Chi Shredding: Turning Your Board Using Chi (qi)

Aloha Tribe,

So, it's about time to talk a bit about Chi Gung (Qigong), and explain a bit of what it can do. The first thing that comes to mind, is, shredding.

In other words, it is possible to turn your board, be it a longboard, shortboard, skateboard, snowboard, wake board, or even a slackline (technically, you're not "turning" it but you're controlling how the line moves or remains stationary) using, chi (qi).

Now, as we all know, the way most of us turn is by weighting our toes or heels. And, of course, we use our upper bodies too, especially leading with our arms and shoulders, and, even look where we want to go.

But, there is another way. A mysto way. The way of chi surfing.

You see, the thing is, once you learn to circulate chi (qi) in your body, and, beyond your body, you can learn to weight and unweight your toes or heels, as well as the front of your board or the tail, all using, chi.

In this way, you don't have to risk losing balance since, your muscular body shifts remain, stationary. Instead, its your internal energy, your chi, that moves and flows through and around your body.

Most of you have probably seen the movie Star Wars. Well, in many ways, chi is like The Force, only, it's real.

So, imagine guerilla styled surfing on mysto waves using a mysto way. Pretty cool, huh?

Well, how does it work? That's the tricky part, where training comes into play. First, you need to learn to build up chi (qi) in your body so that you have more than enough. Then, you learn to circulate it through your torso, and, eventually, through your arms and legs. Also, initially, such training requires physical muscular effort, called, Wai Chi. But, with practice, you can use your mind to circulate your chi, using a method called Nei Chi.

With nei chi, you flow your bodies energy within and around your body, into your board, and also into the wave your riding, as well as absorbing energy or chi from your board and the wave simultaneously.

When you are at the level where you can do this with your mind, your surfing then becomes one of surfing energy, a totally unexplored, untapped, wild frontier of surfing waiting for those daring enough and interested enough to explore.

This same energy can be applied to all of the forms of training I've talked about lately, such as tightrope walking, slacklining and slack rope walking, balance training of all types, yoga, including Tree Yoga,  and of course, all board sports.

Bodaciously Stoked,

Lily of the Valley