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Chi Kung

Chi Kung Golf Swing

In this article I'm going to introduce you to the ancient art of Chi Kung - literally translated as breath or energy work - and how it should help improve your game.

 

What's this got to do with golf game?

 

Well, many of you may have read concerning the benefits of controlling your breathing correctly (it receives a fair amount of coverage as a part of the "inner game") but the basic truth is certainly, unless you actually practise the discipline on a regular basis, you may never gain the many benefits it should bring to your golf game and life.

 

Yet, supposing that you should incorporate it into your weekly schedule, this basic Chi Kung exercise may help you to develop a greater understanding of your state of mind - fear, anticipation, anger, excitement (all happening on a golf game course near you!) - and you'll have the tools to take yourself back to a more relaxed state, very simple by concentrating on your breathing.

 

Chi Kung - the Practise of Standing Meditation

 

Stand in a natural posture, your feet shoulder-width, toes pointing outwards just slightly, the knees 'soft', your arms hanging loose at your sides and your head as in case gently suspended from above. Allow your witnesses to gaze gently, a mile into the distance, and relax your chest - however without slouching or allowing your shoulders to roll forward.

 

Now, place your attention in your lower abdomen, just below the navel, at a point called the 'T'an Tien'. Allow yourself to focus quietly on your breathing, silently repeating "I am breathing in - I am breathing out" while you inhale and exhale.

 

Gently soften and relax more as you stand with quiet awareness on your breathing and make an attempt to maintain a calm and steady focus on your centre-point.

 

The challenge is certainly to hold your posture and maintain awareness of your breathing for at least 20 minutes (you then repeat the exercise third times per week). Clients who've made a commitment to this very simple practise have reported many benefits, including feeling more enjoyable, recovering more instantly from poor shots, a better eye for the target, fewer swing thoughts, better powers of visualisation and so on.

 

Therefore how can you incorporate this technique into your own golf game game in golf clubs store?

 

Once you would comfortably stand for 20 minutes (and it would well take you some weeks to master this, as at first 5 minutes would seem like a lifetime!), you would start to gain greater awareness of your mind and body and may incorporate the learning into the following swing drill.

 

Chi Kung Golf swing

 

Stand at address and focus your mind on your T'an Tien (your body's natural centre of gravity, approx 2" below the navel).

Take a few moments to relax and centre yourself as you breathe. Keep your shoulders down, your chest empty and relax your jaw.

Take a breath while you proceed to the top of your backswing, and then exhale all the way through to your complete. Focus entirely on your breathing and trust your swing with Titleist ap2 irons.

Try this drill 6 times "empty-handed" (i.e. without holding a club) and then check it out with your favourite golf club and/or driver, however without striking a ball.

 

Note your feedback on a scale of 1-10 (1=poor, 10=excellent).

 

Score in the following way for each drill:

 

#1 How focused were you on your own breathing, did you have the ability to empty your brain of all other golf swing thoughts?

#2 How relaxed did you are feeling during your swing?

#3 Did you observe a better feeling of stability throughout your golf swing with k15 driver?

 

Now step up to the golf ball and hit shots while keeping completely centered on your breathing. Relax and enjoy!

About the Author

More golf tips at www.discountgolf18.com

 

Places in Florida that teach Shaolin Kung-Fu and Tai Chi?

Ok, im looking for a place in florida (around tampa) that teaches shaolin do kung-fu and tai chi for an average price.

What is Shaolin Do? Shaolin is chinese and Do is japanese. What kind of tai chi are you looking for? The health exercise or the one that actually teaches combat applications?

Also Shaolin Kung fu is too broad a term. Wing chun and Choy lay fut are both "Shaolin" and look how drastically different they are