Building large muscles, inhibits range of movement, over-emphasizes linear/tendon connections, is limited by bone structure, and will build the external at the price of the internal. A human, is a lot like a plant, the internal organs being like the root, and the limbs like the stem and leaves. A person is born, with only so much internal organs to support their life. When one develops more of the limbs, they are like a root bound plant, in a pot too small. Just look at the life span of weight lifters, or body builders. For the most part, it is the slender people that live to be over 80.

When one develops their large muscle groups, they use their tendons, much like a cable, which is linear. The way to develop maximum force, is to use the whole body, in FLOWING motion, much like a whip, or wave action. Muscle based bones, get in the way of this, as they do not bend, and inhibit the whipping action.

There are some Shaolin schools, such as Hung Gar, that are primarily external, and do rely on some training using weights. I however, studied Northern Shaolin, which is more internal, and does not use weights. Most of the best Kung Fu, Ba Gua and Tai Chi teachers, prohibit weight training. Although I understand most of the reasons for this, I do not limit myself, but do not concentrate on weight training.

I will do power lifting, to open my channels up, and then do the internal exercises, with increased flow of energies. I feel that it is good to be active, since this keeps everything flowing, and working together. This is different than focusing on weights, if one is sold on this, then why not just train with weights exclusively, and wrestle, so they can be an Ultimate Fighting gorilla. I know of no one at this time, who promotes a lot of weight training, that has taken any international fighting championships in China.

Talking about knife defenses, body builders and weight trainers; bleed like hoses, with even the smallest cut. Their energy flow is primarily blood based, ignoring the body's other channels/meridians.

The connective tissues such as ligaments, and the small muscles that keep one's joints in place, are much more important for the body to focus a wave, water-like and/or whip motion.

Heavy upper body development, will tend to make one top heavy, and overly Yang based. For martial striking strength, I would recommend strengthening the legs, not the arms; for the root and the ability to FOCUS THE WHOLE BODY.

My understanding of the standing exercises emphasis, is that they open up the channels, and develop the root, not endurance for the muscle groups. This is what gives one the ability to use internal strength.

I am not aware of any proponent of heavy weight training, that even knows what an Internal Punch is, let alone the ability to use one. For this, the muscles are not flexed on contact, although they are not limp either. Concentrating on large muscle development, will cause a rigidity in the muscles, that inhibits flow. Ba Gua, was invented as an internal art.

Try bending a hose with water running quickly through it. Explain that with myopic theories of large muscle machinations. There are those who would try to explain nuclear energy as chemical, rather than making the qualitative jump to atomic theory.

In the target are of the stomach/abdomen/intestines, an internal blow form a distance of 1 inch, will cause much more damage than a karate/boxing blow, at full distance. Explain that with mass/velocity theory. All martial power is not confined to breaking. Ever hear of hemorrhaging, or concussion?

To only understand force that is linear based, on the physics equations of Mass, Velocity, Inertia, and Velocity: is a very small part of martial power. Try explaining the Internal Iron Palm technique of breaking a brick in the middle of a stack of bricks, with external theories.

Non-Euclidean Geometry can explain where parallel lines meet, Euclidean cannot. In the same manner non-analytical meditative consciousness, is the manner of the internal.

Even within the world of western physics, many new theories are being further developed around wave theory and the power of orbiting circles(geo-magnetics and guidance systems).

The internal was discovered and developed through Taoism and Buddhism not physics. It would be wiser to adapt physics to the realities of the internal, rather than try to force the round circles of Chi and wave theory, into the square headed, self-centered logic, that is culturally arrogant.

Any moron can claim to be a Monday Night Quarterback expert, AFTER the weekend's football game has already been played.

For the muscle-heads out there;

• Where are the gears on a rocket?
• Where are the muscles in an explosion?
• Where is the mass in an explosion-jet?

Try looking at wave physics, which has been under development since the late 1960's.