Well, I don't know Qigong Shibashi, but I have studied Tai Chi Chuan over a period of more than 25 years and have learned various forms. I have also studied other forms of qigong, including private lessons with one master teacher in San Francisco for two years (along with learning Tai Chi from him) and am currently studying 2 qigong forms from a prominent teacher here in my little town. She has published a lot, translated some famous qigong works into English, was the professor of qigong and a well established College of Chinese Medicine in Oregon 9creating the department) and will be certifying me as a teacher in at least one form sometime this year.
These bonafides, don't really mean that much, except perhaps to show that my opinion is considered and I have some perspective.
I find SFQ to to be a superior form and method. I think it is the simplest, most directly effective form I have ever learned. The way it is presented in the home study course is so complete and so simple at the same time that it feels like a little qigong miracle to me.
Compared to 18 forms, the math is easy: SFQ has 5 basic exercises in the active exercise for Level 1 with some very, VERY simple transition steps betwen a couple of the movements. One of the 5 is a little more complex, but not much. It did not take me long to learn the movements or the sequence. Maybe 3 times watching the video (if that), and then practicing with the audio coaching for a few weeks. After that, it was easy to practice to just music or in silence.
The sittting meditations are also easy to learn and do and the way they are presented on the CD/tapes makes it easy to keep progressing.
Everything I have learned from Tai Chi and qigong is precious. I treasure all I have learned. And it all has helped me understand better. Each teacher/school/method has given me important insights into other qigong.
But so far, I like SFQ best of all. It is so simple to learn and do. It is a very transparent method. Chunyin Lin teaches enough theory, philosophy and background to get deeper understandings as one practices the forms.
