What is you opinion of qi (chi)?

I see it as an old term for the results of what utilizing the breath does , getting the correct levels of oxygen in the blood and the effects of what that does for health ,thats my understanding of it through Tai Chi which i see as gentle exercising for a different form of fitness. Ive seen these videos of guys thinking they can divert an attack using chi and getting a hiding, to me that is not chi i think that is misconstrued crap from desperate people and not at all anything to do with chi as i see it. So on that ... for me i use science to translate how i see it, but other people have different views on the subject.

When it comes to Chinese (or Asian) cultures, you need to keep in mind that scientific method is an invention of Western civilization and it was only introduced into China in the 20th century. The Chinese were and to some degree still are a very superstitious people who believed in the supernatural and it's presence in all things; from their traditional beliefs there is no separation between the spirit world and tthis world because both exist in the same plane (this here and now).

Because of this, they tend to explain the natural world in terms of supernatural forces. Part of the reason is that they did not have a good understanding of human anatomy due to Buddhist proscription against dissecting human corpse as was done in western medicine. It was not until western anatomy textbooks were introduced did the Chinese understand where the organs lay within the human body and their function. Up to that point, the Chinese thought (among many others) the heart was the seat of thought and the liver's function was to circulated blood.

With that in mind, you can see why qi, chi, or ki is explained as some sort of spiritual energy.

The thing to also remember is that an explanation as inaccurate as it may be, does not invalidate the observed cause and effect. The explanation used is only an attempt at modeling the system for the observed cause and effect. So if you do A and B occurs, the more important question is not really how it happens but how to do A correctly each and every time to produce the effect B. Understanding why A cause B may make you feel better, but if you were in a fight and needed to apply your techniques to produce the needed effect you really would not care. It's when you are in the comfort and safety of your home and have time to kill does it really matter.

What is chi? It is the effect of efficient use of body mechanics.

None of you dare not get treated by an acupuncturist, because you would be going against your beliefs and from what i have read, nobody here seems to believe in chi.

As I see it you guys are not that far off with your 'rice' joke. All living things supposedly have chi, including plants and animals. So when you eat, it gives you energy. This idea goes back to the even more primitive idea that you absorb the energy of the living things you eat even your enemies energy by drinking their blood or even cannibalism.

My opinion in Chi extends only to the definition of life, will of life, inner strength, focus synonymous with intend and the amazing and sometimes inexplicable things that come from that. I do not believe in no touch techniques unless it is distracting someone's attention to render someone off balance for the purpose of executing a technique and even the effects of that are limited on a trained person.

Chi = Energy

Rice = Carbohydrates = Energy as well, but...that is another story ;-)

To me, it's hocus pocus. I don't subscribe to its concepts at all.