Empty Force: The Power of Chi for Self-Defense and Energy Healing

The negativity of the previous reviews had me curious rather than deterred! I therefore ordered the book - and do not regret doing so. Having developed an intense interest in consciousness and energetics (through reading numerous books from both Eastern and Western points of view) I find that "Empty force" adds ably to the discussion (and even seeks it.) I suspect that reviewers' expectations of this book are only as limited as their reading on the subject.I couldn't help but see significant parallels between the philosophy of "chi" in this book and the "non-locality" of mind referred to in the prestigious "Studies in Consciousness" - that of William Braud PhD in particular. Scientifically correct to the point of dryness, Braud's "Distant Mental Influence" details meticulous research (with copious statistics and references) on the effect of thought at a distance on REG machines (Random Event Generators) He includes other double-blind laboratory studies into the power of non-local mind. (Non-local being defined as mentally mediated events occurring outside the brain.) Top universities are involved in this research worldwide and are replicating these staggering results, led by a veritable 'Who's Who' of international scientists.I also see a close parity between the "chi" of "Empty Force" and the documented cures of "Quantum Healing" (see website as well as book) and the rapidly accumulating evidence of energy tapping (EFT being the most widely known through worldwide reporting on its website) with an increasing number of medical abstracts. If this is "snake oil" territory, then hundreds of eminent doctors and psychologists world-wide are partaking of it, with endorsement from medical journals. Can such a historically conservative body have suddenly become so gullible?Refuse to believe it until you see it? There is the confirming infra-red imagery from Japanese scientists ... I could go on ad infinitum. Another reviewer is confusing experiential certainty with arrogance. I would advise caution only to those who are unfamiliar with Asian philosophy: The vocabulary as well as the metaphor is alien to Western thinking. However, we would do well to remember the five blind men arguing over the same elephant, defining it only by the different part they touched.While I don't anticipate becoming a "master" at it, I have already exercised this skill to a very limited degree. And from what I have seen demonstrated, even skeptics could make use of the concept in some small way. Down the track, the West may well claim this wisdom as ours, as we often do, when cultures we have arrogantly deemed "primitive" have used it for centuries. Incidentally, for a Western account, B K Franztis, martial arts expert, international lecturer and author, has focused one of his books on his own experience with "empty force." It is titled "The Power of Internal Martial Arts." Frantzis is even more assertive about his claims.BIG lesson here: Don't condemn this book out of ignorance, especially before investigating a skill that even our Ivory Halls now validate.

I performed and taught empty force back in the mid-60's. At that time I knew of no one else in the USwho shared my interest so kept it to myself. When I heard of Paul doing empty force I tracked him downand we had enough of a chat that I could see he knew something about it. I would also recommend his book "China's Super Psychics". Corny title, but interesting info re qigong. I trained for a few years with one of the people he discusses inthis book and found the book was VERY understated re this persons abilities.I see some authors trying desperately to invalidate empty force or to insinuate it is a hoax with teachers and students in collusion.All I can say is they are about as far from truthful as they could be.I have seen a person knocked unconscious at a distance. He didn't know anything was being done until he was told when he woke up. (he was out cold for 2 hours); I have seen someones breathing stopped just by pointing at them (twice); I have seen people demonstrate empty force at a distance of several miles with the recipient not knowing anything was being done, and so on and soforth. Can Mr. Dong do these things? I have no idea but I do know what I have seen.

Paul Dong was in Hawaii and it was unfortunate I didn't have a chance to learn from him living in Hawaii myself. As I am getting older, I am more and more interested in internal martial Arts as it becomes superior to physical arts especially at more advanced ages. I have seen and worked with masters and can attest to the power of empty force through the practice of zhan zhuang as it is translated in Mandarin pinyin style.The book also is a testament as chinese martial arts has a saying that hard work brings with it the fruits of labor and which is the basis for gung fu training.

This book talks about an interesting idea that focuses on the combative aplication of Qi, stressing instantanious damage. The Empy Force reads like a poorly written technal paperthat uses speculation as evedence and "ancient chinese legends" as irevocable proof. Perhaps its the lack of said 'legends' in the american culture that has left me pesamesticly speculative. That being said: Some of the things described are amazingly simmilar to what I have found myself doing in zen meditation. Also I intend to incorperate some of the other techniques into my meditations and movement. I suspect that this book holds knowledge for those more famaliar with the chinese form of thinking (or expression) than I am. It has been my experiance studying Traditional Chinese Medicine (here in the states) that the chinese love medafors and wont say what they meen. I belive the reason for this is because the journy of discovery yields the best results.

