Fu Pow:
“External” and “internal”–waijia and neijia–are very broad and ambiguous categories. People have tended to group whole arts within one or the other of those categories. I think that it is more accurate to characterize a particular drill or approach to a form as external or internal, rather than an entire art.
For example, Shaolin arts (whether Nan or Bei in origin)are often described as “waijia” or external, when in fact Shaolin arts will include “internal” practices such as qigong at their higher levels. In fact some, such as wing chun, introduce internal elements to their practice from the very start (sil lim tao when correctly practiced)–a feature that is often used to distinguish the “big three” neijia arts of taijiquan, baguazhang and xingyiquan from the so-called “waijia”.
Feng Zhiqiang was first exposed to the internal aspects of martial arts by Hu Yaozhen, a master of xingyiquan (which he called xinyiquan)as well as traditional Chinese medicine. Hu is sometimes called the “father” of modern Chinese qigong. He invited Feng to attack him vigorously, easily handling the attacks and thereby convincing Feng to become his student. Hu bluntly told Feng that the individual “external” PRACTICES he had been engaging in (sand training to harden his palms, for example) would ruin his health. Hu did not condemn Feng’s previous training in, for example, tongbeiquan in its entirety, however. Feng today still incorporates movements from that art into his chansijin and hunyuan qigong. Rather, Hu condemned the “external” approach to certain practices.
Probably reflecting Hu’s influence, Feng also condemns the overly harsh mindset that can accompany such “external” practices. He goes so far as to call it a “mental illness.” I think Feng is concerned here with the overall balance of his system of taijiquan, which he frankly states is as concerned with nurturing health and good character as with martial application. Wude and good health in old age (Feng is 75) matter very much to him. But don’t think his art doesn’t work. He and his students do teach principles of application, illustrated by specific technique.
I don’t practice Choy Lay Fut so I don’t know what specific conflicts taijiquan practice might present with it. Generally, though, it takes a lot of diligent practice to learn the principles and attain deep gong fu in any martial art, and taijiquan may require more practice than most to really understand it and develop skill. I know I don’t have the time and energy to engage in more than one art at a time. If you’re really interested in taijiquan, you may want to put CLF on hold for a few months to give taijiquan some in-depth study. Work with your teacher on an individual basis if he has the time/inclination and you can afford it. This will at least give you some idea of what taijiquan involves, and whether you’re suited to its practice. You seem to have quite a bit of experience with CLF, so some time off probably wouldn’t hurt your individual practice–although you should consider your relationship with your CLF teacher and whether it would be harmed.
I’d be surprised if CLF itself doesn’t have some kind of internal training. It’s a fairly complete system, from what I’ve seen, and would be as concerned with the strength and health and well-being of its practitioners as much as any other Nanquan art.
Good luck.
