QiGong
Internal and external work:
a composite organism
By Li Chengyin
No.9 MARTIAL ARTS OF CHINA MAGAZINE VOL 1
Down through the ages, martial artists in China lay stress on a combination of internal and external work, mental training in particular.
They hold that the training, nourishment and concentration of qi (vital energy) as well as the application of qi in combat are of great importance to martial devotees.
There are various methods of directing qi to a certain part of the body in Wushu training. Among other thing's the training of qi as internal work and strengthening of muscles, bones, and skin as external one, the flow of qi down to the dantian (elixir field) and summoning strength through the direction of qi are basic skills to be mastered by Wushu practitioners and command great attention in all schools of martial arts.
Of eight training methods in Changquan (long-range boxing), for example, jing (essence of life), shen (spirit), qi (vital energy), li (power), and gong (skill) refers to the training of the mind, awareness, respiration and innate strength, the application of qi included, while external work involves the use of the hands, the eyes, the trunk and the feet.
Another instance is Nanquan (southern-style boxing) which emphasises the training of the mind, spirit, qi and willpower in "internal work" and the exercise of the hands, the eyes, the trunk, the waist and the feat in "external work".
Those energy-consuming movements should be completed in co-ordination with exhalation and utterance.
Shaolin martial artists also pay attention to the training of the qi and a man who has just started Wushu practise should do standing exercises before he goes ahead with other exercises.