This is one of the authors more current books and it's well worth the read. I would love to explore more of these ideas with others who have reached these levels of awareness.

paul Dong's book explains a very important part about the mysteries surrounding chi, including numerous exercises to practice.

Excellent and honest book.

If you would like to put some effort into aquiring skills this is a good place to start learning . Excelent book and infomation.

Interesting background information on a little explained subject. Some basic exercises included that require years of practice.

Paul Dong führt mit diesen Buch in die geheimnisvolle Welt des Qi-Gong, besser gesagt, in die höchste Form des Qi, die des Empty Force ein. Es erzählt u.a. von bekannten Meistern die diese Kraft zur Vollendung und Meisterschaft geführt haben. Ja, es ist möglich dorthin zu gelangen. Es gibt heutzutage viele Qi-Übungen, die nichts mit eigentlichen Qi-Gong zu tun haben, ausser der Gymnastik, und dafür braucht man kein Qi-Gong.Wahres und echtes Qi-Gong vereint Körper und Geist zu einer Einheit. Und das ist das eigentlich schwere daran. Man tut nichts, ausser da zu stehen wie ein Baum. Und das ist für heutige Verhältnisse ein unding, gar nichts zu tun. Doch nur so entwickelt man sein wahres Qi. Paul Dong gibt nur Anleitungen für verschiedene Übungen und Stellungen die, nach langen Üben, zur Meisterschaft führen. Die Kritik so mancher Leser über die Länge der Übungszeit kann ich nicht nachvollziehen. Es sind nur Richtlinien. Die Mindestübungszeit sollte eine halbe Stunde nicht unterschreiten, da das Qi mindestens diese Zeit benötigt um im Körper zu kreisen. Aufgrund der empfohlenen verschiedenen Stellungen im Empty Force sollte man mit einer Dauer von 1 - 1,5 Std. tägl. rechnen, denn es dient nur der eigenen Entwicklung. Die Übungen können auch am Morgen und Abend eingeteilt werden, wobei das regelmäßige trainieren eine wichtige Voraussetztung zur Erlangung und Entfaltung dieser Kraft ist.Man kann froh sein das Meister Dong diese Übungen in ihrer Verschiedenartigkeit der Allgemeinheit so angeboten werden, galten und gelten diese Übungen doch nur einen auserwählten Kreis von Meisterschülern. Keiner käme auch nur auf die Idee, den Meister wegen der langen Übungszeit zu kritisieren. Alles hat und braucht eben seine (eigene) Zeit. Wichtig ist hierbei den eigenen Rhytmus zu finden und sein Qi in den Übungen zu spüren und zu steigern. Die Zeit ist hierbei nur ein Nebeneffekt wie lang es ungefähr dauern sollte. Doch das wichtigste ist die Energie zu spüren. Man sollte sich im Qi-Gong des Empty Force den Übungen im Vertrauen hingeben, dass da eine neue gewaltige Kraft darauf wartet, entfacht zu werden.Alles hängt von einem selbst ab, und jeder sollte sich fragen ob der Aufwand sich für ihn lohnt?Mir hat das Buch jedenfalls sehr geholfen noch tiefer in die Geheimnisse des Qi-Gong im Empty Force zu gelangen, wobei die verschiedenen Übungen mich in eine Energie bringen, die Körper und Geist vereinen und verändern, und in eine Tiefe führen, die ich selten so erfahren habe.Mein Dank an Meister Dong.

Too much 'fluff' for my liking.

Very interesting and right on what I expected.Thank you for the excellent speed with which you processed the item.Nov 30,2014Tom

Leider erfährt man erst im Buch, dass die Übungen gut drei Stunden täglich über mindestens drei Jahre geübt werden müssen.Das Buch weisst darauf hin, das man eigentlich einen Lehrer braucht, und das wegen des Zeitaufwandes eben eher daoistische Einsiedler u.ä. diese "Empty Force" hätten trainieren können.Die Übungen selbst legen Gewicht auf "Standing on a stake" Training.Wer sich an den Zeitangaben nicht stört, mag mit dem Buch zufrieden sein.Für Leute mit weniger Zeit empfehle ich eher "Qigong Empowerment" von Shou-Yu Liang.Der Grund dafür, dass ich nur zwei Punkte gebe, liegt darin, dass ich es nie gekauft hätte, hätte ich diese Voraussetzungen gekannt, und für stehendes Qi Gong hatte ich schon "Way of energy" von Kam Chuen Lam.