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From: 	Shachihoko
Sent: 	Monday, August 19, 1996 8:49 PM
To: 	fanfic@fanfic.com
Cc: 	Fanfiction Mailing List
Subject: 	Re: [FFML] Quick info needed

On Fri, 23 Aug 1996, Doug Murphy wrote:That much was already stated in other 
replies, but this is where I want to
add some other information . . . 

My knowledge of Chinese is non-existent; my knowledge of Japanese is
marginally better, thanks to anime and fanfic-writing/RPing.
The kanji for 'Ki' can be translated as spirit or soul or mood.
(this topic continued after Q.3)

For both chi and ki: there are no known ways to learn life-energy
projection techniques in real life. *HOWEVER*, there are Eastern martial
arts that deal quite a bit with chi focusing. Tai Chi Chuan is one of
these, *if* you're studying the internal as well as the external.
	That probably sounds more exciting than it actually is.
	Within the human body, Chi energy flows along pathways called
'meridians.' The flow of Chi is interrelated with your state of mind, and
health. Basically, if you're calm, then your Chi flow is good, and your
internal organs are 'fed' by the flow of Chi throughout your body. But if
you're tensed, then the Chi pathways are constricted, which lessens the
flow of Chi, which in turn can lead to poor health. (This is extremely
simplified, by the way.)
	The slow, rhythmic movements of Tai Chi serve as an exercize to
loosen the joints, relax the muscles, and allow Chi to flow more freely.
In addition to the physical exercizes, meditation also aids the flow of
Chi.
	Meditation is the key word in learning to focus and direct Chi, or
Ki. In writing the Shuriken Cycle, I hit points where characters other
than Ranma and Ryouga would have to learn how to focus their Chi; Shuriken
helped them to learn this by giving them meditation exercizes to do.
	In summary, anyone who's going to learn to focus Chi (or Ki) will
*very probably* need to spend some time in instructed meditation.
	I can give more suggestions if you're interested.

I -AM ALWAYS- interested. I'm going to add a character to Ranma (I'm gonna try 
to make a series and I need someone that isn't already 'developed' to work on) 
and he is going to be new to the world of Chi. I want to have him well 
developed and a good fighter (But nowhere near a match for say, Ryouga) by the 
end of part 2, and I don't want to just say 'Ahh he was in some forest 
training with Ranma and Ryouga'. Thanks for all the useful information, now I 
am nearly prepared... ;)