External and Internal Kung Fu

There are hundreds of forms and styles of Chinese Martial Arts. There are two major styles or “families”, one is wai jia外家 or external styles which mainly come out of the Shaolin heritage. The other is nei jia內家 or internal styles which are mainly Daoist. There are two major Shaolin temples and styles; the Northern Shaolin, and the Southern Shaolin, and within each of those there are other styles. (Wei Tuo Gong is from Southern Shaolin.)  Even though a style may be classified as an external form, many of the Shaolin schools have a strong emphasis on the internal qi practice, like the Wei Tuo Lineage.

The Shaolin have many different styles. Many resembling animals: Praying Mantis, Crane, Dragon, Eagle, Tiger, Snake, and Monkey to name only a few. There are also style who’s names are taken after people or family names like Hong Jia (Hung Gar in Catonese), Chou Li Fu (Choy Li Fut), Yong Chun (Wing Chun) [Yip Man and his student Bruce Lee before Jeet Kun Do].  And some from how it looks, such as Drunken Fist.

Nei jia have three major styles: Xing Yi Quan (there are different styles with the similar pronunciation but different characters), Tai Ji Quan  [the most known schools are Chen Style, Wu Dang, Yang Style, Wu Style (there are two different schools with different characters but similar pronunciation) and Sun Style], and Ba Gua Zhang. Ba Gua Zhang being the only martial art styles with the use of Palm (Zhang) rather than Fist (Quan).  In Ba Gua Zhang there is Ying Style, Li Style, etc…

Although many internal schools don’t see itself training as external, the physical (the body, i.e. external) conditioning is there, but the main emphasis is internal.  Some practice the internal styles without really practicing the internal and so it becomes a dance, something that internal masters cringe at. Also, many external schools do not even know that they are training the internal!  By focusing the energy, external schools are using the internal.  But many external forms know that the internal working is key.

It doesn’t matter which style a person practices, his or her abilities always lies within their training, dedication, discipline and a good master. (If we did not mention your style, it is because there are so many to list, no disrespect.)