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There are no hard and fast rules as to what constitutes an internal vs. An external martial art, but broadly, external approaches focus on the development of physical power and skills. The emphasis is on muscular strength and powerful movements. Internal martial arts on the other hand, have more focus on mental and spiritual development.
The emphasis here is on relaxation, soft, fluid movements and inner power. However, the lower-key nature of these styles should not distract from their utility as fighting/self-defense methods. They can be every bit as powerful and effective as the external forms.
Indeed, although the emphasis is on inner development, the internal schools certainly recognize the importance of strength and resilience. Attention is given to hard skills like combat techniques, weapons training, strength and endurance (although schools will vary in how much emphasis is given to these elements). The goal though, is to incorporate hard skills into an overall alignment of body, mind and spirit.
These hard skills combined with inner control can give internal practitioners a distinct advantage over their more aggressive external brethren. It's an inner poise that in large part comes from their development of qi. Qi, according to Chinese tradition, is the invisible life-force that animates all living things. It is the source of physical vitality and internal martial artists work to raise their qi and direct it around their bodies at will.
The overall goal of qi development and other internal exercises is to strengthen the body from within. This supports robust health and the ability to execute techniques with greater poise and skill. Healthy, physically strong practitioners can strike harder and more skillfully, and also better withstand opponents strikes. Optimum health also means these skills and capacities can be maintained well into one's 'retirement' years. Master practitioners remain formidable well into their 70's and 80's.
A key practice for qi development is breath control. Deep breathing combined with visualization is used to gather and direct qi. As part of this, students have to develop the ability to breathe from the lower abdomen. This takes practice since most people's breathing tends to be shallow and restricted to the upper chest. As students become adept at deep abdominal breathing, they become more sensitive to their qi and better able to direct it.
They also begin to gain the ability to detect where their qi is blocked, or where there is too little or too much. They can then remedy these imbalances by directing their qi appropriately. In addition to greater faculty with qi, breath control also enables practitioners to take in more oxygen. This enhances mental and physical energy as well as boosting overall health.
It's this health aspect that is appealing to many people in the US, especially in health-conscious states like California. Internal approaches like Qigong have become hugely popular as a way to optimum health and vitality. They are also popular with those who seek greater peace of mind. Just a few weeks of regular practice is enough for many students to notice a difference in their mental and physical well-being. Longer-term practice enables these changes to become profound and life-changing.
The emphasis here is on relaxation, soft, fluid movements and inner power. However, the lower-key nature of these styles should not distract from their utility as fighting/self-defense methods. They can be every bit as powerful and effective as the external forms.
Indeed, although the emphasis is on inner development, the internal schools certainly recognize the importance of strength and resilience. Attention is given to hard skills like combat techniques, weapons training, strength and endurance (although schools will vary in how much emphasis is given to these elements). The goal though, is to incorporate hard skills into an overall alignment of body, mind and spirit.
These hard skills combined with inner control can give internal practitioners a distinct advantage over their more aggressive external brethren. It's an inner poise that in large part comes from their development of qi. Qi, according to Chinese tradition, is the invisible life-force that animates all living things. It is the source of physical vitality and internal martial artists work to raise their qi and direct it around their bodies at will.
The overall goal of qi development and other internal exercises is to strengthen the body from within. This supports robust health and the ability to execute techniques with greater poise and skill. Healthy, physically strong practitioners can strike harder and more skillfully, and also better withstand opponents strikes. Optimum health also means these skills and capacities can be maintained well into one's 'retirement' years. Master practitioners remain formidable well into their 70's and 80's.
A key practice for qi development is breath control. Deep breathing combined with visualization is used to gather and direct qi. As part of this, students have to develop the ability to breathe from the lower abdomen. This takes practice since most people's breathing tends to be shallow and restricted to the upper chest. As students become adept at deep abdominal breathing, they become more sensitive to their qi and better able to direct it.
They also begin to gain the ability to detect where their qi is blocked, or where there is too little or too much. They can then remedy these imbalances by directing their qi appropriately. In addition to greater faculty with qi, breath control also enables practitioners to take in more oxygen. This enhances mental and physical energy as well as boosting overall health.
It's this health aspect that is appealing to many people in the US, especially in health-conscious states like California. Internal approaches like Qigong have become hugely popular as a way to optimum health and vitality. They are also popular with those who seek greater peace of mind. Just a few weeks of regular practice is enough for many students to notice a difference in their mental and physical well-being. Longer-term practice enables these changes to become profound and life-changing.
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