| China arguably has the one of the | | | | identification of the external martial |
| longest histories of continuously | | | | arts with the foreign Buddhism of |
| recorded martial arts tradition with | | | | Shaolin—and the Manchu Qing Dynasty to |
| hundreds of different styles, perhaps | | | | which Huang Zongxi was opposed—may |
| the most of any society in the world. Of | | | | have been an act of political defiance |
| the hundreds of Chinese martial arts | | | | rather than one of technical |
| that have developed over the past two to | | | | classification.[2] |
| four thousand years, there are many | | | | External styles |
| distinctive styles with their own sets | | | | These styles are what most people |
| of techniques and ideas. Also, there are | | | | associate with Chinese martial arts. |
| many themes common to different styles | | | | They are generally fast and explosive, |
| that lead many to characterize them as | | | | focusing on physical strength and |
| belonging to generalized "families" , | | | | agility. External styles can be both the |
| of martial art styles. There are styles | | | | traditional styles focusing on |
| that mimic movements from animals and | | | | application and fighting, as well as the |
| others that gather inspiration from | | | | modern styles adapted for competition |
| various Chinese philosophies. Some | | | | and exercise. Examples of external |
| styles put most of their focus into the | | | | styles are Shaolinquan, with its direct |
| belief of the harnessing of qi energy, | | | | explosive attacks and high-kicking |
| while others concentrate solely on | | | | aerial maneuvers from which is developed |
| competition and exhibition. | | | | the Korean Taekwondo, and the many |
| Chinese martial arts can be split into | | | | animal styles inspired by the movements |
| various categories to differentiate | | | | of certain animals. External styles |
| them: For example, external and | | | | begin with a training focus on muscular |
| internal (or hard and soft . Chinese | | | | power, speed and application, and |
| martial arts can also be categorized by | | | | generally integrate their qigong aspects |
| location, as in northern and southern | | | | in advanced training, after their |
| as well, referring to what part of China | | | | desired "hard" physical level has been |
| the styles originated from, separated by | | | | reached. |
| the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang); Chinese | | | | Internal styles |
| martial arts may even be classified | | | | Internal styles focus on the practice of |
| according to their province or city. The | | | | such elements as awareness of the |
| main perceived difference about northern | | | | spirit, mind, qi (breath, or energy |
| and southern styles is that the northern | | | | flow) and the use of relaxed leverage |
| styles tend to emphasize kicks, jumps | | | | rather than unrefined muscular tension, |
| and generally fluid and rapid movement, | | | | tension that soft stylists call "brute |
| while the southern styles focus more on | | | | force". While the principles that |
| strong arm and hand techniques, and | | | | distinguish internal styles from the |
| stable, immovable stances and footwork. | | | | external were described at least as |
| Examples of the northern styles include | | | | early as the 18th century by Chang |
| Changquan and the sword and broadsword | | | | Nai-chou, the modern terms |
| routines used in contemporary Wushu | | | | distinguishing external and internal |
| competitions, and examples of the | | | | styles were first recorded by Sun |
| southern styles include Nanquan, Houquan | | | | Lutang; who wrote that Taijiquan, |
| (monkey style) and Wing Chun. Chinese | | | | Baguazhang, and Xingyiquan were internal |
| martial arts can also be divided | | | | arts. Later on, others began to include |
| according to religion, imitative-styles | | | | other styles in this definition, |
| , and more. | | | | including Liuhexinyiquan, Liu He Ba Fa |
| Hundreds of different styles of Chinese | | | | and Yiquan. |
| martial arts have developed over the | | | | Some internal stylists say that the |
| past two thousand years, many | | | | difference between internal and external |
| distinctive styles with their own sets | | | | for them is mostly the distinction of |
| of techniques and ideas. Also, there are | | | | the inside and the outside of the body. |
| many themes common to different styles | | | | The reason for the label "internal," |
