| Chinese martial arts are broadly split into two | | | | behind an opponent to strike while they are |
| categories: external martial arts and internal | | | | confused. Once again, bagua pays close attention |
| martial arts. In reality, it is sometimes difficult to | | | | to qigong, and being relaxed in body and mind |
| categorise any particular system as internal or | | | | during confrontation, and so maintains its status |
| external as it is likely to contain aspects of both. | | | | as an internal martial art. In the movie "The One" |
| For example, many of the Shaolin animal styles | | | | Jet Li - as the hero - also demonstrates bagua |
| manifest themselves as outwardly external, very | | | | forms and applications. |
| powerful styles, but the training within those | | | | Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) - Supreme Pole Boxing |
| systems incorporates meditative practices called | | | | Tai chi is the internal martial art that most people |
| qigong. Qigong is used for cultivating the mind and | | | | instantly recognise, although they do not |
| "qi" of the practitioner and is normally a practice | | | | immediately think of it as a martial art. Many of |
| associated with the internal arts. Similarly, the | | | | the training forms are performed very slowly, |
| internal martial art called xingyiquan looks like an | | | | although there are also some advanced routines |
| external art but does not use muscular force in | | | | which are performed explosively fast. In tai chi, |
| the same sense that the external art would. | | | | the fighting applications are hidden somewhat |
| There are several Chinese internal martial arts, | | | | within the slowness of the forms, but when used |
| but the three most well-known are xingyiquan, | | | | in real self-defense situations, the techniques issue |
| baguazhang and taijiquan. | | | | their force like a whip; soft, but powerful and |
| Xingyiquan (Hsing-I Chuan) - Shape Intention | | | | penetrating. Everything within tai chi is aimed at |
| Boxing | | | | developing power, and at using that power in |
| Xingyiquan, usually referred to simply as "xingyi" is | | | | combat situations without losing balance. To gain a |
| a very powerful martial art, devised as a | | | | thorough understanding of the principles of tai chi |
| battlefield fighting system. The training consists of | | | | for fighting takes many years. The route to that |
| three main parts: qigong, using the "Three Body | | | | understanding provides other benefits, such as |
| Posture"; the Five Elemental Fists techniques; and | | | | better general health, which is why many people |
| the animal forms, where techniques are taught | | | | who have no interest in the martial aspects of |
| that mimic the actions of various animals. It is | | | | the art still wish to learn it. |
| sometimes said of xingyi that it is easy to learn, | | | | Why Study Internal Martial Arts? |
| but hard to master. The techniques look external | | | | The three main internal styles of kung fu |
| to the untrained observer, but the xingyi | | | | described above, and the other rarer styles such |
| practitioner's body is totally soft and relaxed | | | | as yiquan and liuhe bafa, are suitable for all age |
| during fighting, except at the moments when | | | | groups, and are beneficial for health and well-being. |
| landing punches, when the energy is released in an | | | | They tend not to rely on brute force and physical |
| explosive manner. Xingyi is a very direct, almost | | | | strength, but rather to absorb or redirect an |
| linear style, ideal for close range fighting. To see | | | | opponents energy. An internal stylist will use the |
| an example of xingyi, watch Jet Li in the movie | | | | attacker's force against him, rather than meeting |
| "The One" - the villain does xingyi. | | | | it head on. Although the forms practised in these |
| Baguazhang (Pa Kua Chang) - Eight Diagram Palm | | | | styles look beautiful when performed correctly, |
| Bagua is a very different style, and can appear | | | | they are not designed to be flamboyant, as each |
| baffling to an observer when watching an expert | | | | technique has a specific purpose, and uses the |
| demonstrating one of its forms (kata). It is a | | | | minimum effort to get the desired result in, for |
| style designed for defending against multiple | | | | example, a self-defense situation. |
| opponents and can be effective at all ranges. It | | | | Many masters in these arts are able to continue |
| emphasises firm, rapid footwork, and the | | | | practising well into their eighties, and often they |
| majority of the techniques are circular. It is | | | | will attribute their longevity itself to the fact they |
| common to see a bagua practitioner move in and | | | | spent years doing their tai chi or bagua or xingyi. |
| out of a group of opponents, swooping down low | | | | That is the best part about internal martial arts; |
| to uproot and throw, or quickly take up a position | | | | you are never too old to start learning them. |