"Internal" martial art or external martial art, which training can help you to live longer?

[Kung Fu Wang]

3 "internal" MA masters:

1. Li Jingglin (1885-1931) 46 - Taiji
2. Yang Chengfu (1883-1936) 53 - Taiji
3. Cheng Man-Ching (1902 - 1975) 73 - Taiji

3 external MA masters:

1. Han Ching-Tang (1903-1976) 74 - long fist
2. Chang Tung Sheng (1908-1986) 78 - Chinese wrestling (Shuai Chiao)
3. Li Mao-Ching (1927-2024) 97 - long fist

From the above record, which MA training can help you to live longer? "Internal" or external?

Your thought?

 

[Xue Sheng]

3 "internal" MA masters:

1. Li Jingglin (1885-1931) 46 - Taiji
2. Yang Chengfu (1883-1936) 53 - Taiji
3. Cheng Man-Ching (1902 - 1975) 73 - Taiji

3 external MA masters:

1. Han Ching-Tang (1903-1976) 74 - long fist
2. Chang Tung Sheng (1908-1986) 78 - Chinese wrestling (Shuai Chiao)
3. Li Mao-Ching (1927-2024) 97 - long fist

Frome the above record, which MA can help you to live longer? "Internal" or external?

Your thought?

cherry picking names is not a comparison to make any judgement at all, other than you might be jaded

I could use

3 Internal
Li Luoneng (Chinese: 李洛能) (1807–1888) Xingyiquan 81
Fu Zhongwen (1903–1994) Yang taijiquan 91
Gao Yisheng 高義盛 (1866 - 1951) Baguazhang 84 or 85

3 External
Ip Man (1883 - 1972) Wing Chun 79
Li Shuwen (1864 - 1934) Bajiquan 70
Dang Fong 鄧芳 (1877 or 1879–12/20/1955) Hung Ga 79?

Or for internal
I could have picked Yang Chengfu 1883 - 1936 Taijiquan 53

and for external
Lam Cho (27 February 1910 – 29 March 2012) hung ga 102

There are also a xingyiquan guy and a couple bagua guys who got to 100

Basically, without a rather extensive study you cannot come to any conclusion at all..

I did a thing a while back comparing a whole lot of Taijiquan, Xingyiquan and Baguazhang masters and form that it looks like xingyiquan practioners on average get to an older that baguazhang guys and baguazhang guys live longer, on average, than taijiquan guys. However the oldest was a Bagua guy.

And even with all the names I researched I stikk did not consider any of that conclusive

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

baguazhang guys live longer, on average, than taijiquan guys. However the oldest was a Bagua guy.

- Bagua guy's circular walking,
- Long fist guy's 行步 Xing Bu,
- Shuai Chiao guy's 走矮步 low stance walking

The more that you can spend time in footwork (walking), the longer that you can live.

A lot of footwork is showing in this long fist form.

This video shows how important the fast forward footwork can do.

 

[Xue Sheng]

- Bagua guy's circular walking,
- Long fist guy's 行步 Xing Bu,
- Shuai Chiao guy's 走矮步 low stance walking

The more that you can spend time in footwork (walking), the longer that you can live.

A lot of footwork is showing in this long fist form.

This video shows how important the fast forward footwork can do.

and what does any of that do with your original question and justify your picks for comparison

Hung ga guys hit stuff hard...one made it to 102 ,yet another only got to 79...so what's your point

I suppose I could have added Cheng Tinghua, bagua, who died at 51 or 52, as an example....but then he was shot during the boxer rebellion.

Basically, my point is your test groups are meaningless and likely picked to support your prejudice against IMA tyles