Neijia facts for kids

Neijia (pronounced "nay-jee-ah") is a special term used in Chinese martial arts. It means "internal family" and refers to fighting styles that focus on developing internal strength. This internal strength is called nèi jìng (pronounced "nay jing").

Unlike "external" martial arts (wài jiā) which focus on physical power and muscles, internal martial arts are more about your mind, spirit, and something called qi. Qi is often described as your life energy.

The idea of "internal" versus "external" martial arts started a long time ago, in the 1600s. But it became more popular because of a famous martial artist named Sun Lutang. He wrote about these ideas between 1915 and 1928.

To build nèi jìng, people practice nèigōng, which means "internal exercises." This is different from wài gōng, or "external exercises," which are more about building muscle.

Wudang Styles: Martial Arts from the Mountains

Sometimes, people mistakenly use "Neijia" as a general name for a specific group of styles called Wudangquan (pronounced "woo-dang-chwen"). These styles are named after the Wudang Mountains in Hubei Province, China.

The Wudang Mountains are famous for their Taoist monasteries. Many legends say that these martial arts styles were created there.

Some of the most well-known Wudangquan styles include:

• Tàijíquán (Tai Chi)
• Xíngyìquán
• Bāguàzhǎng
• Bājíquán
• The legendary Wudang Sword

Other Chinese martial arts are also considered "internal," even if they are not part of the Wudangquan group. These include styles like Liuhebafa, Bak Mei, Bok Foo Pai, and Yiquan.

See also

• Waijia
• Dantian
• Neidan
• Neo-Confucianism
• Taijitu