Customer Reviews

Chin Na in Ground Fighting: Principles, Theory and Submission Holds for All Martial Styles

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Author Al Arsenault offers a complete view of chin-na (gripping/grappling) techiques for the ground, from initial standing position to the ground application. The level of this book is basic to advanced--a person with little experience (you'll likely need some grappling experience to understand any book on ground or throwing arts) can hone their understanding through practicing and studing the explanations in the narrative. Advanced concepts are also demonstrated and explained in an organized manner.

The format in this book endears itself to study, with photos and diagrams clear and easy to comprehend. Arsenault goes beyond simply showing a technique which might be difficult to apply without an experienced instructor by explaining through detailed narrative precisely how one must manouver and position oneself. We also learn WHY the techniques and positioning are done as they are done, how they work, and how to get the most out of a technique. This practical and sensible approach can be appreciated by grapplers and strikers alike.

The square construction of this thick book makes it less likely to flop shut when you spread it on the mat to experiment with the techniques shown within. All in all, a straightforward offering which can offer new ideas and applications regardless of one's style of practice.

This is a very comprehensive, detailed, and well-written book on chin na with an emphasis on ground fighting. I teach karate and chin na myself, and I like to integrate the two arts for my students just as sensei Arsenault and Faulise do in their training and work because of its practical usefulness in control situations, where karate, TKD, kung-fu, or a percussion art might be inappropriate.

There are separate chapters covering nerve centers and pressure points, how to attack the pressure points, chin na theory and technique, as well as separate chapters on hand and armlocks; neck, head, and shoulder locks; and ankle and leglocks.

One of the book's major strengths is the chapter on the theory of leverage and mechanical advantage as applied to holds and locks. The authors use diagrams and illustrations to show how chin na locks can be analyzed according to the different types of mechanical levers and fulcrums. This was interesting and useful since, once you understand a few basic principles (which aren't that difficult, really), any chin na lock can be analyzed and understood with reference to it's particular category of mechanical lever.

Another thing I liked about the book is the authors' discussion of safety in practicing choke holds and of the dangers of applying them in self-defense situations. For example, after applying a sleeper hold and rendering the attacker unconscious, sometimes the heart fails to start back up after 30 seconds, and artificial resucitation must be administered--unless it's your attention to kill the attacker. This is because of a carotid baroreceptor and heart pacemaker effect known as carotid-sinus syndrome. It's very rare but it does happen. The authors also discuss a number of other medical and physiological effects of sleeper and choke holds and how to deal with them, which every martial artist who practices them should know about.

The book concludes with a chapter on sequence of techniques which shows how techniques might progress and flow in a real situation, starting in a standing position and ending up on the ground. There are also two extensive appendices totalling 40 pages (in smaller print than was used in the text) on martial arts terms and medical terminology.

My only complaint about the book is that the photos look a little light and faded. I don't know if this occurred during the shooting or printing, but it's not that big a problem. Overall, this is one of the best books on chin na I've ever seen and its application to ground fighting. A lot of work went into preparing and writing this volume, and it shows. This book will be a valuable resource for any chin na practitioner who wants a better grasp of the underlying principles and techniques of this important and useful martial art.

I've been studying Karate for about six years now, but my dojo practices very little ground fighting. I was looking for a book that explained the basics of grappling in a way that would be helpful to an (otherwise) advanced martial artist.

This book fits that bill... it explains how and why to perform many techniques that are, undoubtedly, basic to anyone who studies Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or Chin Na or any ground fighting style. While I can't comment on how helpful it would be to a beginner in any of those styles, it is a very useful aid to someone like myself, who already knows how to fight on their feet and is looking to adapt their skills to the ground.

Chin Na in Ground Fighting is helpful because it goes beyond a simple collection of techniques (which are always hard to learn from books anyway), and explains the simple mechanics behind common locks and holds. Since reading this book, I find myself finally being able to visualize various submission holds in advance, and am doing better on the ground now. Again - probably not that impressive to a student of a ground fighting style, but to student of a mostly stand-up-and-strike style, it is extremely valuable.

The illustrations are as easy to follow as any (which is to say, not easy at all unless you read carefully).

