An internal martial art focuses on the personal aspects of art form. These forms often involve meditation and emphasises spiritual aspects. T'ai Chi ch'uan is a good example of an internal art form though 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.

The Chinese martial arts are often divided in to the internal school and external school. Within the internal school (Nei Chia) are the forms Wu Tang P'ai, T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Pa Kua Ch'uan, Hsing I Ch'uan, Tzu Jan Men and Liu He Pa Fa.