Nei Gong

In the Cheng Man Ching school of Tai Chi Chuan the Nei Gong, or internal power excercises, are only taught to those who have made the commitment to become a disciple of their teacher. The system of internal power exercises the disciples learn are derived from the Zuo Lai Feng Daoist practices studied by Professor Cheng Man-Ching. These consist of a specific breathing technique and internal visualisations, coupled with precise physical postures and movememnt.

In Chinese martial arts traditions, there has always been some form of body conditioning. In some cases this is by striking but there is a tradition of Qi Gong practice to make the body impervious to blows. If you watch the Chinese New Year celebrations, you will often find demonstrations of this, with people bending spears on their throats, breaking iron bars on their heads, taking blows to the soft parts of their body, or washing their arms and faces with broken glass.

There is no way this type of Qi Gong can be learnt other than direct from a teacher as the exercises can be dangerous if done incorrectly.