I have yet to figure out what "internal" really is, when referencing what people call IMA. Honestly, most people who study what is called internal can be whooped by little old ladies on their way to Sunday church.
Pardon the hyperbole but most IMA fellows lack the basic 'fighting skills' i.e. basic punching, kicking or running skills. Secondly, because they might be hurt by stuff like boxing, karate or TKD they, they imagine that what is named internal is superior to what is called 'external', not knowing they are the same coin, different side. This is my view and one view only but I do realize that there area few (the few) who are truly skillful in IMA and they regularly compete and share with other arts (external) as part of a learning continuium as opposed to a one stop ending place for their sacred art.
IMA (the totality of its raison d'etre) (the absolute art) is vastly different from the common IMA that all allegedly embrace so my first point is the common attribute that we are all aware of, and the 2nd paragraph is the IMA sky learning, that few reach but with diligence and a great teachers (we do need a new definition of what a real teacher does) we can all reach that goal of Higher Learning.
I take the Higher Learning Ladder (as I claim to understand) that if someone responds that IMA is superior to EMA, that person has no concept and is just doing forms just to do it and has no concept of utility or functionality of his art.
Just as a parrot repeats stuff, so do the forms champions who are excellent at their task and gymnastic skills.
adieu, mon fellows I bid thee good day for now!