Internal / External What's the Difference?
Though there are many schools of thoughts on what makes a martial arts system internal or
external, I believe that there are a few key points that divide them. I have heard such
things that one who practices internal arts will know the external, but those who practice
external will not know internal. I do not believe this is so. After over 25 years of study
I have seen many pure internalists and externalists, neither would be sufficient at the
other.
In the Chinese arts internal usually refers to arts that are "internal" to
China, arts that were developed in China, and "external arts" are arts that were
developed outside of China and brought in by foreigners.
The large majority of Chinese external styles turn internal in their higher levels, but
this is not true for internal styles, they are just internal. Tai chi would be the perfect
example of a style that is just internal and Hung gar would be the perfect example of an
external system that turns internal at its upper levels. Fu Jow Pai would be the best
example for an external style that stays external.
Many claim that body alignment, rooting, and the use of "body energy" is what
makes a system internal, this certainly could not be true. Many systems use correct body
alignment, such as Shorin Ryu, the waist, legs, and arms all work together to create
alignment. Body energy, ki, chi, or whatever you prefer to call it is in many external
systems as well. Styles such as Choy Li Fut and many others use this energy in their art.
Xing Yi on the other hand would be a perfect example of an internal system that appears
external in movements.
Even styles that are supposed to be internal are not. I have seen many styles of Bagua
that I certainly would not classify as internal; walking in a circle does not make
something internal.
Now to the key points I strongly believe divide the external from the internal.
1) Energy: both internal and external use the natural energy
created by nature (chi, ki, qi) but the true internal styles use soft, relaxed energy, and
external uses a more direct energy force. When seeing a true internal stylist use their
art you will never see force or strength, rather through yielding and redirecting, their
energy seems soft and evasive. An external stylist will use both direct and indirect
energies, sometimes vary obvious to the observer and sometimes not.
2) Intent: external stylists intent can be strong and opposing. This is seen in many tiger
styles of gung fu. Facial expression and body language can be very obvious in nature and
their intent can be seen clearly. Internal stylists intent is hidden and only known to
them, they will always appear the same in attitude whether they practice Tai Chi, Xing Yi,
or Pa Kua. The art is always blending and changing, there are no set forms, only
foundations.
3) Body and Breath Use:
In external systems the body can use muscle force, and often does. The use of
"external" strength is quite apparent, and the breath is often forced during
movements. The techniques are often generated from muscle. Internal systems used relaxed
movements in there techniques, not sloppy or weak, but relaxed and using the whole self to
begin and end a move. The moves are generated from the mind and require the whole body to
perform, for example a punch is generated from the intent and grows from the ground
through the body, and ends the same. The feet, legs, hips, shoulders and so on, work
separately yet together to create the desired outcome.
Jay C Shrewsbury
Oberlin, OH
martialarts@oberlin.net
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