Exploring the internal martial arts is not the same as practicing a mainstream/conventional/external martial art.
There are many different considerations:
| Conventional martial arts | Internal martial arts | |
| Obvious | Hidden | |
| Combat is the main concern | Health and combat equally important | |
| Straightforward | Significantly more detailed and sophisticated | |
| Favour military-style warm-up exercise | Strength is built using unconventional means | |
| Uses existing body habits | Body must be trained to move in a manner that is unfamiliar | |
| Mechanical | Organic, natural | |
| Jerky | Flowing | |
| Typically focuses on striking or grappling, seldom both | Striking and grappling trained together | |
| Blocking/resistant, force versus force | 4 ounces of pressure, stickiness, sensitivity | |
| Favours the younger, stronger student | Age is less of an obstacle | |
| Fighting/competition | Incapacitation is the aim | |
| Aggression/emotion | Composure | |
| Forcing | Allowing, leading, misdirecting | |
| Speed | Spontaneity and timing | |
| Isolated limb use | Whole-body movement | |
| Extended | Close-quarters | |
| Linear | Circular | |
| Planning | Listening, sensitivity, adaptation | |
| Struggling | Blending | |
| Being in your head thinking about what to do next | Being in the body and sensation-oriented | |
| Denying your vulnerability | Feeling your vulnerability | |
| Contracted, locked musculature | Loose, fluid and relaxed musculature | |
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