Internal Strength

"Non-action is the real action. One hundred acts are not as good as one moment of stillness. One hundred movements are not as good as one moment of standing still. Big movement is not as good as small movement. Small movement is not as good as no movement."

-Wang Xiang Zhai

Internal strength is a term often used in classical Chinese martial arts. It is the result of training movements to a high level of refinement, where movements can become instinctual and automatic. Typically movements are practiced for 100 days, about three months, to fully integrate the biomechanics into the nervous and muscular systems or neuromuscular system. In terms of Chinese medicine, this is a form of cultivating qi, building up a certain type of energy within the mind-body.

Efficient martial movement is the same as efficient body movement for activities of daily living / living a good life. Tim Cartmell, a prominent teacher and practitioner of martial arts, offers his definition of a good foundation for martial arts and life in general: “…a good foundation is mind-body unity with an absence of poor habits of body use which allows one to fully utilize inherent strengths” (Miller & Cartmell, 1990 p. 58).

Developing internal strength in terms of Chinese medicine and martial arts can be done in multiple ways:

Nei Gong / Qi Gong - the cultivation of internal energy or qi - this concept is thought to have come from gongfu martial arts. Since the standardization of Chinese medicine in the 1950's many styles of qi gong have been developed for both health and healing as well as martial arts.

Xingyi, Bagua & Taiji - the three orthodox arts of internal boxing - using the internal strength developed through gongfu for fighting / self-defense

Acupuncture, Bodywork and Herbal Medicine - three different tools for restoring healthy function to the mind-body

1. Acupuncture uses very small steel filiform needles and is typically painless
2. Bodywork is the use of massage therapy techniques, assisted stretching and breath-work
3. Herbal Medicine is the art of combining different herbs to create a specific effect on a person's health; typically two or more herbs are used in a formula

“Internal refers to working with our inherent and inborn strengths under the guidance of the mind” (P. 60).

The mind directs the qi, the awareness and stored energy we possess at any given time, when the mind is relaxed the body can relax and efficient movement is possible.

Efficiency of movement both in terms of the internal organs and their physiological functioning as well as the quality of movement of the musculoskeletal system and nervous system / intention.

This is trained in a calm state through standing still / stance keeping

Ancient cultures viewed the body as a complex web of interconnected parts, the modern engineering equivalent would be a tensegrity structure - a piece of engineering that uses tensional integrity to maintain a stable structure

Activating and opening the meridians is like opening deep waterways within an irrigation system. The meridians are made up of connections of muscles, tendons, fascia and run along various lines for example, the edge of a bone. These pathways are mapped out on the body and cover both the external and internal structures, rehabilitating these pathways improves the overall health of a person both mentally and physically.

These lines or meridians create the tensional integrity of the human mind-body:

Waterways and drainage examples are used a lot in Chinese medicine as well as other analogies related to farming and agriculture. This system follows the natural cycles of the earth and seeks to harmonize the natural cycles of the human body with those of the earth and universe at large.

Sacred geometry has been used historically to represent the mathematical complexity of this type of theory or thinking.

The Eye of Torus is a toroidal circular vortex representing very complex mathematical ideas, the flower of life is another that resembles cellular division among other theoretical concepts that are seen in living things and the natural world.

Stance training assists in opening the meridians, calming the mind and generating qi in various areas of the body depending on the posture. Other movements and exercises are also necessary to keep the body flexible and light, this balances out the stillness of standing meditation.

Traditionally, entire sets were developed within various schools to provide a whole body workout / meditation for more dedicated students. Individual exercises or even better sets of two to three exercises can also be prescribed for specific injuries such as shoulder, hip or knee pain.

In many ways, the ancient medical knowledge is more practical and accessible to the general public through practices like nei gong, qi gong, taiji, xingyi and bagua as well as yoga and meditation. The medical knowledge and ancient science is embedded within the movement and meditative arts of the East.

Internal strength development is an English translation of a very ancient idea that is traditionally described through a poetic language. The easiest way to really understand it is through practice. Standing in Santi, holding various post postures, horse stance (like the Shaolin monks) or warrior pose in yoga are great places to start. Aiming for a few minutes and working your way up in small increments is a safe way to progress and you should never push through pain or discomfort. Move within your own limits and use it as a practice to develop good posture, breath awareness and for general health maintenance.

References

Xingyi Nei Gong: Health Maintenance and Internal Strength Development (Miller & Cartmell, 1990)