Mike Brewer

How do you know the difference between an "internal strike" and a well-coordinated one, though? I mean, I once trained sporadically with a Tai Chi guy in Marquette Michigan (I did maybe four lessons, and he didn't speak English, so the explanation end of the lessons was sparse to non-existance). He was truly, truly astonishing in his ability, and roughly the same size as Dan Inosanto. He popped me a few times to give me an idea as to how he wanted me to move, and he hit god awful hard for his size. It had that "inside" feel I hear people talk about. However, I've also been hit by Dan Inosanto. It hurt worse. He palmed me in the chest once while talking, and I think he got into me a little harder than he meant to, but it went "BAWHOOM" inside my chest and made my heart skip. He wasn't trying to damage me or anything, but it was the most casual, easy power I've ever seen. I'm pretty sure he wasn't doing anything "internal" specifically, but the effect was very much the same as I hear you guys talking about. I guess that's what leads me to ask the question.

The type of impact in the above two instances was nearly identical, even if the severity wasn't. The Tai Chi instructor obviously wasn't trying to hurt me, so I can understand the fact that he didn't lay into me. But if there's one thing I AM an expert in, it's getting hit. And the sensation of those two was tremendously similar. The type of impact, the sensation, and the way it hurt (if that makes any sense) were so close as to be impossible for me to verbalize any real differences. That's a big part of why I have such a hard time distinguishing from "internal" and just plain old "incredibly well timed and coordinated."