The focus is on learning the basics from many angles, from pressure points and anatomy to joint movements and mechanics of motion and resistance.

Overall, I've found myself referencing quite a bit over the past weeks during my training, and it has helped quite a bit.

This book is 5 stars any way you look at it. I was a little put off at first when I picked this book up as many were, expecting something along the lines of the other Chin Na books out there.

When I got to the analysis of the mechanics of joint locks I was pretty well hooked and upon further review decided I wanted this one for my collection.

Instead of including big glossy pictures of a few choice techniques, this book really breaks the techniques down to explore the concepts of what makes the technique work and why you would choose to use a specific technique.

While there's no doubt they pull the basis for some of these techniques from Jujitsu, BJJ, Judo, and other sources, they present each technique from its merits as a self-defense technique. The techniques are evaluated along the lines of an experienced practitioner of seizing and control techniques such as traditional Jujitsu, Chin Na, or law enforcement oriented methods. I think it's fair to call this a Chin Na book when you look at the basic definition of Chin Na.

The decision by the authors to include a comprehensive glossary of medical and martial arts terms is not only extremely helpful in understanding the techniques in the book, it really sets the standard in comparison to other books I've read. It also drives home the point that the authors are extremely knowledgeable and have painstakingly organized and documented their techniques.

If you enjoy breaking down martial arts scientifically this will appeal to you. I've been reading this book at lunch for several weeks now and this is the kind of book that is really full of insights that I like to go back to periodically and rediscover along the lines of the Ed Parker Infinite Insights series. If you don't already own a book that contains in-depth explanations of vital body targets, pressure points, body weapons, and anatomy this book is a good value for these things as well. This combined with the comprehensive glossaries and the mechanical analysis of joint manipulation is more than worth the asking price in my opinion.

Complaints: very few. The techniques in the book are not overly complex (a good thing) in my opinion so I don't need a bunch of highly detailed full color pictures. There was also not a huge amount of material detailing positions, positional theory and fighting on top vs. on the bottom but there are plenty of Brazilian Jujitsu manuals on the market to do that. If anything I would like to see a series from the authors more thoroughly covering their particular approach to fighting which seems to be somewhere between Chin Na, "traditional" Jujitsu, BJJ, and Mixed Martial Arts.

I encourage you to check this book out if you are one of these: a) an experienced stand up martial artist with an interest in ground fighting techniques, b) an experienced ground fighter looking to improve your techniques or incorporate more self defense applications, c) someone looking for a good general reference to the ins and outs of ground fighting techniques. If you are a complete beginner trying to learn self-defense techniques from a book this is probably not the one to start with.

"Chin Na In Ground Fighting: Principles, Theory and Submission Holds for All Martial Styles" by Al Arsenault and Joe Faulise is a very comprehensive and thorough look at the Chinese art of controlling and seizing, Chin Na, aimed at ground fighting. It is a very good text for any martial artist wanting to learn and improve in this area of martial art. With plenty of photographs, and detailed analysis of the principles behind the techniques, this is much more than just a picture book of a few techniques, and one that complements the other joint locking and Chin Na resources that are available.

The three hundred and fifty page book is well organized. Part one, general concepts is divided into chapters focusing on general history and principles, science of technique, pressure points of the fourteen meridians, body tools and vulnerable points. Part two continues with joint locks and has chapters on controlling the arm, controlling the leg, controlling the head/neck and body, and finally a short chapter on fighting sequences. There is also a good glossary of martial art terms and a glossary of medical terms.

While this book is applicable and useful for martial artists of any style, it is written about a Chinese discipline, and therefore, it contains the Chinese terminology and focuses on the Chinese concepts found in Chin Na. This includes pressure points and meridians found in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Many of the charts and diagrams found in the chapter that focuses on these are similar to those found in other TCM texts. I do feel the authors do a good job on this chapter, as well as the one on history and the science of technique in that they give enough for the purposes of this book, but not too much, or as in depth as you would find in a TCM text book. I also felt the body tool and vulnerable points chapter did a good job of describing the various areas of the body and and how to use them, or exploit them.

