My good friend Hans Menck, of the Freedom Martial Art school, based in Cape Town, South Africa. A beautiful performance of this highly flowing and challenging Qi Gong routine.
To quote Hans –
“Swimming Dragon (taiyi you long gong) is a chinese martial art and longevity training method which contains characteristics of qi gong (energy breath work), daoist yoga and taiji quan. It originated in the Wudang mountain region of China and was passed down as a self defense and health method within a chinese royal family. Swimming dragon training emulates the movements of the water dragon, which are slow, smooth, continuous, and twisting, stretching and coiling. The form practice has many low stances and one leg balances. It stretches and strengthens all the joints, tendons and ligaments of the body, massages the organs, and stimulates blood and qi circulation. It is also a moving meditation form, focussing and calming the mind. As a longevity training method it reverses the effects of aging by turning weakness, stiffness and low energy into strength, suppleness and vitality. With persistent practice, it will naturally improve flexibility, coordination, and balance, and complement any style of sitting meditation. This form is the external practice of the internal Daoist Qigong practice of Macro-cosmic Orbit (the big cosmic orbit which leads Qi through all your twelve meridians and eight extra meridians.)”
