Let's see where to start hmmmm
First the fluid loose punch with the snap at the end that was mentioned in the article by Mr. Cartmell and how most fighting arts aim for this type of strike. Most arts including Western Boxing attempt to use this type of strike and succeed to sum degree after training long enough. The main differences are that like most external arts boxing uses the power generated from one select muscle group or body section. This is known as sectional power. This also robs the strike of some of the power it could potentially produce. Boxing doctrine emphasis and solid base where the attacks are thrown from. This is a stationary root.
What's that KOTF stationary? But boxers also emphasis foot work too right?
Well that is correct but at the same time boxing like most external arts you have to "set down" or "plant" in order to generate power. Kind of like firing artillery if the cannon were moving when fired it wouldn't generate the same power or be as accurate as it does on a stable base.
I am in no way attempting to take away from or belittle Western Boxing only just attempting to point out the difference. Internal arts have a more "floating" root. Where as in boxing you use head bobs and weaving to avoids strikes, you also use foot work but while dodging and weaving or moving it's hard to throw a powerful strike.
In internal arts the whole body is connected so foot work is the major mode of avoiding strikes while at the same time you can use the power generated during the movement of avoidance to strike the opponent with tremendous force. Like in Bagua you step around your opponent aiming for the most advantages position which would be behind him, at the same time the circular stepping movement generates the power for your strike, so while stepping with the feet your arms are throwing whip like strikes into the opponent allowing for dodging his strike while wreaking havoc on him.
Since the strikes are generated with the whole body the waist is doing a constant twisting and releasing motion, much like the spring that Mr. Cartmell used as an example. If you wind up a yo yo on a string and hold it by the non yo yo end it will twirl one direction and once it binds to a certain point untwirl. The waist does a similar thing in internal arts causing one side of the body to be constantly chambered and one side constantly releases attacks in alternating sides. Think Chuck Berry but not as exaggerated. Most external arts rechamber at the shoulder like Karate's reverse punch or boxing's strait rights and lefts and even hooks.
Feel free to ask question I may have left some things out even after 7 years I still feel I'm a beginner at this.
Also someone asked me to go in depth about the comment I made
Quote:
Originally Posted by kingoftheforest
Finally, does it take a long time lots of work and effort to learn an internal art? Hell yes! It takes all these things to learn anything new. That's why Shoalin has external arts. When the shit hit the fan they didn't have 18 years to train monks in internal arts when there was a war going on so they taught them external ones to speed up the process.
So you say "What do I do if it takes so long?". My answer is do you live in a war zone? Are you constantly being attacked? Is some one trying to burn down your home on a 24/7 basis? If you answered no to these then you have time to learn an internal art.
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The question was asked can you train an internal and external art at the same time for the "in case" situation. First and foremost understand that if you are in an altercation in the street you should have the mindset that this IS combat. To be defeated in combat has always been akin to death. You should always go all out if you fear you are being threatened with harm when someone attacks you PHYSICALLY. Verbal abuse is not something to be dealt with using physical violence.
I personally feel that it is possible to train both at one time as long as you keep it balanced and attempt to apply as much of the doctrine from the internal art to the external one. A lot of external arts flow from the internal ones.
Now my next comment has been met with criticism pretty much always so before I begin. Sports have their place in the world and they are great for entertainment and staying healthy. I have loads of respect for the people who practice sport oriented martial arts however sports oriented martial arts cannot be practiced with combat martial arts. These are two greatly differing mindset and they just don't mesh.
You can make real fur coats for a living and be an animal rights activist it just doesn't work.
With that said if you do practice an external art along side an internal one make sure the mindset is the same. If you are going to practice Bagua don't make your external art Boxing or BJJ. The rules that apply and the doctrine and strategies as well don't mesh with those of Bagua it would be counter productive. Something like one of the animal styles or even Kali, while be a centerline oriented art, would still mesh better because the mindsets and doctrines are very similar and there is a better flow to these external arts. Also make sure your external art doesn't rely to heavily on large amounts of muscle. External arts work with muscle close to the bones if you pile huge muscles on top of this it will make you stiffer and the "whole body" connectivity will be harder to gain if not impossible.
Well I hope that covers most of it anything I missed please feel free to discuss I'm busy a lot but I get on here a few times a day.
KOTF.