The joint locking chapters focus on locks on the ground. Obviously, if you are familiar with performing locks standing, from an art such as Hapkido or others, you will easily understand the principles behind the locks that the authors explain and demonstrate. Even if you are new to locks, the authors do a good job in making it easy to learn from this book. Of course, you will need to take the book to the gym with a training partner to try them out to actually learn all the techniques.

There are many black and white pictures that accompany the descriptions, and while they are clear, sometimes they are a bit small to see some of the detail I'd like to have shown, especially for beginners who are learning these for maybe the first time. Sometimes it is difficult to see just exactly what is being done in the pictures.

I also liked that after the chapters showing the locks and holds, there was a short chapter on fighting sequences. It is short, there are only fourteen different sequences, but the purpose is to get you thinking about how you would use the various techniques in situations, and I think it is enough to get the reader thinking and exploring with a training partner on ways to use what is taught in this book.

This really is a very good book to add to your martial art library. If you are wanting to learn how to incorporate Chinese Chin Na principles and techniques in ground fighting, this is a reference to have.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series.

Chin Na in Ground Fighting is a refreshing approach to self-defense when a battle goes to the sidewalk. It's refreshing in that it's not about "ground and pound," as it's called in mixed martial arts (MMA) circles, a rather unfortunate term that implies an adversary be taken down and, well, pounded.

Now, ground fighting is a hot topic in the martial arts, mostly as a result of early televised MMA bouts that exposed this glaring weakness in many fighting systems. In the last few years there has been a glut of books and DVDs on the topic, most of which are written or filmed by competitors or trainers in MMA. This is fine as long as the readers and viewers keep in mind that MMA is a sport. I'm not saying the techniques aren't applicable to real fighting, because most of them are. In fact, some are so effective that they will likely get the defender promptly thrown into jail. Yes, the defender.

When you take that attacker to the ground and, instead of restraining him, running off, or calling 9-1-1, you go down with him and begin to pound, you're likely to be charged with a crime. If it can be determined by the police and by the courts that you could have fled or you could have restrained the attacker, but instead you commenced to pound his head, a head supported by hard cement so that all the energy of your blows goes into his skull, you're going to the slammer.

Of course there are situations in which pounding is called for. But too many books and DVDs teach hitting as an automatic response, no matter what the situation.

Chin Na in Ground Fighting is written by two experts in the art. You're not going to see pounding and stomping but rather polished techniques that are effective and applicable to sport and the street.

The authors provide an intelligent look at why techniques work, why they hurt, why they control and why they restrain. There are lots of clear pictures for the reader who just wants to learn the steps and there is lots of explanation for those who want to know more about the intricacies of the techniques.

The book brings class, dignity and the art back to ground fighting. The authors are even dressed in traditional uniforms. They don't have spiked and dyed hair, they don't strut and brag, they don't snarl at the camera and they don't speak in incoherent sentences. Instead they teach you a ton of techniques using good photography, and well-written text.

And never once pound each other in the face.

Loren W. Christensen, author of Defensive Tactics: Modern Arrest and Control Techniques For Today's Police Warrior and a bunch of others.

I have been studying a highly effective and defense-oriented Okinawan art (Uechi-ryu) for the majority of my life. Like the traditional Chinese art it originated from, it's rooted in reality and includes grappling elements, yet lacks extensive groundfighting. At my dojo we have incorperated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into our study for use in sparring and to help familarize our students in ground-defense, and through this study (as well as a personal interest in MMA and ground fighting that goes beyond the dojo) I have found that many of the pressure-points and small-joint manipulation that is part of my stand-up repertoire can be applied to ground-fighting. This book was the perfect tool to further adapt the grappling skills of my original art to groundfighting past my cross-training in BJJ, which despite being a great art, is not without deficiencies (just like any martial art).

It's clear that the authors have put alot of effort into this tome, and their experience on the subject shines through. It's always reassuringto read something by a person who has extensive expeience appliying martial arts in realistic combat situations rather than in a training enviroment, and based on his status as a veteran street cop in Vancouver it's clear that Mr. Arsenault has had ample opportunity to develop his techniques. There's a wide variation of diffrent locks in here, from ones that you might find in a jiu-jitsu tournament to more Chin Na-oriented figher and wrist holds, and there's no shortage of pictures to accompany the text. Despite the wealth of technical information on the holds, the authors are careful to keep their instruction rooted in reality, as they point out that all it takes is a finger to the eye to gain the upper hand. This reguard for reality and "dirty fighting" is what makes this book more relevant to self-defense than some of the more sport-oriented grappling manuals out there.

