There are no exact definitions as to what internal and external martial arts actually are, but in essence, external schools are based on the virtues of muscular power and combat skills. Depending on the particular school, they emphasize speed, skill, kicking, striking and grappling. Internal martial arts by contrast, although they may include these elements, place more emphasis on mental, emotional and spiritual development.
It's more of an approach centered on inner power and is reflected in softer, more fluid movements. These movements are often graceful and beautiful to behold when executed by master practitioners. This grace and beauty can be deceptive however, since the inner power behind them gives them an impressive force. They are unquestionably formidable and can have as much combat utility as the more overtly aggressive external techniques.
Indeed, although the emphasis is on inner development, the internal schools certainly recognize the importance of strength and resilience. Attention is given to hard skills like combat techniques, weapons training, strength and endurance (although schools will vary in how much emphasis is given to these elements). The goal though, is to incorporate hard skills into an overall alignment of body, mind and spirit.
These hard skills combined with inner control can give internal practitioners a distinct advantage over their more aggressive external brethren. It's an inner poise that in large part comes from their development of qi. Qi, according to Chinese tradition, is the invisible life-force that animates all living things. It is the source of physical vitality and internal martial artists work to raise their qi and direct it around their bodies at will.
The overarching goal of qi development is to strengthen the body from the inside-out. This fosters physical health and a greater capacity to execute techniques with skill and poise. A healthy individual can hit better and harder, and also be better able to withstand an opponent's blows. Robust health also enables practitioners to maintain their abilities well into old age. Many masters of these arts remain a force to be reckoned with well into their 70's.
A key practice for qi development is breath control. Deep breathing combined with visualization is used to gather and direct qi. As part of this, students have to develop the ability to breathe from the lower abdomen. This takes practice since most people's breathing tends to be shallow and restricted to the upper chest. As students become adept at deep abdominal breathing, they become more sensitive to their qi and better able to direct it.
This sensitivity enables them to detect where qi may be blocked or where more or less may be needed. If imbalances are detected, they can be by alleviated by directing the qi appropriately. Deep breathing also enables practitioners to increase their oxygen intake. This helps boost the immediate energy needed for physical challenges, but it also supports overall health.
The health-boosting properties are one of the main reasons why so many health-conscious people in the US now practice techniques like Qigong. In trend-leading states like California, many people are reaping the benefits of the greater mental and physical poise that these techniques offer. Even short-term practice can yield subtle but very real results, longer-term practice transforms these results from pleasant to genuinely life-changing.
It's more of an approach centered on inner power and is reflected in softer, more fluid movements. These movements are often graceful and beautiful to behold when executed by master practitioners. This grace and beauty can be deceptive however, since the inner power behind them gives them an impressive force. They are unquestionably formidable and can have as much combat utility as the more overtly aggressive external techniques.
Indeed, although the emphasis is on inner development, the internal schools certainly recognize the importance of strength and resilience. Attention is given to hard skills like combat techniques, weapons training, strength and endurance (although schools will vary in how much emphasis is given to these elements). The goal though, is to incorporate hard skills into an overall alignment of body, mind and spirit.
These hard skills combined with inner control can give internal practitioners a distinct advantage over their more aggressive external brethren. It's an inner poise that in large part comes from their development of qi. Qi, according to Chinese tradition, is the invisible life-force that animates all living things. It is the source of physical vitality and internal martial artists work to raise their qi and direct it around their bodies at will.
The overarching goal of qi development is to strengthen the body from the inside-out. This fosters physical health and a greater capacity to execute techniques with skill and poise. A healthy individual can hit better and harder, and also be better able to withstand an opponent's blows. Robust health also enables practitioners to maintain their abilities well into old age. Many masters of these arts remain a force to be reckoned with well into their 70's.
A key practice for qi development is breath control. Deep breathing combined with visualization is used to gather and direct qi. As part of this, students have to develop the ability to breathe from the lower abdomen. This takes practice since most people's breathing tends to be shallow and restricted to the upper chest. As students become adept at deep abdominal breathing, they become more sensitive to their qi and better able to direct it.
This sensitivity enables them to detect where qi may be blocked or where more or less may be needed. If imbalances are detected, they can be by alleviated by directing the qi appropriately. Deep breathing also enables practitioners to increase their oxygen intake. This helps boost the immediate energy needed for physical challenges, but it also supports overall health.
The health-boosting properties are one of the main reasons why so many health-conscious people in the US now practice techniques like Qigong. In trend-leading states like California, many people are reaping the benefits of the greater mental and physical poise that these techniques offer. Even short-term practice can yield subtle but very real results, longer-term practice transforms these results from pleasant to genuinely life-changing.
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