Nei Jia Quan is the representative martial art of the Wudang School. The unique feature of Wudang Quan is its emphasis on the cultivation of internal strength. It stresses such characteristics as actions guided by consciousness, posterior strategies, use of inaction to conquer action, use of softness to overcome toughness, use of relaxation to wear out the opponent’s labor, and the use of the opponent’s power against themselves. Its defensive strategy distinguished itself in stark contrast to those schools and sects of the external style that are based primarily on offense, with stress placed on the well-trained punches and kicks in their tough-oriented and straightforward strategy of preemptive moves and offensive measures (as in Shaolin Quan). It is henceforth called Nei Jia Quan.

By blending regimen cultivation into fighting techniques in direct contrast to the Buddhist Shaolin School, Wudang Quan makes itself drastically different so that Wudang Quan is called the “Nei Jia Quan” while Shaolin Quan is called the Wai Jia Quan (external style).

According to the recorded Epitaph for Wang Zhengnan by Huang Zongxi (1610-1695), a scholar in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, Nei Jia Quan was founded by the Wudang Taoist, Zhang Sanfeng. The book Nei Jia Quan Techniques also states that Zhang Sanfeng, who was skilled in the Shaolin Quan, modified Shaolin Quan and created the Nei Jia Quan.

Nei Jia Quan is the product of the combination of Shaolin Martial Arts and Nei Gong (internal techniques). It unites the “external training on muscle, bone and skin” with the “internal training of Jing (essence), Qi (inner energy) and Shen (soul, or mental power)”, and makes modifications on Shaolin Quan so as to create its internal style. With Taoist theory as its guidance, Nei Jia Quan integrates the knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, the study of the Book of Changes and the regimen of life force preservation, making fighting techniques and physical fitness into one.

Nei Jia Quan also has its own characteristics in its posterior strategies, with utilization of inaction against action, changeful fist fighting techniques and frequent use of the palm instead of the fist. This sets it apart from Shaolin Quan, which generally uses fist punches. Nei Jia Quan contains fewer jumping moves, low stances and is more focused on Qin Na (catching tactics).

Nei Jia Quan emphasizes Dian Xue Fa (acupoint-hitting method). When engaged in the fight with the opponent, the practitioner will intentionally pinpoint his attack onto some specific acupuncture points on the opponent’s body. These acupuncture points are known as Ma Xue (numbness points), Ya Xue (mute points), Yun Xue (unconsciousness points), and Si Xue (death points). Each of them has nine acupuncture points. Therefore, they are usually referred to as the thirty-six acu-points. When these points are forcefully hit by a finger, elbow, knee, foot and so on, the circulation of blood and Qi will be blocked so that temporary disorientation of physiological functions in the form of pain, limpness, unconsciousness and even death may be caused as a result. Nei Jia Quan masters usually have superb ac-upoint striking skills. Since acu-points involve the difference between points of life and points of death, a matter of life and death, the teaching of these techniques is not to be taken lightly. Moreover, due to its difficulty to be mastered, the techniques of acu-point attack have been transmitted via oral instruction by the martial artists since ancient times.

According to the descriptions in Book of Nei Jia Quan Techniques, Nei Jia Quan also includes 35 kinds of hand techniques, 18 kinds of footwork, and 72 take-down techniques along with the emphasized practice of internal cultivation and acupoint techniques.

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911), Nei Jia Quan began to circulate in the Wudang Mountains and east of Zhejiang Province. It later spread to Sichuan, Jiangsu and other places. Today, the Taoists in the Wudang Mountains still maintain the traditional practice of Nei Jia Quan.