How are “internal” martial arts different from “external” martial arts?
In general, internal martial arts place a higher degree on body alignments, breathing and a calm, centered mind than most external martial arts do. There is also an emphasis on the use of the mind to coordinate the leverage of the relaxed body, as opposed to the use of brute strength. And unlike systems which rely more exclusively on conditioning, internal arts can be effectively maintained and can actually improve, not deteriorate, as one continues to age.
