Qigong and Sport

Today, many people take part in sports activities as health maintenance exercises. Qigong and sport share many things in common. Originally, they were created for the same reason to improve the body's condition by balancing the body's Yin and Yang with the environment's Yin and Yang. This was done so one could live a longer and healthier life, survived from struggle with nature in pre-historic times, protected oneself and one's family from invasion from other tribes and attacked from giant beasts.

Progression in our civilization, technology, society and social structure, there were no need for everyone to hunt, farm or defended against invasion anymore. People begin to separated and divided the workload based on their functions. Slowly and steadily, people begin to utilize their skill for different purposes and after hundreds and thousands of years, the skills and relating activities evolved into sport activity today.

Since the objectives were different from the time of creation, qigong for conditioning the body to survive extreme hostile environment and physical activity to defense from giant beasts and tribal invasions, there is a fundamental difference. Following is a short list of the major differences between these two disciplines.

1. Different in Theory
The theories and principles in sport came from nature science. They are emphasized on experience. The theories and principles are tested many times in actual situation throughout history. This is a rational understanding and information gathering.

However, the theories and principles in qigong came from the result of practical experienced with nature phenomenon. They are pre-science. Today, there are many theories and principles in qigong cannot be tested or explained in today's science. When the science and technology more developed, people will begin to understand some of the theories and principles in qigong.

2. Different in Objective
Sport is emphasizing on competition. It encourages participant fully demonstrated his ability. Participants competed to outdo each other by working hard to maximize one's ability and power to become a winner. To have self-satisfactory and confirmation so that one will be envious among the peers. Qigong is the opposite from this. It does not encourage to compete with anyone but within oneself. It is emphasizing on self-perfection so one can harmonize with nature. In practice, one examined the condition of harmony with nature and the true of one's existence as a method of promotion into a higher stage of self-fulfillment.

3. Different in Function
Sport is emphasizing on application. This will increase life's re-generating cycle. This emphasis consumed and utilized a large amount of energy and power in each activity. In order for the body to have quicker recovery, the body involuntary supplement with energy and power. Since this activity is highly emphasis on the "usage" of power, the result is one get tired easily. Qigong is emphasizing on internal substance. It mobilizes varies physiologic organs' internal substance to function. It works hard to harmonize substances among physiologic organs to improve their functions. It is highly emphasis on the "Cultivation" of power. The result is refresh and energetic.

4. Psychological Activity
In sport activity, the cogitation activity is focusing on external behavior. It is completely concentrated on all the relationships that involve the activity to overcome all internal and external obstacles. This kind of activity required a lot of attention. In Qigong activity, the cogitation activity is focusing on internal behavior. It automatically mobilizes the appropriate organ or ability to neutralize any obstacle to maintain tranquil condition. It is strongly emphasis on the positive psychological condition to improve the physiologic functions. It benefits the mind and mental activity.

Article By Vincent Chu
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