The Sources and Applications of Internal Power

by Andrew Townsend

The topic of internal power is the source of considerable confusion and controversy within the modern taijiquan community. This book is an attempt to demystify internal power, or nei jin , and to present a systematic and progressive method for developing and employing internal power that is based upon a modern understanding of body mechanics and internal dynamics. Much of this confusion arises out of the misunderstanding of the concept of internal power. However, additional controversy regarding the subject of internal power is due to the differing types of internal power that are favored by various family styles of taijiquan and even by individual representatives within a particular family style of taijiquan .

The methodology employed in this book is progressive in nature and is intended to build systematically from so-called “low level” skills to increasingly more advanced skills. As explained in the introduction to the book, this process is a multi-year endeavor. For this reason, readers who only peruse the first few chapters of the book are likely to misconstrue the explanations and training exercises presented therein as constituting a low-level of understanding and skill development. The author therefore requests that only those individuals who are willing to accept that this book is intended to serve as a multi-year training guide should purchase this book and otherwise should refrain from criticizing the methodology presented until having spent a year or more in exploring its contents.

In order to address the broad and complex topic of internal power, this book identifies and explains five different sources of internal power. Briefly stated, these Within the pages of this book, you will encounter a rational explanation for each of these five sources of internal power and learn how each of these five sources of internal power are generated within the body. Despite the statement of one viewer. you will also, be presented with multiple applications of each of these five sources of internal power and encounter numerous proven training exercised designed to develop of each of these types of internal power.

The scientifically-based explanations of the five sources of internal power that are presented in this book are the result of the author’s own decades-long investigation into the mechanisms by which these different types of internal power are generated. The author has adhered to the so-called Sagan standard for scientific investigation (i.e., “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.”) in his attempt to demystify and provide clarity of understanding with regard to each of these five sources of internal power.

In developing this material, the author has drawn upon both the classical literature of taijiquan as well as the results of modern scientific research in the fields of biomechanics, human physiology, and bioelectricity. The martial applications and training methods that accompany these explanations are based upon the knowledge derived from the author’s teachers in combination with author’s own practical experience in pushing hands and sparring.

Kindle Edition

Published June 5, 2022

About the author

Andrew Townsend is a retired college professor and a certified instructor in the arts of taijiquan, qigong, and Taoist meditation. He has over 28years of experience in these arts. He is a disciple of Grandmaster Jesse Tsao and is a 13th generation lineage holder in the Chen family style of taijiquan. Andrew has authored four books on the subject of taijiquan and is presently working on his fifth book on this topic. He has also produced a book on Taoism and the practice of mindfulness, which can be viewed as well on his author's page.