Internal

[windwalker099107]

George Xu, outlines the differences between “external “ & “ internal”
movement .

more on the contact point, using “the internal power of “nian”

 

[Kung Fu Wang107]

In that video, George Xu demonstrated

- "摀(Wu) - Face covering",
- "捅(Tong) - Striking push (0 distance punch)".

Both are basic Chinese wrestling principles. The difference between "internal" and external is not black and white.

 

[Xue Sheng100]

George Xu, outlines the differences between “external “ & “ internal”
movement .

more on the contact point, using “the internal power of “nian”

mostly from core. Biceps, Triceps, shoulder muscles not so much. They are used, have to be, but power comes from core.

Like the strike in the first video, a verticle wave and not horizontal twist. And second video striking with slide step, reminicant to Xingyiquan and also Wing Chun.

Interesting thing about the palm strike on the tree while palm on the tree. Way back when I trained a bit of the police version of Sanda we did palm strikes on trees (and walls) for training, but we were striking from 1 or 2 niches away. However the concept and the internal aspect were the same. However my teacher went out o hi way to distance anything I was leaning from internal martial arts. I was a Xingyiquan and Taijiquan back ten and he knew it. I never discussed it with him, but he absolutely did not want to associate any of it with internal

 

[windwalker099107]

Most of the teachers I’ve met never framed things as “internal vs external.” What they talked about was the understanding and use of force — how it’s generated, and how it’s applied according to method.

As Mr. Xu pointed out, the goal wasn’t to use force in the usual way, yet still produce a result. This is reflected in phrases like
不用力 (bù yòng lì — not using brute force) and
用意不用力 (yòng yì bù yòng lì — using intent rather than force).

Can be confusing…the result is real, just not produced in the way they expect.

With those I work with. I remind them when practice with others that even if they don’t feel anything, it’s still there. If their timing is off, if they move at the wrong moment, or commit in a certain way, they’ll run into it — often before they realize what happened.

This also makes working with others difficult. Most people don’t understand how much force they’re actually using, so they end up dealing with the reactions they themselves create. This means, I have to adjust so I don’t get hurt, while at the same time preventing them from hurting themselves .

Mr. Xu introduces some interesting ideas for testing…which may help answer questions people have when trying to understand the differences between methods. It’s worth noting that neither he nor others are saying one is better — only pointing out the differences, and what each approach allows or limits.

 

[Same Trick52]

In that video, George Xu demonstrated

- "摀(Wu) - Face covering",
- "捅(Tong) - Striking push (0 distance punch)".

Both are basic Chinese wrestling principles. The difference between "internal" and external is not black and white.

Why do wrestling need face covering?

 

[Kung Fu Wang107]

Why do wrestling need face covering?

Your opponent's neck is a weak joint.

Wrestling is hands skill plus leg skill. It's hard to hide your hand skill. It's easier to hide your leg skill. If your opponent can't see what your leg is doing, it will be toward your advantage.

The "托(Tuo) – Chin pushing" can cause the same effect.

Also the "抹(Mo) – Eyebrow wiping" as well.

 

[HighKick]

Your opponent's neck is a weak joint.

Wrestling is hands skill plus leg skill. It's hard to hide your hand skill. It's easier to hide your leg skill. If your opponent can't see what your leg is doing, it will be toward your advantage.

The "托(Tuo) – Chin pushing" can cause the same effect.

View attachment 34024
Also the "抹(Mo) – Eyebrow wiping" as well.

I cannot say why television wrestlers cover their (other than possible shanoof what they are doing).
I agree the neck is vulnerable and can be exploited. As the saying goes, “the body follows the head “.
My neck has been fractured twice, once from blunt force in football the second from more of a side, twisting motion from a head-on collision, so I am extremely vulnerable and conscious of any neck twist or torque.
Roman-Greco wrestling has cleaned it up quite a lot but in my high school/college wrestling days you could trap the head and do just about any kind of twist or torque. One of my go to’s was to catch the head in an over lock when they tried to shoot the leg, drop down to a knee, generate some power and pop back up. As soon as I felt them pulling away I would roll under completing a throw, intending to land with them on their back and me riding perpendicular.
Good times.

 

[JowGaWolf]

Why do wrestling need face covering?

Wresting seeking control of the head

Muay thai seeking head control

Ask a Muay Thai practitioner to spar with you so you can practice using your technique against their clinch and they will be your best friend forever lol. You'll get a sore neck but good training for your techniques.

This person is a Chinese Wrestling practitioner, and he would always remind his partner of that during sparring. He would never say a thing, but his actions spoke loudly.

My personal thoughts is that something become easier to understand and learn during sparring. The best thing is that it doesn't have to be Hard Sparring and it provides a really good experimental learning opportunity. It's best when both you and your opponent are sparring to learn and work your techniques, and not trying to win.

 

[windwalker099107]

George Xu showing what’s called “bear arm” not a technique — a body method (身法, Shēnfǎ).

The arm isn’t acting on its own. It’s simply there… but what you’re interacting with is the body behind it.

• External → the arm does something
• Internal → the arm expresses something

“Bear arm” describes an arm that is:

• connected (连, Lián)
• released (松, Sōng)
• carried by the center (中, Zhōng)

Why most internal demos focus on results, not the specific techniques that caused them.

 

[windwalker099107]

Some confusion around demos dependent on the lens one
is looking through.

Where is the action coming from?

If the result is assembled from technique:

• you decide what to do
• you apply it step by step
• the body follows the technique

If the result is produced by the body:

• the body is already connected and organized
• the response happens as a whole
• the technique isn’t chosen… it shows up

On the surface they can look similar.

one is constructed
the other is expressed

one is easier to make work, the other is easier to misunderstand,
harder to develop.