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Q: How would you define Chinese internal and external martial arts? What’s the difference? What’s the difference on self-defence skills?
A: This is a complicated question. As both being martial arts, they have the same meaning, but they came from two different cultures and religions, Taoism and Buddhism, so they have quite different ways to present themselves. We say, external practice strengthens your body and internal practice energizes your qi (“energy”). The former focus on body fitness and resisting force by forceful movements, preventing attacks by using aggressive attacks. The latter focus on internal qi and resisting force by soft movements, preventing attacks by avoiding them agilely or being submissive. The most significant difference is that nejiaquan (internal martial arts) has a complete theory and philosophy to guide your practice and mind which waijiaquan doesn’t.

Q: What is the difference in focus on qi and li (strength)?
A: In practice, usually we will focus on qi more if you are a internal style practitioner and on li more if you practice external styles.
No matter external or internal styles, they burst li from qi. The difference is that external styles focuses on li and internal styles pursues the combination of qi, jin (power) and li, which theoretically combines xin (heart, mind), yi (intention), qi, jin, li. This is a complete jin or li.

Q: If you practice either internal or external style, will the result be the same if you practice for the same amount of time?
A: I don’t think you will get the same outcome. First, they have different structure of movements. You might not get skilled in Taiji after 3-year practice but I am sure you can do Shaolin Quan fairly well after one year. Second, they have different life span. You can practice internal martial arts in your entire life but you might eventually give up external martial arts while you are old and don’t have enough energy.