An external martial artists focus on the application of the form to the world around them. In principle it is very much up to the practioner whether the martial art is, for them, internal or external - any martial art can be practiced in an internal manner and vice versa. So though martial arts like karate are typically practiced with an external emphasis, they can equally well be practiced as an internal martial art.

Many martial arts are initially taught in an external manner and as the student develops an understanding of the form, he develops a more internal style.

The Chinese martial arts are often divided in to the internal school and external school. Within the external school (Wai Chia) are the forms Shaolin, Hung Ch'uan, Tau T'ei Yu T'an T'ui, Hon Ch'uan, Erh Lang Men, Fan Ch'uan, Ch'a Ch'uan, Mi Tsung Yi and Pa Ch'uan.