China is said to be using an old-fashioned way to train pilots to be more efficient during a war of jets and planes. Called Qigong, the ancient practice has become part of the regular training of a group of 50 strong men, who are part of the Chinese Air Force.
Baduanjin, a form of Qigong, harnesses the body’s vital energy, or qi, to improve muscle growth.
A recent evaluation of the event is said to be surprisingly effective as the group is doing better than pilots who are only participating in Western sports.
The training meets the needs of the future hi-tech air war
They said that men who were part of Qigong witnessed an average increase of 15 percent in the width of their major muscle groups, including the spine and hips, according to the report.
Their training is extensive, to deal with situations such as working with drones. To meet the needs of the future hi-tech air war, the intensity of their daily training exceeded that of their American counterparts, bringing unprecedented challenges to their physical endurance, reported SCMP.
Qigong is a form of traditional Chinese mind/body exercise and meditation that uses slow and precise body movements with breath control and focused thoughts to improve balance, flexibility, muscle strength, and overall health.
Baduanjin helps drivers
Created in China, Baduanjin (also called Eight-Section Brocades) is one of the traditional Chinese Qigong exercises with a history of more than 1000 years. It is characterized by the interaction between balanced body structures and movement, mind, and breathing exercises in a harmonious way.
Its main purpose is the release of internal body energy with the aim of producing different health.
Previous studies have shown that Baduanjin Qigong practice has beneficial effects on quality of life, sleep quality, balance, hand grip strength, trunk flexibility, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate relaxation.
This month, a peer-reviewed paper published in the Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine explained that many pilots had reported neck, waist, or shoulder pain before training, however, after practicing Qigong, these symptoms had significantly decreased. Their performance during exercise also decreased by about 20 percent compared to the control group, while their hip strength increased by a third.
Consisting of eight specific movements, baduanjin ensures the smooth movement of the body’s vital energy, maintains the stability of the spine, and controls the movement of the spine.
Better stability of the spine is a must for pilots, who need to maintain a long sitting position during even extreme flying conditions.
Song Yanping, a rehabilitation specialist from the Joint Logistics Support Force, wrote in the paper that a thick multifidus muscle refers to multiple muscle fibers, which can produce a large force. The Song team says this is important for pilots to remain stable and withstand vibrations and impacts during flight.
Many Chinese pilots, from the country’s pilot teams, are also going to these important games.