This paper proposes a new adaptive fuzzy nonlinear control strategy that allows designers to systematically construct fuzzy control. The control strategy proposes the use of fuzzy logic systems within a well understood control structure that is called nonlinear internal model control (NIMC) structure. The attractive feature of the NIMC structure is that the relations between some designed parameters and the performance of the control system can be found explicitly. Thus, this control structure allows designers to systematically construct fuzzy control. In addition to using fuzzy logic systems within a well understood control structure, an adaptive control strategy is also proposed in this paper. The control strategy is applied to control the inverted pendulum model. The results show that the proposed strategy can maintain the system stability and give a good control performance.