| that lead many to characterize them as | | | | according to most schools, is that there |
| belonging to generalized "families" (?, | | | | is a focus on the internal aspects |
| jia) of martial art styles. There are | | | | earlier in the training, once these |
| styles that mimic movements from animals | | | | internal relationships are apprehended |
| and others that gather inspiration from | | | | (the theory goes) they are then applied |
| various Chinese philosophies. Some | | | | to the external applications of the |
| styles put most of their focus into the | | | | styles in question. Because of the |
| belief of the harnessing of qi energy, | | | | extended periods of time that beginning |
| while others concentrate solely on | | | | students are expected to work on very |
| competition and exhibition. | | | | basic principles in most internal |
| Northern styles feature deeply extended | | | | schools, and perhaps also the prevalence |
| postures—such as the horse, bow, drop, | | | | in recent years of many Western "New |
| and dragon stances—connected by quick | | | | Age" oriented schools who are accused by |
| fluid transitions, able to quickly | | | | traditionalists of emphasizing |
| change the direction in which force is | | | | philosophy and speculation at the |
| issued. It is said that northern styles | | | | expense of hard work (see the next |
| put more focus on legwork, kicking and | | | | paragraph), many people believe internal |
| acrobatics. Some say this is because the | | | | styles lack "external" physical |
| northern Chinese were generally taller | | | | training. In the older schools, however, |
| than those living in southern China, and | | | | much time is spent on basic physical |
| that they made their styles take | | | | work, such as stance training (zhan |
| advantage of their greater range of | | | | zhuang), stretching and strengthening of |
| motion, especially in their legs. Others | | | | muscles, as well as on empty hand and |
| claim that the terrain of northern China | | | | weapon forms which can contain quite |
| is more suitable to kicking techniques, | | | | demanding coordination from posture to |
| or that the cold of the northern Chinese | | | | posture. Also, many internal styles have |
| winter caused any focus upon hand | | | | basic two-person training, such as |
| techniques to be physically damaging to | | | | pushing hands. Some forms in internal |
| the practitioner's hands. Still other | | | | styles are performed slowly, though some |
| experts, hold that northern styles | | | | also include sudden outbursts of |
| originally emphasized high kicks as an | | | | explosive movements, such as those the |
| expedient against the Mongoloian | | | | Chen style of Taijiquan is famous for |
| occupation forces who often fought from | | | | teaching earlier than some other styles |
| horseback and could be easily unseated | | | | (e.g. Yang and Wu). The reason for the |
| because they used "very short stirrups" | | | | generally slow pace is to improve |
| (Peers and Sque, 45). An example of a | | | | coordination and balance by increasing |
| northern style is the modern Chángquán | | | | the work load, and to require the |
| that is the most popular style in the | | | | student to pay minute attention to their |
| forms division in most contemporary | | | | whole body and its weight as they |
| Chinese martial arts competitions held | | | | perform a technique. At an advanced |
| around the world today. There are many | | | | level, and in actual fighting, internal |
| northern styles; some of them are | | | | styles are performed quickly, but the |
| Northern Praying Mantis, Chuojiao, | | | | goal is to learn to involve the entire |
| Bajiquan, Taijiquan, Baguazhang, | | | | body in every motion, to stay relaxed, |
| Bayingquan, Eagle Claw, and Chaquán. | | | | with deep, controlled breathing, and to |
| Most Korean martial arts are analogous | | | | coordinate the motions of the body and |
| to Northern Chinese Style martial arts. | | | | the breathing accurately according to |
| Southern styles | | | | the dictates of the forms while |
| Southern Chinese martial arts are | | | | maintaining perfect balance. Internal |
| typified by the styles that belong to | | | | styles have been associated in legend |
| the related Fujian (Fujian White Crane, | | | | and in much popular fiction with the |
| Five Ancestors, Wing Chun) and Hakka | | | | Taoist monasteries of Wudangshan in |
| (Southern Praying Mantis, Dragon) | | | | central China. |
| families of martial arts. As Leung Ting, | | | | Today, only a few traditional schools |
