An Essay About Jin

[Steel Tiger]

I thought some one might find this interesting.

Using External Jin or Internal Jin

Jin (or jing), often translated as "internal force," is more accurately translated as "trained force." It is the most important training component in Chinese martial arts. Jin is not the natural kind of force used in ordinary circumstances by people untrained in the martial arts - say, in lifting a bucket or opening a door. Instead, jin describes the use of force developed through specialized training. There are many different jin in Neijia Quan. Some practitioners even believe that the core of internal martial arts skills is the practice and development of different jin. Basically all of the kinds of trained forcecan be separated into two groups. One is the external jin called "wai jin," and the other is the internal jin called "nei jin." Each is acquired through a distinctive method of training, and each has its own applications. When jin is applied, there are two phases. One is called "xu jin" - store energy. The process of xu jin prepares all of the related muscles to generate or accumulate power. The other phase is called "fa jin" - release force - which means all related muscles start to work to release the energy. The subject of jin - store and release - is actually quite complex since there are many possibilities in the manner in which force may be stored and then released according to particular situations that can arise in combat. Understanding this complexity is the substance of training jin. For the sake of simplicity, we refer only to "jin," with the understanding that "jin" always comprises both "store" and "release." In discussing jin, therefore, usually we refer to jin as simply meaning "to store and release energy in different ways."

External jin is conspicuous when released and is exemplified by a hard punch. Even though an external or wai jin punch is hard, it must also be relaxed and integrated so that it can be quick and powerful. These qualities typify all wai jin applications and make them highly effective for sudden, vigorous attacks. Their effectiveness, however, can be compromised for several reasons. First wai jin attacks are clearly telegraphed to the opponent. They are also of short duration and difficult to change once begun, and their release and restore phases occur separately rather than in combination.

Unlike external jin, internal jin is inconspicuous when released. Peng jin, the ward-off application of nei jin in Taiji Quan, provides a good example of this characteristic. Nei jin applications are typically concealed, long in duration and changeable even in mid-course. In nei jin attacks, the release and restore phases are combined. While these qualities make nei jin especially useful for control skills, they are not effective for intense attacks. Because wai jin and nei jin have different advantages and disadvantages, they should be used indifferent ways and for different purposes.

In Waijia, external jin is practices form the outset of training and remains the primary focus throughout. Internal jin is only an ancillary part of wai jin practice. In Neijia, internal jin is a primary focus from the beginning of training, and external jin is ancillary. Because wai jin is easier to understand and learn than nei jin, Waijia practitioners may master wai jin skills and still be unable to execute nei jin skills well. For Neijia practitioners, familiar with nei jin skills from the start of their practice, wai jin skills are relatively easy to understand and acquire.

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Combat Techniques of Taiji, Xingyi, and Bagua

Lu Shengli

 

[East Winds]

Thanks for that. Nice explanation. Certainly no dispute from me.

Very best wishes

 

[Xue Sheng]

Works for me

 

[Rabu]

inside out, outside in, sounds like what I understand.

Nice article.

Rob