| se martial arts are divided into two types: the | | | | power, and thus their movements are mostly |
| external and the internal. | | | | soft. Any abrupt tension in the body’s |
| Definition of Internal Martial Arts | | | | muscles can disrupt the flow of Chi and thus |
| External martial arts are the most common. They | | | | renders the practitioner unable to utilize any form |
| are found not just in China, but all over the world. | | | | of power. |
| They are called the hard styles, because the | | | | Examples of Internal Martial Arts and Parts of |
| power they manifest is as hard as rock or steel. | | | | Their History |
| They utilize pure muscular power in their | | | | The creation of Taijquan is credited to the monk |
| techniques and movements, and require great | | | | Zhang, San-Feng hundreds of years ago. |
| stamina and endurance to use or perform. | | | | However, it is said that there are several other |
| Internal martial arts on the other hand are the | | | | martial artists who have come up with the |
| soft styles. This is because their movements are | | | | fundamentals of Taijiquan but records are |
| unusually soft but are as equally powerful as the | | | | obscure. Zhang received most of the credit |
| external styles. Examples of these arts are | | | | because there has been more records attributed |
| Taijiquan (Grand Ultimate Fist), Xingyiquan (Form | | | | to him. |
| and Mind Fist) and Bagua Zhang (Eight Trigram | | | | Like Taijiquan, Xingyiquan’s actual creator |
| fist). | | | | is unknown but since he published the Ten Theses |
| Taijiquan is a very famous example. Most people | | | | of the art, the general Yue Fei is the |
| usually dismiss this art as simply a slow and | | | | acknowledged creator of Xingyi. Among the three |
| relaxing form of exercise because of its gentle | | | | (including Bagua Zhang), Xingyi is often mistaken |
| and elegant movements. Indeed, Taijiquan is seen | | | | for an external martial art because of its hard |
| as powerless, and most people don’t | | | | appearance, but the power of Xingyi is similar to |
| know the true reasons behind its movements. | | | | rattan. When the movements are initiated the |
| Taijiquan is actually a deadly martial art created | | | | body remains soft but suddenly tenses at the |
| hundreds of years ago in China. | | | | time of contact. |
| Taijiquan, as well as the other internal martial arts, | | | | Bagua Zhang is created by Dong Hai-Chuan. Its |
| utilize the use of Qi/Chi to manifest power. This | | | | power is similar to Taijiquan, but Bagua utilizes |
| Chi is defined by the Chinese as the energy that | | | | circle walking in its training forms. Its philosophy |
| circulates in all of human beings and in the | | | | places an emphasis on circular movements, |
| universe. Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, a practitioner of | | | | including defensive and offensive applications. |
| Yang style Taijiquan, proposes that Chi is | | | | There is a sort of elegance in the appearance of |
| synonymous with bioelectricity and has made valid | | | | internal martial arts. They require a high state of |
| theoretical proposals regarding the matter in his | | | | nothingness of the mind in order to attain the |
| books. | | | | calmness needed to truly manifest their power. |
| In order to make Chi flow correctly in order to | | | | Yet behind their beautiful movements and |
| manifested as Jing (internal power), the body | | | | postures lie a deadly power that holds almost no |
| needs to be soft and the mind calm. That is why | | | | rival in fighting. |
| internal martial arts do not rely on muscular | | | | |