In addition to the description of locks and holds, it also includes exellent sections on pressure points and utilizing every part of the body to strike on the ground. The pressure point chapter concentrates on establishing the basic concepts of the body meridians and serves as an introduction to the subject that the reader could choose to further pursue. I found the chapter on body weapons to be particuarly good, as it fit perfectly with my original disipline and gave me new techniques to teach to my fellow students.

Despite some minor criticisms (some of the fighting sequences were odd) this is an exellent introduction to realistic ground-fighting that anyone could benifit from, whether they study a stand-up art or a grappling one.

I am not usually a person that recommends Martial Arts books because it tends to be a very personal choice and very dependant on the person's background, his objectives in training, his lineage, and other contextual and subjective factors. But this book is definitely an exception to that rule mainly because it is so good in theory, application, and execution of the material (very unusual for a martial arts book). There have been few books that I have read on the martial arts that have proceeded along such an advanced caliber. The book is presented more along a systematic approach, concentrating more on principles and leaving (and encouraging)the applications (although there are loads of incisive, clear examples) to be worked out on the mat. This is something that I have found over the years to be extremely valuable and not so much the case since others in their dojos, articles and books tend to get too far caught up in the doling out of such-and-such moves and "secret techniques". The book's emphasis is also on the biomechanic principles of applications (for me, where the martial arts really begin and end). The photographs are large, clear, logical, and thorough with the accompanying text clearly labeling what is going on. If anything, this book is a real treat and will not really ever have the chance to gather dust in my ever-expanding library because I will continually be taking it off the shelf to refer to it! Kudos to Mr. Arsenault and Mr. Faulise for doing such an outstanding job and sharing such great knowledge with us readers. Others who are even contemplating such a tough venture like putting together an article or book should definitely take a look at this book just on that basis alone! I look forward to anything these guys might be doing in the future.

Written by extensively experienced martial artists Al Arsenault (a twenty-four year veteran of the Vancouver Policy Department) and Joe Faulise (a teacher of the Alaska Martial Arts Academy), Chin Na In Ground Fighting: Principles, Theory And Submission Holds For All Martial Styles is a straightforward instructional guide to the joint locks, pressure points, bone displacement techniques and more as especially suited to ground fighting. A "must-read" supplement for martial arts self-defense reference libraries containing techniques adaptable to all martial arts styles, Chin Na In Ground Fighting is authoritative, practical, detailed, step-by-step "user friendly", and very highly recommended.

This is a very impressive book -- well researched, profusely illustrated, and easy to understand. I was especially impressed with the amount of highly detailed information regarding attacks to the throat! Wow: page after page of everything you ever wanted to know about striking the carotid sinus or crushing the airway. From risk factors to Dim Mak points to technique variations to cutaway illustrations to a photo of the author holding a trachea (with larynx & hyoid bone attached).

If you are currently studying Brazilian Ju Jitsu, Chin Na, Pankration, Systema, Krav Maga, or even collegiate wrestling this wealth of data will be simple to comprehend and easy to work into your own style. Invaluable for law enforcement, corrections, security, doormen, and medical orderlies who need to restrain subjects without inflicting undue harm. This book primarily covers pain compliance holds, locks, and chokeouts -- and may well be the definitive work on the subject.

My only complaint is that the author assumes the reader will be able to pull off these techniques flawlessly and incapacitate his adversary without the need for gouging or biting. The topic of eye gouging is barely addressed at all ("move your head to avoid getting poked and use a 2 finger strike to attack St-1") and biting is not mentioned. Maiming techniques are glossed over as well. For a counterpoint which addresses those particular distasteful topics in detail, I recommend "Floorfighting" by Marc MacYoung.

All in all, a great lesson in submission holds, anatomy, and pressure points from a politically correct and morally defensible standpoint by a gifted and knowledgable instructor.