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Wei Jia means external and Nei Jia means internal. The meaning of the two terms reflects the emphasis of philosophy by two different systems. Simply put, we can say Wei Jia focuses only on the development of external, while Nei Jia cultivates internal and then expresses it externally. "Externally" meaning physical movement of itself. Internal is made from two main ingredients: intention and Qi. From the dynamic nature of intention, Qi is born, which in turn transforms into physical expression. In other words, intention and Qi help lead and formulate physical movement. Because Nei Jia movement is lead by intention and Qi from start to end, the integration of intention, Qi and expression is a whole complete entity from start to end. There is no pause or break between intentions during the time of the whole movement. While in the external systems, if we examine them carefully in a microscopic sense, we can see the separation between intention of this movement with the next. The intention of Wei Jia is pure activated intention of the physical expression. The activated intention helps initiate the muscle contraction, and after completing its main purpose, it disappears.

The physical expression caused by activated intention now is on its own orbit. The muscle contraction is a natural build-up of subconscious muscle function. In that small elapsed time, our brain has neither awareness nor any control over that movement. In summary, while Wei Jia focuses on natural born sub-conscious muscle operation, Nei Jia is a keen awareness of conscious control movement from start to end with possible alteration.

We understand what Qi Gong exercise is: It is an exercise to cultivate our Qi. Wei Jia certainly has its Qi Gong routines. They are exercise routines with body regional focus and they are separate from fighting routines. On the contrary, Nei Jia is the combination of Qi Gong and fighting routines from beginning to the end. The fighting routine is designed in such a way that they will not contradict to Qi Gong practice principles. In a fighting situation, the body will naturally gravitate to the fighting aspect rather than Qi Gong. This is a sense in which the intention is now devoted to anticipate fighting. In more relaxed state of mind, the fighting form is turned into the Qi cultivation routine, with all the internal principles coming into play. The principles have both Qi Gong values and fighting application meanings. Keep in mind that at all times, the same movement serves two kinds of uses: wartime and peacetime. Any system in its wartime routines that cannot be used in peacetime to cultivate Qi, is not Nei Jia. They are then defined as Wei Jia. For example, a stretching posture in an external system does not provide the capability of Qi sinking to the dan-tian while at the same time maintaining intention connectivity.

Softness and hardness are just a result of any dimensional expression. External can be soft but it violates Qi Gong principles. Internal can be hard but by the result of intention and Qi that it formulates into. Softness and hardness cannot be the guiding rule to make the decision. The three major internal systems share major internal principles that help cultivate Qi. These principles should be the guideline to help categorize internal and external. Looking back in Chinese martial art history, we see the internal martial arts as just a brilliant idea of combining fighting applications and separate Qi Qong routines into one single system. Denying this is taking a step back in the advancement of the martial system, and undoing the efforts of its creators. Only with this clear cut understanding of what is Nei Jia and Wei Jia will help the Nei Jia practitioner go to the next level. This, in turn, preserves the true identity of Nei Jia for the future generations to come.

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