It all ultimately depends on the specific school/instructor. Generally speaking though, the "hard" styles will be useful sooner than the "soft/internal" styles, assuming the student has no prior background. Soft/internal styles usually focus on body manipulation of the practitioner and the opponent/partner. Focus is on the more subtle aspects, absorbing, deflection, etc. Pretty much the same type of things you'll eventually learn w/ "hard" styles w/ a good teacher. Again, generally speaking, soft styles teach skills "backwards" compared to hard styles, and place greater emphasis on the more subtle aspects of moving, and moving w/ a partner.
IMO the internal techniques are much harder to acquire than the external techniques. Hence, the early focus on the "internal" techniques w/ soft styles. Additionally, a lot of "soft" styles don't teach self defense at all. A lot of schools will teach internal styles more for self improvement, discipline, and focus. Kind of a moving meditation.
Often a good combination is to learn an external style first, then learn the internal stuff. Conditioning is usually not a big factor w/ internal styles. However, conservation of energy, and efficiency of motion usually is, which can be significant in increasing the effectiveness of physical conditioning.
|