What is Chi in Kung Fu?

Chi, or traditionally written as Qi, is an extremely prevalent concept in ancient Chinese philosophy and martial arts, but what exactly is it? There’s no easy answer, as people of different disciplines will define it very differently. Today, I will primarily focus on what it means to Wushu athletes.

In short, for most people who train in Chinese Martial Arts, Chi just means breath control. Sounds simple, right? But it is one of the key skills one must master in order to maximize their physical performance.

Breathing during demanding physical activity, such as a Wushu Taolu, requires very deliberate breathing in order to maintain the fluidity rhythm, and explosiveness of the routine. Instead of just gasping for air when our lungs ask for it, we must be very strategic with how we prolong the endurance of our muscles.

First, breathing must start from the bottom up, maximizing the volume of air we can store in our lungs. Instead of short gasps of air, the focus should be on deep inhalation, while keeping the chest and shoulders relaxed. This allows for the greatest amount of air to reach your lungs, and the relaxed state will also mean that the breathing won’t disrupt the rhythm or aesthetic of the taolu.

Just as important as inhaling is exhaling. Not only does exhaling remove the built up CO2 in our lungs, it can also help to increase the body’s explosiveness and bring more power into muscle movements. For example, when going into a pose in Wushu, exhaling quickly in the process helps make the transition sharper and also stabilizes the abdominal muscles. This is one of the most important techniques you should learn when reaching an intermediate or even beginner level.

I hope this helped clear up some common misconceptions about Chi and its meaning. I know the term has a very different definition when using it in a religious or spiritual context, but that is stuff for another day.