Chinese soft martial art. Less commonly known than
Tai Chi but from the same basic school. Chi kung is largely breathing techniques but there are also
pressure points and movements like Tai Chi. It's called internal
alchemy or
sinew metamorphisis and focuses on the conscious direction of
chi. Some schools of Chi kung are iron shirt or iron fist. Iron Shirt concentrates on making yourself impervious to weapons where as iron fist means you can
punch like the dickens :) It's practiced by the
Shaolin and the
Taoists.
I've seen Shaolin monks bend
spears and metal rods against their bare
flesh. When my dad lived in
hong kong there were street performers breaking
rocks with their finger tips.
Some chi kung practitioners are said to be able to heal with their
chi or even externalize it to be used as a
weapon.
Chi kung may also be spelled
chi gong,
qi kung, or
qi gong.