Qi Gong training and exercises in the External styles is done using strongly tensed muscular movements combined with forced breathing. Because of the type of development, conditioning and strengthening involved with external styles, a person has limitations due to advanced or advancing age. A person cannot train as hard, as much, or as long when becoming an older adult, than in more youthful years. Training must be adjusted, altered, or reduced to accommodate the practitioner who is advancing or has advanced beyond more youthful years. Practice and training in the external styles leads to a well conditioned, strong and powerful body.
Power is manifest and applied differently with external styles than with internal styles.
External styles use speed, muscular physical strength, body positioning and breathing to deliver devastating and lethal power and energy to the point of contact or impact, when defending against or attacking an opponent. This kind of power and energy results in light to heavy bruising, broken bones, or damage to some internal organs, blood vessels or arteries. It must also be pointed out that many years of dedicated, continued and persistent training and practice is necessary in order to get to a level of mastery in the external styles. Both styles also rely on good flexibility, quickness and speed. The devastating and lethal power, energy and effectiveness of internal styles are hidden in their graceful, serene and deceptive movements.