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 as: 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 vast 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.
Xing Yi on the other hand would be a perfect example of an internal system that
appears external in movements.
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
systems use this energy in their art
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. I have also seen many Tai Chi practitioners who I
would not consider internal, moving slowly does not constitute internal.
Now to
the key points I strongly believe divide the external from the internal.
1) Energy:
both
internal and external systems use the 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 blending 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 spontaneous,
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.