Neijia - Sun Lutang

Sun Lutang

Sun Lutang identified the following as the criteria that distinguish an internal martial art:

1. An emphasis on the use of the mind to coordinate the leverage of the relaxed body as opposed to the use of strength.
2. The internal development, circulation, and expression of qì, the "vital energy" of classical Chinese philosophy.
3. The application of Taoist dǎoyǐn, qigong, and nèigōng (內功) principles of external movement.

Sun Lutang's eponymous style of t'ai chi ch'uan fuses principles from all three arts he named as neijia. Similarities applying classical principles between taiji, xingyi, and baquazhang include: Loosening (song) the soft tissue, opening shoulder and hip gates or gua, cultivating qi or intrinsic energy, issuing various jin or compounded energies. Taijiquan is characterized by an ever present peng jin or expanding energy. Xingyiquan is characterized by its solely forward moving pressing ji jin energy. Baguazhang is characterized by its “dragon body” circular movements. Some Chinese martial arts other than the ones Sun named also teach what are termed internal practices, despite being generally classified as external (e.g. Wing Chun). Some non-Chinese martial arts also claim to be internal. e.g. Aikido, I Liq Chuan, and Kito Ryu. Many martial artists, especially outside of China, disregard the distinction entirely. Some neijia schools refer to their arts as "soft style" martial arts.