[ycleption]

On Ki

Many people have been asking me why I run so fast, or how I can punch hard enough to knock down an ogre. Some have even tried to tell me that I use the Weave. I have tried to explain the nature of Ki, but I fear I haven't done a very good job; one of the things I think my education is lacking in is how to teach. So much of my studies focused on internalizing concepts of Ki, so that I understood them without relying on empty words. It's one thing to be able to say "an effective hand-strike is a movement in which the rear foot pivots, the hips and shoulders turn, propelling the arm forward..." but that knowledge hardly demonstrates physical ability to punch. In the same way, being able to take about Ki is very different from understanding it. Still, I think it would be valuable for me to write a bit about my understanding of Ki, so that I can have the words in my mind the next time somebody asks me about it, and someday, if I have a monastery of my own, I will better be able to give the foundations of the discipline.
Most simply, Ki is the force or energy that all living things possess. The great sages enjoy debating the exact nature of Ki, some saying that it is like air: an invisible material, while others argue that it is purely spiritual. Some say that Ki is an expression that springs from life, others that Ki is what creates life. Some even say that non-living materials also possess or interact with Ki, although I do not know of anyone who has demonstrated this. Given the variety of views on KI, it must be understood that much of what I say is my personal understanding, and that of my teachers. Ki is often referred to as life energy, and because of this, is often misunderstood as a purely physical force: indeed, when properly harnessed, Ki governs the body, and with proper control, Ki can be used to help wounds close, expel toxins, and rise above the the body's physical limitations. In reality however, Ki is closer to mental energy than bodily energy: the mind is much quicker than the body, it is the mind that sees the arrow fly, and moves the hand to block it, for the arm is too slow. It is because the mind is focused on the goal that the legs move faster, not that the body is better trained. Physical training is important, because when strength of will and strength of body are in harmony with each other Ki flows strongly, but action derives from the mind.
This life energy is similar to physical strength in that it can be trained, focused, and strengthened. However, because it is a subtle force, awareness of Ki must be achieved before it can be trained. Thus it can take many years of meditation before the smallest manipulation of Ki can be attempted. I have seen some experienced monks punch straight through well-forged metal, and I have seen some I have heard that some great monks can use their Ki like a third arm, or slay foes at a distance. However, most begin with simple exercises, such as dodging punches or thrown rocks, since body movement is one of the simplest ways to channel Ki, and also paves the way for more intensive martial application.
Personally, I have been paying a great deal of attention to these simple exercises, since the fundamentals can never be over-trained, and I think I will soon achieve greater control over my reaction speed. Following that, I plan to train my offensive speed once again. This is often the way of the monk: training in one area, and then when steps have been made, training complementing or harmonizing aspects in order to create balance in the self.