Understanding Ki(Qi): WonKi, JeongKi, and JinKi in Taichi and Qigong

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If you practice Qigong or Tai Chi, it is important to have some understanding of what Ki (Qi) is.

In our practice, we explain Ki in three forms: Won Ki, Jeong Ki, and Jin Ki.

Won Ki is the energy we are born with.

We are not all born with the same body, the same physical strength, or the same natural vitality.

Think of cars.

A large, powerful truck and a small compact car are different from the beginning. Each is built with its own structure and capacity.

In the same way, each of us begins life with a different physical foundation.

Jeong Ki is the energy we replenish through food, sleep, rest, and everyday life.

What we eat, how well we sleep, and how we take care of ourselves all affect the condition of our body and the energy available to us.

A car is similar. The fuel it uses and how well it is maintained affect how efficiently and smoothly it runs.

Then what is Jin Ki?

I describe Jin Ki as the Ki that can be developed and expressed through practice and the power of the mind.

You may have experienced this without ever calling it Ki.

Have you ever wanted something so deeply that you became completely focused on it and somehow accomplished something you did not think you could do?

In those moments, we sometimes find a level of focus and inner strength that we do not normally use.

I see this as one way of experiencing Jin Ki.

Going back to the car analogy, Jin Ki is like the driver.

No matter what kind of car you have, the experience can be very different depending on who is behind the wheel. Even a powerful car cannot reach its potential if it is not driven well. A skilled driver, on the other hand, knows how to make good use of the car they have.

The same is true of us.

Among these three forms of energy, Qigong and Tai Chi particularly train us to develop and use Jin Ki.

We breathe. We feel the body. We gather our attention.

Through practice, we learn to use our body, mind, and energy more consciously.

With consistent practice, we can support our physical health while also developing our ability to focus and become deeply engaged in what we are doing.

We cannot choose the body we were born with. But we can nourish it and take care of it.

And through practice,

we can learn how to use the body and energy we already have.