From my understanding what you are talking about with energy transmittal without touching and "Qi Combat".
I never heard the term "Chi combat", but a Traditional Chinese doctor, from Beijing (the government hospital), I once had a similar conversation with, said that it is not true as far as they know that someone can knock you down with Qi, at a distance. Although there are many in China who claim that they can and demonstrate it regularly. Per TCM OMD, it is all a trick.
However they did add that it might have been possible in ancient times. However it was a VERY high level of Chi gong practice that was, if it ever was, attained by monks who did nothing else.
Also Yang Jwing-Ming said pretty much the same thing at one of his seminars I attended.