Martial arts are generally categorized into two classes:  hard (or external) styles, and soft (or internal) styles. These classifications have nothing to do with the effectiveness or power of a given art; don’t make the mistake of thinking that a “soft” style technique won’t hurt if it hits you! Rather, these terms refer to the methods of generation and manipulation of energy by the martial artist.

 Hard or external styles generate power using the fighter’s own body and deliver it into the opponent. Most karate styles are hard styles. In karate, dynamic tension of the muscles is used; the fighter begins the technique using his own power, tightens the muscles at the moment of impact, then withdraws the strike, passing their own energy generated by the strike into the opponent. The external stylists generate and release all the energy involved in the strike themselves.

This results in a force-against-force technique. For example, when the opponent’s fist is on its way towards your nose, you step in and perform a hard power block, striking your opponent’s arm. A power block is a “hard” technique.

 Soft or internal stylists, however, prefer to use the opponent’s energy instead of their own. Many kung fu styles are soft styles. In kung fu, relaxation and redirection are used. Internal stylists practice parrying, redirecting an opponent’s strike away from them rather than meeting it head-on with a hard block. Often this redirection of an attacker’s energy will upset their balance, and the internal stylist may then easily topple the opponent with very little effort. The soft stylist might generate very little energy at all themselves, but the energy their opponent is using is redirected back at them. The harder their opponent comes at a soft stylist, the harder the opponent falls.

This results in a force-against-emptiness technique. For example, when the opponent’s fist is on its way towards your nose, you step slightly out of the attack’s way, parrying the punch to your side. As the attacker’s momentum carries them past you, you grab the arm they just punched with and spin them in a circle, taking them off balance (and maybe into an arm lock or other hold). A parry is a “soft” technique.

 Now, an experienced martial artist will certainly know both some hard and soft techniques. (The manner of drinking is either hard or soft.) But the combat style that a student studies will use one of these general fighting philosophies as the basis for the majority of its techniques, and therefore a martial art can be classified as an internal or external style.