The Significance of “Internal” Training to Sport.

“Internal” Systems as developed in the Far East such as Qigong, Tai Chi etc. are still little understood in Western/Modern Culture. In the West we a brought up with the knowledge that we can develop the mind (study, read, school, college, university etc) we also are aware that we can develop our body (aerobics, weight training, running, and all types of sporting activities) but no where in our culture will we find any information on developing our energy system, in fact energy is either taken for granted, or totally ignored. The possibility of reaching our full potential, while disregarding the way in which energy operates in the human body, is zero.

China, India, Tibet, Japan and many other traditions have an understanding of energy flow, which despite cultural and language differences, agree completely on the effects and properties of the flow, direction, of energy in the channels, points, and centres, whether in the Medical, Health, Healing or Martial Arts context.

The Chinese Olympic Team, The Chinese State Circus, The Chinese Opera have always had a rigours programme of Qigong Training. The highest levels of Martial Arts go from external (physical) to (internal) Chi/Ki, energy development.

At the present moment it is virtually impossible to find any sports trainer with knowledge of “INTERNAL” methods, which means, that a whole avenue of the human potential is never utilized. Our mentality seems to believe that the physically stronger we get the better, there is nothing inherently wrong with this view, except that we do not take into consideration the effects of the stress and strain on our internal organs, hence the great amount of illness and injury suffered by sportsmen and women. One has only to watch television to appreciate the time lost by well-known sporting personalities.

So what is the difference between “INTERNAL” and “EXTERNAL” training methods? “EXTERNAL” focuses mainly on cardio vascular, stamina, and strength development. “INTERNAL” focuses on timing, balance, coordination, energy flow, natural (not forced) movement, and the strengthening of the internal organs: spleen, liver, stomach, heart etc. the reason for this is because in Oriental Medicine the internal organs are connected and influence the “External” body. For example the Liver and Gall Bladder influence the bodies tendons and central nervous system. The Heart and Small Intestine influence the Blood and Blood Flow. The Stomach and Spleen influence the Muscles. The Lungs and Colon (Large Intestine) influence the Skin, and The Bladder and Kidneys influence the Bones.

SO IF YOUR INTERNAL ORGANS ARE WEAK, THEN YOUR PHYSICAL BODY IS MORE PRONE TO INJURY.

Recently one contemporary Tai Chi Master stated that Europeans are physically very strong, but they are rotting on the inside (in other words weak internally)

Gaining the extra dimension of physical prowess can be achieved only through the correct understanding of how potentially powerful the body can become, if the mind, body, breath, focus, intent (YI, in Chinese) energy and movement can be brought into harmony, so that any movement is “TOTALLY COMPLETE” Animals have never lost this inherent power, but human beings by too much logical thought, have disassociated themselves from their original animal abilities, thereby weakening their potential physical prowess.

Training in “INTERNAL” methods does not require meditating in a cave for twenty years or studying martial arts with some great Oriental Master, it only requires a NEW way of “SEEING” and a NEW way of understanding how to bring about inherent potential, this is not about learning something new, but developing what we have always ignored. Using Rugby as an example, imagine for a moment that a scrum could ALWAYS be controlled (never pushed back), or the a player with the ball could “bounce” off an attacking opponent, or that a player going for the line could not be stopped. All the scenarios are possible, they are not just theory, they work.

Finally, in years to come, I believe that training methods will change dramatically the “go for the burn” and “the macho training methods” will slowly be replaced by more natural, balance (and potential) more powerful approaches and systems.

Anthony Court

Tony is one of the very few instructors in the country that has studied the integration of “INTERNAL” health, healing and martial art systems to enhance sports practice.