injuries caused by the seven
human emotions.

Punching with Feeling develops the flow of Qi from your feet through your entire body and extends it
through your hands and eyes. It excites your cerebral cortex and related nerves, and speeds the
circulation of blood and oxygen in your cardiovascular system. This is not just a punching exercise, it is
designed to strengthen the flow of your internal power: it must be done slowly and calmly with great
concentration. Each movement begins gently and the full power comes in only at the end of each
extension.

Bending Backwards and Forwards to rid the heart of its illness. It is good for the muscles of your lower
back and legs and for stretching your spine. It is also beneficial for the internal organs of your lower
abdomen. The movements of your waist actually bring every tissue and organ of your abdomen into
play. The whole exercise strengthens your kidneys, your adrenal glands, and the arteries, veins, and
nerves associated with them. Since your kidneys play a vital role in regulating the water metabolism of
your entire body, this exercise helps maintain a healthy balance in your internal environment. Do not
practice this exercise when pregnant.

Snake Bends Spine to remove excess heat from the heart. Helps reduce fever and reduce tension in the
sympathetic nervous system. It has a relaxing effect and eases the flow of energy along a number of
your body's meridians. has a powerful effect on your central nervous system and the circulation of both
blood and Qi to your head. It stimulates the kidneys. It also strengthens the activity of your eyes, your
neck and shoulder muscles and your nervous system. It helps with alleviating high blood pressure and
hardening of the arteries. Do not practice this exercise when pregnant.

Knocking the Heels to ward of illness. This aims to refresh and regenerate all your internal organs by
enabling them to massage each other. It is also excellent for your spine, your nervous system, and your
sense of balance. Do not practice this exercise when pregnant.

John Griffendorf One of the Eight Pieces of Brocade videos I am using. It is very good.

Rob Vercouteren So we wait for a person without a shirt doing the BDJ showing what that person does
internally?
like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL1mAf8_Cq4

Note: concerning that video, it seems that dantien is not really connected and the rotating of it is just for
practice
YOUTUBE.COM

Chen style dantien rotation

Chen style dantien rotation

Jex CheeseNaananda interesting video, never saw that much movement seem's a little to much, what do
you think or know ?

Mike Sigman Jex CheeseNaananda We looked at this guy once before. He is copying the dantian
movements, sort of, but his body is not fully connected to the dantian: hence the exaggerated
movements.

Jex CheeseNaananda Mike Sigman ok thank you for your analyse, seemed too much to me :)

Rob Vercouteren I guess when delivering real power from dantien the movement inside i way more
subtle then doing a practice form.
I think it is not bad to exaggerate movements, but when delivering power from the qi tissue you will feel
all the tissue delivering it, from the tip of your toes to wherever you deliver the power with as one unit.
The point i am looking for is to do it without "force". It seems there is at least 2 ways which both feel
unstoppable a soft one and a forcefull one.
You guys experience the same?

(i discovered it while working with a big vise, i had to destroy some USB sticks so tried to crunch them in
the big vice. With arms only no way, but then from center 😲 i felt the power stacking from my feet
through my legs building up in my back to my hands and actually it was effortless, but still with way
more force i was aware of.)

And i wasn't thinking consciously about it when doing it.

But is my assumption right?

Angela Plarre https://youtu.be/XWUcqFENevA

😉

YOUTUBE.COM
Jasirah #bellydancelifepodcast Challenge!

Jasirah #bellydancelifepodcast Challenge!

Rob Vercouteren That is pretty technical, would there be from historical perspective, some knowledge
and skill hidden in that dance?

Enrico Marantidis I believe the consensus as far as performance goes was that the following one is
pretty good for reference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulZJ9hpUH3s

YOUTUBE.COM

TAOIST QIGONG BA DUAN JIN

TAOIST QIGONG BA DUAN JIN

Mike Sigman Yes, she is very good, Enrico. In the US I have to use a different URL, but she's the one I
vaguely had in mind. Knew it was a woman with sort of a rural background. Her body movements are
quite good. Here's the URL I used:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR8dezwboqw

YOUTUBE.COM

道家八段錦 Taoist Eight Section Brocade

道家八段錦 Taoist Eight Section Brocade

Emir Parkreiner Finally I found the time to do that. I hope I'll find the time to include that into the daily
routine and get some more advice. Recently I found the difference of "hard-" and "soft quigong" being
made. I assume that this would be the soft. Also common logic would recommend to start with the soft,
right?

Zac Alstin I think they are completely separate training methodologies...like training to be a sprinter vs
long distance runner.