Yang focuses on strength and striking. Ying focused on the internal, energy, sensitivity and control. I train at a mixed martial arts school which is a blend of striking techniques from kenpo, muy thai, krav mega, and kickboxing which are all hard or yang martial arts.
So what are the internals? What the yin side like? About a year ago, I chatted in a store with a guy who seemed to know a lot about martial arts. He told me that he trained extensively in the internal techniques. I drove over there on Saturday to see if I could find him and learn what he meant by the internal techniques.
Jimmy remembered me and started answering and explaining. The internal martial arts started in North China and consist of Tai Chi, Pa kua chang, and Shingi. (Also Wu Hao).
We did a basic software exercises of touching or pushing hands. Basically, we each try to touch the other person using only our right hand. We're close and we're each feeling and blocking the other's hand while trying to touch the other person. As a total novice, I do it by watching but he, with long experience, does it with feeling. He feels where I'm going and where I'm open. He explained that the great masters could avoid combat by simply playing this game. The greater master's dominance would be felt and the lesser would cede to him. He pointed out that this fighting in a higher plane appears in the Jet Li movies of today where the great masters, when they start combat, move to higher plane for the fight.
He told me that I want to learn more:
- Google Chinese Boxing International CBII
- contact James Cravens in Pompano who gives private and group lessons in this area.
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