Philosophy of the Chinese Internal Martial Arts

The Philosophy of the Chinese Internal Martial Arts (Nei Chia) is to quietly focus the intention and will on the task at hand rather than the mere exertion of physical force to perform the movements and the movements, are performed in a fluid and relaxed manner. The person involved in the boxing actions is more concerned with smooth flowing movements and with his place in the natural scheme of life than with egotistical and self-centered thoughts of victory or defeat. The greater the skill that is attained, the more profound the understanding of the need to avoid conflict, as engaging in struggles adversely affect the smooth transition of moment to moment. What is sought after most, and indeed the greatest prize, is a calm mind which is unaffected by the demands and stresses that usually befall the common person during everyday life.

Due to the powerful emphasis on the focusing of quiet thought and total concentration on task, the Internal Martial Arts are often referred to by its practitioners as "Meditation In Motion". In his translation of the I-Ching, Richard Wilhelm states that the book's basic idea is continuous change and transformation, and the Internal Boxing which has naturalistic Taoist principles associated with it, likewise focuses on the smooth and uninterrupted transition of one action to the other. What is most important is to maintain the meditative state throughout the practice in order to obtain the greatest benefits.

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Last modified May 2013