| the head of the WingTsun branch of Wing | | | | teaching internal styles train |
| Chun, put it, the common features of the | | | | martially, even though such training was |
| Fujian and Hakka martial arts are "that | | | | originally a part of all internal |
| during fights, pugilists of these | | | | styles. Most schools teach forms that |
| systems prefer short steps and close | | | | are practiced for the health benefits |
| fighting, with their arms placed close | | | | only, as this is what most modern |
| to the chest, their elbows lowered and | | | | students are looking for and as these |
| kept close to the flanks to offer it | | | | students seldom have the time or |
| protection" (Leung, 1978, p. 30). | | | | devotion to reach far enough in their |
| Even though Cantonese styles such as | | | | training to start focusing on the |
| Choy Lee Fut and the Wong Fei-Hung | | | | martial aspects. To condition oneself |
| lineage of Hung Kuen are classified as | | | | well enough to become adept at the |
| Southern and feature a | | | | internal style martial arts is a |
| characteristically Southern emphasis on | | | | long-term proposition; many simply lose |
| the arms, their stances and routines, | | | | interest after a few years and never |
| like those of Northern Chinese styles, | | | | finish the program. Most have no hope as |
| are respectively wider and more | | | | their teachers know little. Many people |
| complicated than those of Fujian and | | | | who have not fully learned the martial |
| Hakka styles. High, narrow, pigeon-toed | | | | aspects of their style judge themselves |
| stances are more prominent in "old" or | | | | qualified to teach what they do know |
| "village" styles of Hung Kuen but also | | | | publicly anyway, leading to a further |
| appear in its Iron Wire Fist empty-hand | | | | diminution of the martial applications |
| routine. | | | | taught in many schools. Some of such |
| There are sayings that because of their | | | | instructors supplement what they are |
| shorter height, the southern Chinese | | | | teaching with elements from other |
| developed styles that were direct and | | | | schools, internal and external, and |
| powerful. Similarly, it is speculated | | | | their training becomes further removed |
| that the dense urban population of the | | | | from the original art. While this |
| south and its humid climate made | | | | gradual watering-down of technique has |
| focusing on close-quarter hand | | | | made some external aspects of internal |
| techniques more practical there than the | | | | styles available for a wider audience |
| north's focus on jumping and kicking. A | | | | who are interested in the purported |
| generalized Nanquan (Southern Fist) | | | | health benefits of the internal schools, |
| style has become a popular class in | | | | traditional schools see a complete |
| modern Chinese martial arts | | | | martial syllabus as a fundamental, |
| competitions. It is similar to | | | | defining part of their art, both for |
| Chángquán but includes more rapid | | | | health and self-defense purposes. They |
| punches and blocks, and fewer jumps. | | | | claim that while the students may not |
| The most popular Southern style is Wing | | | | need to practice external applications |
| Chun. Also known as Ving Tsun or Wing | | | | to derive a benefit from the training, |
| Tsun, it is characterized by short range | | | | their teachers should know the |
| power, centerline strategy and sticking | | | | applications well, to ensure that the |
| and deflecting techniques. Its most | | | | movements are trained correctly, |
| famous student is Bruce Lee, whose | | | | effectively and safely. For these |
| teacher was Yip Man. Other Southern | | | | reasons traditionalists feel that a |
| styles include Hung Gar and Choy Lee | | | | school not teaching martial aspects |
| Fut. | | | | somewhere in their syllabus cannot be |
| Internal and External | | | | said to be actually teaching the art |
| The distinction between external and | | | | itself, that they have "graduated |
| internal martial arts comes from Huang | | | | themselves", and that they are much less |
| Zongxi's 1669 Epitaph for Wang | | | | likely to be able to reproduce the |
| Zhengnan.[1] Stanley Henning proposes | | | | health benefits that have made complete |
| that the Epitaph's identification of the | | | | internal systems famous in the first |
| internal martial arts with the Taoism | | | | place. |
| indigenous to China and its | | | | |