“One thing that Chin Na also shows us very clearly is the yin-yang relationship within a martial art: the joining of abstract theory and concrete application…”
Chances are if you are a martial artist, you have heard the claim that all martial arts stem from China. While this broad claim has been disputed by some, what cannot really be disputed is the origin of joint locks and throws! Whether you have a background in Aikido, Hapkido, Jiu Jitsu, or Judo, Much of what you know traces back to Chin Na the Chinese art of locking!
Chin Na can also be viewed as a very primitive form of application and analysis which we know today as Bunkai or Boonhae depending on if you are a Japanese or Korean Stylist. Chin Na takes postures found in Tai Chi Chuan and turns those postures into joint manipulation techniques. Just like in other styles that involve locking, the same technique can be applied in many different situations. “Turning the Skypost” (Inverted Figure-4 Throw) can be executed from a grab, a punch, or even as a proactive attack on an aggressor.
One thing that Chin Na also shows us very clearly is the yin-yang relationship within a martial art: the joining of abstract theory and concrete application; and using an internal art for external purposes of detaining an attacker and inflicting pain!
Chances are, you have done a straight arm bar regardless of what style you train in, but you might not have called it “Old man promoted to General”. Possibly, you have done a rear shoulder throw, but you might not have called it “Old Man Carries the Fish”! Certainly these names are memorable, after all they are based on Tai Chi Postures. Some styles are notorious for just naming their techniques by number. If you struggle with that, you might want to consider giving a technique a nickname to help you remember it. You will surely remember “White Crain Nods its Head” more then “#1”!
So whether it be in philosophy or in the technique itself, I recommend that you trace your joint manipulation back to the most basic roots, Chin Na. Dr. Yang Jwing Ming offers a great insightful book on Chin Na, Comprehensive Applications of Shaolin Chin Na. It is very detailed and can be overwhelming, but I am certain that you will have at least one take away from reading through it.
REFERENCES
Yang, Jwing-ming. Comprehensive Applications of Shaolin Chin Na – the Practical Defense of Chinese Seizing Arts For All Styles. Ymaa Publication Center, 1995.
