Kung fu is putting in the time, quality of practice, and hardships necessary to complete a predetermined worthwhile goal of our choosing. Mastery of a thing achieved through time, effort and sacrifice.
What we can expect to achieve through uninterrupted practice is to gather, store, cultivate, circulate and utilize our chi through various exercises designed for specific purposes.
The purposes are predetermined by your particular needs. Those needs may be for health, stress release, wisdom study, martial arts - increase the power of a punch or to withstand a punch, or it may be to aid in meditation and develop one's spiritual nature (including faith and courage).
The chi/energy will enhanse them all. In this regard I consider Chi Kung a "hand maiden" to whatever one wishes to achieve in life. The conditions to which Chi Kung may be applied are unlimited. And as long as this force does exist, and because we have to do something anyway, why not do something BIG with this energy, while we can.
Dr. Chang was fond of saying "one stone kills five birds" His particular form of energy work is more technically termed "Nei Kung" which translates as "Inner Exercise" a rare high level Taoist practice.
Not only are there many catagories of Chi Kung, Martial, Medical, Meditational, Motivational, Movement etc. there are many styles of Chi Kung within each catagory.
The type of chi kung you choose pretty much determines the results you can expect. Though the methods may be similar they have different focus and intent.
All include some sort of principles for "the three regulations" regulate mind regulate body and regulate breath. Chi Kung may be done standing, sitting, lying, moving or in combinations of each.
Tai Chi itself is considered a superior form of chi Kung.
I've been fortunate to have studied many Chi Kung systems over the years, including Inner Exercise (there are many), Iron Shirt and Tai Chi Chi Kung (also called "Four Corners" and others.
Many styles are teachable and learnable through the magic of video. Take a look at the Videos I have for sale, posted on another page. The are invaluable for learning. I have friends from China who are shocked and amazed at the amount of materials available in the U.S. far more than anything found in their home country, where knowledge is still jealously guarded and doled out slowly.
At Stone Monkey we give workshops in a beginner set called "8 Fundamental Chi Kung" and later the "Yang Family Chi Kung 22 Movement Set."
These were chosen for their compatability with the style of Tai Chi we practice. They work hand in glove with our form. Their empasis is mostly on improving health and resisting illness, but can be developed as martial practices if one wishes.
We also give workshops in Nei Kung, The Inner Smile, Micro Cosmic Meditation,
5 Element Fusion and 6 Healing Sounds - an excellent seasonal practice to prevent illness and reduce stagnant heat in the body.
My friend John Shuman, a student of Master Ken Cohen and Stone Monkey is working to build a Tai Chi community in the Fort Myers Area.
John has years of Karate, Akido, and Chi Kung experience, he offers classes at the Trinity Church on Monday and Thurday evenings.