Customer Reviews

Practical Chin Na: A Detailed Analysis of the Art of Seizing and Locking

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book should be on the required reading list for all martial artists, regardless of style. In this fairly slender volume, Mr. Yun covers the majority of the biomechanical principles involved in the complex art of chin-na.

Like Sifu Park Bok Nam's excellent texts on Baguazhang, the idea is not to delineate technique but rather to expound on theory and principle - the fundamentals, so to speak, from which technique may be built.

For those of you who are looking for a library of chin-na techniques, this is not for you. This book teaches instead the basic principles behind chin-na. What may be derived from this book are not only chin-na techniques but also chin-na escapes and counters. Makes sense to me; if you really understand how something is done, then you also understand how it is undone.

This book is a wonderful read on its own, and it is an excellent companion to Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming's multiple compendiums on chin-na.

Finally we are seeing a number of well-written martial arts books which deal with the technical aspects of a technique instead of just attempting to demonstrate what a technique looks like (i.e., "this is a front kick..."). Author Zhao Da Yuan, a student of Ba Gua great Li Zi Ming commences with detailed descriptions of how the human body is constructed, and how we move. These are the keys to understanding how Chin Na and virtually every other grappling form works. For the first time in a martial arts book, we have set before us a concrete treatis (rather than the oh-so-popular abstract theory, which conveniently does not require proof!) on patterns of siezing, locking, twisting...and the throws (and possible damage) which result.

Zhao Da Yuan discusses Basic Knowledge, Basic Principles, Basic Requirements of posture, Chin Na mechanics, a catalog of Chin Na hand techniques, Mechanics II, Rang of motion of the arms with specific techniques shown, and range of motion with the lower limbs demonstrated with specific techniques. For anyone who is on the path to becoming an accomplished body mechanic and wants to advance their understanding of how to apply pressure point and joint locking techniques, this study guide is a must. One of the most interesting points mentioned by the guide is the fact that virtually all styles of Chinese arts include Chin Na as an advanced study--from specific regional styles to Ba Gua. Chin Na is what is behind so many of the "flowery" looking kung fu techniques which grace many of our forms.

Another superb volume similar to this one in structure and explanation is written by the man who translated this book, Tim Cartmell. His volume, "Effortless Combat Throws" is an excellent companion to this one, along With Yang Jwing-ming's "Analysis of Shaolin Chin Na". The key to these simple looking but difficult to execute techniques is knowing how to grab, how to move. No longer do we have to rely on mystical explanations--the knowledge is all here for us to learn should we dedicate ourselved to its thorough study.

The best book I've seen on chin na. It teaches you the principles behind chin na - physics, body mechanics, set ups, and practical training methods. You learn how the body moves and its limitations and how to apply proper leverage at the optimum angle and with the correct type of force. You come away with a foundation on which you can build technique and with the materials (50 basic techniques plus some additional ones) with which to begin construction. Unlike many martial arts books it does not throw a multitude of techniques at you and leave you struggling to understand how they work. Instead you will first learn to understand principles and then the operation of techniques will easily make sense because you understand the laws of physics and biomechanics that govern all joint locking techniques. Highest reccomendation for someone wanting to learn joint locking techniques.

How many martial arts styles teach you techniques without the principles? It is often the case that many styles leave the practitioner to understand the principles through techniques. This is a lengthy process and the conclusions the practitioner reaches are questionnable. This book teaches the principles primarily. It has a superb section on the anatomy and the physiological weaknesses inherent in the human body. It takes the reader through step by step, by principles, not techniques. It requires careful analysis and a great deal of thought from the reader, and thinking and developing oneself is the key to self-expression and understanding. The techniques shown are but examples based around principles, and as stated within the book have infinite combat applications and possibilities. Whether you are new to joint locking and seizing, or experienced, this book must be part of your martial library.

This is an outstanding book on a difficult subject to write a book on. Chin na is a form of grappling, which in my opinion is more difficult to present in text and pictures than a book on a punching and kicking art. But this book does an excellent job of of presenting chin na in that format.

There are so many aspects of the book that I liked, but I'll just mention a few here. I liked the way the book was organized and structured, which was very logical, which helps you learn better. Chin na is a difficult art to organize sometimes, since there are so many and varied techniques, but fortunately it does break down more or less logically by areas of the body. The author breaks it down further by which way the joint is being moved and manipulated, which is helpful too.

