| Internal martial arts, also known as 'soft' martial | | | | of the 'astral light' of the soul given by western |
| arts, or Nei Kung in Chinese are those which | | | | esoteric philosophers like Mesmer and Levi. |
| concentrate on cultivating and using the power of | | | | Internal martial arts are built upon the foundation |
| the internal energy called 'chi' rather than the | | | | of chi kung (or qi gong), which can trace its origins |
| conventional muscular power of so called external | | | | back to the early history of the Shaolin temple |
| or hard styles. | | | | and the teachings of the Boddhidharma. Chi Kung |
| The most widely known Nei Kung system in the | | | | is composed of a set of exercises designed to |
| west is Tai Chi, but other examples include Bagua | | | | teach you to cultivate and direct chi energy, and |
| Zhang, Xing Yi Quan, Dacheng Quan and Liuhe | | | | to use it to strengthen the body, improve health |
| Bafa Quan. In addition to this most styles of | | | | and increase vitality, heal illnesses, and ultimately |
| Chinese kung fu have some kind of internal | | | | to attain enlightenment. Chi kung is used to |
| element, even though they are primarily external. | | | | completely rebuild the body, and the most well |
| An example of a kung fu style with a particularly | | | | known traditional text is the Sinew Metamorphosis |
| strong internal aspect is Shaolin White Crane style | | | | and Bone Marrow Washing Classic. |
| kung fu. | | | | Internal martial arts combine chi kung with martial |
| Some people would tell you that all Chinese | | | | arts forms. Because of this internal martial arts |
| combat styles and schools are both internal and | | | | can be used for both self-defence and for |
| external. According to this view internal styles like | | | | improving health and vitality, healing diseases, and |
| Tai Chi begin with studying and cultivating chi and | | | | so on. Both chi kung and internal martial arts are |
| then move on to manifesting this as external | | | | approached as a dynamic, moving form of |
| muscular strength at the advanced levels, | | | | meditation. |
| whereas external kung fu systems like Wing Chun | | | | The main difference that a practitioner would |
| kung fu begin by learning the external physical | | | | notice between the forms and practices in an |
| forms and using them with external muscular | | | | internal martial arts class and those of an external |
| power, and then move on to learning about chi at | | | | system of fighting would be that internal martial |
| the advanced level. In the end they would both | | | | arts emphasise the need to keep the body |
| therefore attain a balance of internal and external. | | | | relaxed and 'soft' and to make the movements |
| The whole concept of chi can be difficult to | | | | flowing and harmonious. A relaxed body allows the |
| understand, but when you practice internal martial | | | | chi to flow through the limbs. Nei Kung schools |
| arts you gain an awareness of chi through | | | | also emphasise the control of the breathing, and |
| experiencing it, rather than through an intellectual | | | | the coordination of breath and movement so that |
| understanding. Basically chi is described as the vital | | | | the whole of thebody and its functions are |
| life force, somewhat like the Prana of Indian yoga. | | | | working in harmony and you are therefore able to |
| Some modern practitioners describe chi as being a | | | | draw on a greater amount of effortless power |
| magnetic phenomenon, similar to the descriptions | | | | for your techniques. |