Chin Na
By Mark Wasson
Recently I had the pleasure of sitting in one of Sifu
Lam's Chin Na seminars. As with any instructor of Chinese
martial arts I have a basic knowledge of chin na techniques.
This includes how to deal with most types of grabs and
punches for the niques, or at least they should. This
is because every Chinese Kung Fu system has at least some,
if not many, chin na techniques placed somewhere within
the forms for their particular style. As is the case more
often than not, however, the chin na techniques are cleverly
hidden within the forms; a regular practice typical of
Chinese Kung Fu in general, which is a shame, because
these techniques typically contain the most advance aspect
of any given style.
For those readers not familiar with the tern chin na,
chin na today generally refers to the art of joint locks.
Chin na is not limited to just points locks, however.
Chin na also includes the skill of attacking; seizing
is a more accurate term, specific pressure points on the
body that will disable an opponent very rapidly, and quite
painfully. Seizing is generally done using a claw-hand
attack; the eagle claw hand and the tiger claw of Hung
Gar are good examples of this type of attacking hand.
The skill of chin na seizing has been somewhat lost today
because of the long hours and intense training required
to develop the tremendous strength in the fingers, hands
and forearms of the practitioner to actually perform seizing.
In seizing one not only attacks the pressure points of
his opponent, but also seizes the tendons and muscles,
generally n the wrist, arm, or shoulder of his enemy.
Sifu Lam related how in the old days a master trained
in chin na would simply, upon first initial contact, instantly
break the bones, or tear the muscles and tendons, in his
opponent's wrist or arm, ending the fight before it even
got started.
Without exaggeration, and having never been a student's
of Sifu Lam's, I can truthfully attest that Sifu Lam is
a master in the old sense, with tremendous skill and depth.
This fact was made quite evident during his chin na seminar.
Trained in iron palm has grip was and is like a steel
trap. It is not his physical strength that is so impressive,
however, but his depth of knowledge of chin na principles,
and kung fu in general, that makes chin na such and effective
style that really separates him from other instructors.
What made Sifu Lam's chin na seminar so interesting was
that he explained clearly the deeper principle involved
in chin na application; the why's and how-to's of the
art. Contrary to most opinions, chin na is a soft art,
relying more on skill and timing than on muscular strength,
through in seizing hand strength is critical. Much like
Tai Chi Chuan, in fact, chin na techniques should flow
from whatever is going on at the moment. "One cannot
try to make something happened," Sifu Lam explained.
"That would be forcing things. The opportunity for
application must be left to its own momentum to present
itself." If this sounds like tai chi principle, that's
because it is, at its highest level tai chi and chin na
are integral to one another. For those not aware of it,
no other martial art utilizes chin na technique more than
tai chi. The practice of push hands, in fact, can and
is used as a tool to help develop sensitivity in the chin
na practitioner so he can sense his opponent's direction
and energy. With a high degree of skill the tai chi/ chin
na practitioner can and will lead his opponent into a
disaster of his own making.
Skill in chin na does not come overnight, however. If
all it took was knowing the techniques, then any could
master the art. There are, after all, books that show
chin na techniques. What is really need for student to
fully understand chin na is to understand the principles
behind how and why chin na works. Also, hours of practice
with a partner on a daily basis to develop hand-on skill.
"If a student only understand the principles,"
Sifu Lam said "but has not put in the time to develop
the skill, then he has gained nothing. The same is true,"
he added, "if the student practices long hours without
proper guidance. In that case, he will think he has come
far, yet he will not even have begun the journey."
The importance of understanding chin na principles was
foremost during Sifu Lam's seminar. It was taken for granted
that the student attending the seminar had some background
in Chinese kung fu and that they were familiar with basic
joints locking techniques. In many ways the seminar was
directed at those of a more senior level, or even instructor
level; Sifu Lam is considered an instructor's instructor,
but those with little experience found what was being
offered very interesting too, if not a little challenging.
The main idea that Sifu Lam tried to get across to those
attending was that one movement, or attack, always leads
to another movement, or counter, and that there is no
end to the movement as long as one can flow with the energy
of the opponent.
"Chin Na is endless in its changes and is never
the same twice," Sifu Lam explained. "One must
understand the internal principle of being heavy and light.
It is the same as knowing with to be empty and full. Only
by understanding these principles, and having trained
and developed the skill, can one master chin na."
Sifu Lam went on to explain how chin na principle is always
circular in application. "Often more than one axis
is utilized in a chin na technique. One has to know the
precise angle that affords the greatest leverage. Some
techniques are used strictly to cause pain, while others
are for locking up the opponent. Many times chin na techniques
require multiple angles of attack. This requires a deep
knowledge. But just as important is the time it takes
to develop the skill to perform such advanced techniques.
In a real fight things happen very quickly. The chin na
practitioner must, in the first instant of attack, sense
his opponent's intent and then blend with it. Because
in fighting great forces are involved, the chin na practitioner
can instantly sense the direction of his opponent's energy,
and because of his training hi will instinctively know
the right instant and angle of attack to disable his foe."
