Wu Ji Chuan - The Gentle Gongfu

Wu Ji is estimated to be about 4000 years old and therefore ranks as one of the oldest chinese
martial arts. It is one of the innermost secrets of the Shaolin Monastery, the ancestral home of martial arts in China and associated with the first
Zen Patriarch  Bodhidharma. Transmitted from abbot to abbot as an esoteric doctrine the name Wu Ji appears new but in fact it antedates the first
emergence of Yin/Yang theory by several thousand years. Chinese Martial arts can be subsumed in three categories; Those whose
origins are in Buddhist tradition, Taoist tradition and thirdly folk tradition. Wu Ji developed in the folk tradition at a time when the
harmonious relationship with the elemental forces of nature was tantamount to survival and absorbed into the Shaolin tradition by the buddhist elders
recognizing its great value to assure its continuation; It is thus differentiated from Taoist practices.

Wu Ji means "primordial emptiness" or the original state from which all phenomena arise and into which all phenomena return. It is therefore
depicted by an empty circle symbolizing the beginningless undifferentiated state of union.

Historical Origins

There exists no historical evidence of exactly when the passage of Wu Ji into the Shaolin tradition occurred;  Only that it was held in strict
secrecy and passed on as an esoteric transmission divided into two parts from abbot to abbot ;  The form or actual movements themselves and the the
theory as recorded in a book named Wu Ji Jing. This book probably described the philosophy and inner alchemy of the Wu Ji system.
Chee Kim Thong was 17 when summoned by Yik Ch'an Ch'an Tze, abbot and Zenmaster of the famous Lam Pu Thor Temple in Fukkien province. 
As one of the handful of Shaolin experts left he recognized in Chee the outstanding qualities that made him a disciple worth passing his knowledge on to. The
84 year old monk who lived in a tiny shack within the temple compound taught him the  essence of gongfu, the essence of healing and the meridians
of the body as well as Buddhism, meditation, life ethics and principles and how to deal with disciples.

The Movements

Wu Ji is the mother of all "soft" martial arts and consists of a sequence of movements and breathings that awaken and direct the flow of universal energy or "qi" 
and promotes the warm glow of inner rejuvenation. The 36 forms enact the process of creation as seen in the macrocosmic universe on the stage of the 
microcosmic physical human body.The first 12 forms or "characters"( Yin, Yang, Wind, Clouds, Rain, Clearing, Sky, Sun, Moon,  Shining, Reflection, Radiance)  
culitvate theessence and absorbtion of these different energies. Each "character" or form is composed of multiple movements so that the entire form is a
veritable encyclopedia .WuJi utilizes the principles of soft absorbing "yin" stroke as opposed to the hard "yang" strokes thereby demonstrating
the art of flexibility in face of stubbornness. WuJi is an effectivetecnique of self defense though primarily is concerned with the development
of character.

12 Step Qigong

The term "qigong"  is one of the five branches of traditional chinese medicene and roughly translates as "mastery of the universal life energy" or in 
western terms "breath therapy". This is somewhat misleading as like Wu Ji, qigong draws on the three sources of motoric movement, breath, and  
mind  focus. Therefore breath is only a partial aspect of  these meditative movements though often the most important. Qigong is a generic name and has 
developed innummerable styles that can be further described  as being "movement-" and  "still- or meditation-" oriented. The 12 Step Wu Ji Qigong 
draws its name from the circulation of the "qi" through the 12 major organs and combines both styles using movement, breath training in normal and 
specially configured ways, self-healing (acupression) massage, stretching and meditation into one therapeutic form that represents the quintessence 
of all the so-called soft or inner chinese healing arts. Taught by Grandmaster Chee Kim Thong especially for those in everyday life, these movements 
improve health and life quality by increasing blood and  energy circulation in all organs, joints and muscles while keeping tendons and ligaments supple. 
12 Step Wu Ji Qigong is a life instrument  practiced standing, sitting and laying easily learned by all regardless of age and  sex. Systematic, regular practice 
of qigong is proven to strengthen the immunesystem, further the regenerative qualities of the body and well being, affect the mind and nervous system 
positively while retarding aging and debility. Qigong works a wide-ranging unity of body and soul.

by Thornton E. Chamberlin

(Seniortrainer who introduced Wu Ji in europe 
and opened the door for regular yearly meetings for Wu Ji and Qigong students with Master Chee in europe)