The chapter on applied anatomy is the only one I've seen in a chin na book so far, and although most readers will find this a little dry, it's just something a more advanced student should know, and will help you take your technique to the next level, because if you don't understand how the joints work, you're just going through the moves and don't really understand the technique. So buckle down and wade through it. It's good for you. :-) Plus if you understand the joint capabilities and restrictions you can create your own locks--a point too often overlooked.

The author gives the original Chinese names of the moves, such as "Pine Tree Bends Down," and "The White Robe Cuts the Ground." Unfortunately these picturesque names aren't as helpful as the modern names, such as upper elbow wrap, or reverse wrist twist, which make more sense, but that's just the way it is. Many names have been lost over the years, and I've never seen the names of many of the techniques myself that I've been doing for years, so I liked this especially since it filled an important gap in my own knowledge.

The drawings showing practical applications in the street are great too, and reminded me of those old self-defense books of the 30s and 40s with the funny line drawings, such as "Police Jujitsu," which is a classic, or the books of Westbrook and Ratti on aikido, or Don Hepler's "Self Defense Simplied in Pictures, now long out of print, not to mention the infamous Ketsugo book (whatever Ketsugo is) that I used to see advertised for a few bucks in the back of comic books in the 60s.

The author shows that chin na kicks and punches too and uses them for entries and distractions, if not actual attacks. Many people just think chin na grapples, which isn't true. Just rushing in to lock someone probably won't work if they're moderately skilled, and you have to "soften" them up first. In Shaolin chin na, you always strike before grappling because the opponent will resist and won't let you lock him otherwise. Also, chin na uses feints to acquire the grip and go into the lock. I teach this and it's sort of a lost part of the system these days, from what I've seen.

The section on 50 basic hand techniques is essential, and the author illustrates more techniques and their practical applications in the later sections. That brings the total number closer to one hundred, which is a lot of material for a book.

In the Shaolin monasteries, there were special sections for the different specialties and studies, and chin na had its own which was practiced only by highest level kung fu monks after they had learned the punching and kicking styles. So it truly is a special and in a sense elite art.

If you're a martial artist interested in chin na, you probably also know of Dr. Yang Jwing Ming's books on chin na, and his book makes a fine addition to that part of your library. Overall, an outstanding volume and worth every penny.

This book is the single best book available on Chin Na. It shows the mechanical principles behind effective joint locks, which is something I've never seen before. This book is very detailed and allows you to understand what fundamentals make any joint lock effective. When I mention fundamentals I am talking about the range of motion in the wrist, elbow, and shoulder. The book also covers fifty different ways to set-up joint locks. These set-ups are usually detailed photos of hooking and seizing motions which you can use to set up any joint lock.

This book, by Zhao Da Yuan, is one of the definite volumes on the subject of qin na. It explains in a very clear and detailed way what qin na is, how it works, why it works and basically, well, all the basics of qin na.

It is very well structured and the material is presented in a clear and logical way with good drawings/pictures to assist in the learning of principles and/or techniques. It covers all one needs to know about qin na, and is therefore also a good reference book for instructors or advanced students.

It is valuable to any student of martial arts, regardless of style, and not only students of Chinese martial arts. In fact, I think that all martial arts practitioners should have a copy of this book on the shelf. Together with Yang Jwing Mings tome of a book "Comprehensive Applications of Shaolin Chin Na" and Tim Cartmells equally fantastic book "Effortless Combat Throws", this volume is the best written material on the art of locking and throwing.

Highest possible recommendation

Chin na is most of the theory behind practical Kung fu. This book explains the principles behind the techniques and so enabling a student to derive techniques for himself. There are a lot of techniques illustrated in this book, as well as an introductory insight into pressure point fighting. There is also a great wealth of anatomical knowledge to be gained from this book, useful if you want to know what part of your opponent you have just damaged. Attacking different parts of the body are allocated chapters of their own, "attacking the wrist" etc, which is useful for speedy reference if you know which particular area of your art is defficient e.g armlocks.
Overall this book contains a wealth of information that is beyond fiscal value.

Covers well the theory and some applications. This book is extremely well written. Not a word is wasted. It is the best Chin Na book I have seen and one of the best martial arts books I have ever read. Buy it.

This is the greatest book on Chin Na I've ever read. The chin na explanation is based both on physical and anatomic principles. It really leads you to understand how the art of chin na works. The fighting explanations on how to apply chin na in real fighting are a little bit too ingenuous (that's the reason because four stars) but this is largely compensated by the explanation of the striking effects on the body weak points. Even though this is not a Din Mak book it gives you good tips on the use of the Din Mak point to enhance seizing techniques. This is another point that makes great this book.