There is a theory that the external group, including Shaolin Kung Fu, features the integrity and strong way of fighting, and the internal group, including Taiqiquan, features the seemingly-sluggish movement holding power inside the body along with breathing, but they were classified in recent years and in fact both groups have a combination of those features.
外家拳は少林拳を代表とする、剛直に激しく戦う拳法、内家拳は太極拳を代表とする、威力を内面に秘めて呼吸と調和させる、一見緩慢としか見えない拳法とする説もあるが、この分類は近年に出来たもので、実際にはどの拳法も両面を兼ね備えていると言える。