Chi Kung, Chi Gong, or Qi Gong; deals with energy flow. One uses the human body's meridians which are the body's focal points and channels through which it's energy flows.

Many illnesses are caused by blockages in these channels. The aim is to connect with the energy of the universe and of the earth, and learn to interact with all of nature as a whole. The balance of grounding (Earth Chi) and connection to the Heavens Chi (similiar to crown chakra): is critical. Chi Kung can relieve pain, strengthen the body's constitution, improve intelligence, and prolong life.

It's widely accepted that exercise can promote health and prevent illnesses. Most Western exercise, is exeternal, concentrating on muscular/skeletal development through the application of stress and load to build up strength; working from the outside inward. Chi Kung, is internal, works the body from the inside, outwards. It connects the body and spirit, focusing on breathing, concentration, and physical movements. Many Chi Kung exercise consist of synchronizing of the breath and energy flow, with stretching.

Chi Kung utilizes Jing(essence), Chi (energy), and Shen (spirit). The nucleus of Chi Kung is the exercise of Yi (consciousness) and Chi (life-force energy). Correct use of these energies results in regulation of the internal functions of the human body. Chi Kung does this through developing consciousness and respiration, through causing the internal Chi to manifest in awareness, and through moving and strengthening the internal energies.

I have found that the Tai Chi Chi Kung posture of Embrace The Moon, to be one of the best of the best ways to strenghten Chi.

Some have said that in times of old, that students were required to be able to hold the pose for 1-2 hours, before they were taught the forms. Some think that this was to weed out students that did not possess the committment and/or character needed for the higher level of Martial Arts.

I tend to think that having sufficient Chi flow, is the foundation of Tai Chi, and the internal Traditional Chinese Martial Arts, and that without this energy, one might as well be doing dance, or karate.

In the position of Embrace The Moon, some favor keeping the arms at shoulder height, the arms fully rounded, with the elbows at the same height as the arms and shoulders.

Although this will cause the practitioner to use more flow of Chi to keep the arms up and level, it tends to cause a buildup of Chi, in the Middle Dan Tien, causing overheating and top-heaviness.

When the elbows are lowered, I find that the body's center of gravity is lower, and more rooted.

Since the elbows are closer to the Lower Dan Tien, it is easier for me to direct the Chi to the fingertips. With the elbows closer to the center of the body, it is easier to block any strike, due to the shorter average distance of all trajectories. With the elbows not being fully extended, it is more the middle way, so one is less committed to full length also (the wide cirlce such as long forms of Shaolin). since the arms are slightly extended this way, the distance is also shorter for the inner circle (as in Chin Na or Jiu Jitsu).