Martial arts styles are usually grouped together based on their nation of origin. This distinction is of particular import to those whose primary concern is the protection and dissemination of tradition in keeping with the culture and heritage thereof.
From perhaps a more technical perspective, martial arts may also be classified as "internal" or "external", "hard" or "soft", "linear" or "circular" and this is the view of many practitioners whose primary concerns are about execution and application- how a technique or style expresses itself and is used in actual combat. There is significant overlap of the above terms, as well as variable levels of each, from style to style. Western minds still tend to work in a very Manchaen fashion (where things must be one way OR the other, black vs white with little to no grey) and so tend to struggle with this.
Starting with what may be easier to understand, the "external" principle is often expressed with "hardness" and tends toward linear movement. Good examples of these are TaeKwonDo, Muy Thai, and Western pugilism or boxing. The "internal" principle tends to be expressed with "softness" and tends toward circular movement. Taiji, JuJitsu, and Aikido all exemplify this fairly well.
That being said, MOST styles are a mixture of all of these. Even Taiji seeks to express "yin" and "yang" in its movements, and, when applied to actual fighting, there are "hard" strikes and blocks that move along the line of attack just as much as there are circular throws and redirection of offending blows. Wing Chun tends to move in a line, and utilizes great force, even defending by striking at strikes or "defanging the snake" as they would say in the Filipino martial arts, and yet there is still great emphasis on internal power and circular movement.
Moreover, the "ju" or "gentle" principle does not always mean it is exactly "nice" to the opponent. Almost all "soft" styles use vital point striking and joint manipulation- which are not only quite painful but can easily lead to severe injury or death. Aikijujitsu almost always moves in circles, strikes at vital points, and often seeks to destroy limbs as part of its defense. This is a soft, circular style with a much more external expression than aikido or jujitsu alone.
Qigong is primarily used for the cultivation of internal power, and development of the ability to regulate and move the flow of energy within the body. It helps to promote vitality, flexibility and organ health. It also develops physical strength and flexibility, albeit in a more subtle way than say push-ups or splits. Qigong is used in many esoteric healing practices, not unlike the more well-known Japanese practice of Reiki. At the same time, Qigong is also the key element of "iron shirt" practice- an esoteric martial art technique of making the body less vulnerable and more resilient to attack or damage.
Like yin and yang, internal flows to external and vice-verse. Understanding hardness and softness leads not only to deeper comprehension of martial arts, but translates to more effective technique by knowing how to attack and defend with the appropriate energy format. One can move in both circles and lines simultaneously- using a small circle joint lock while moving the body along a line to drive the opponent to the ground, or stepping in a circle to move off the line of attack while countering with a direct linear assault as is common to mantis-style kung fu. Martial arts is not stagnant, it is an art of motion. Like all things in nature, there is a constant exchange and interplay of forces which spiral around one another in an endless dance.
So, when classifying martial arts, or looking for a new style or technique to study, remember not to be too limiting. Don't put things into boxes and assume complete understanding based on a superficial label. No style is better or worse than any other. It is all about your personal mastery, and how well that art works with you and for you. Ultimately, all fighters end up cherry-picking techniques and blending them together anyway. Some bodies are more suited to emphasize soft styles, others work better with hard, yet both will employ both to some extent. Internal arts will always enhance external arts, and external work will make your internal power more effective.
As always, seek BALANCE by friends... Balance in all things...
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Vocabulary- A Running List of Words from Traditional Martial Arts
Regarding schools/styles and the concepts they embody
Ai- Japanese- the complex principle of balance, harmony and union, similar to "wu-wei" in the Tao.
Bu- Japanese- "warrior" often used as a prefix in words like "budo" -warrior way.
Gō- Japanese- "hard" style or technique, seen as prefix in "Goju Ryu" literally "hard-soft school"
Gongfu- also Kung Fu- Chinese- essentially equivalent to Japanese "Jutsu" referring to any skill or vocation to which one has dedicate themselves with diligent study and practice.
Jū- Japanese- "soft" style or technique often used as a prefix as in "jujitsu" literally "gentle art"
Jutsu- also Jitstu- Japanese- signifies "masterful skill" or prowess. Perfection or artfulness in execution or vocation. Something that is done, to which one strives to be ever better.
Ki, Qi, Chi- various spellings of the term for vital energy or essence.
{note here that aikido is actually Ai-Ki-Do- "harmonizing-energy-way"}
Wài Jiā- Chinese- "External" martial arts- those which focus primarily on physical strength, agility and flexibility, usually characterized by hard strikes and fast movement. Examples include Hung Gar, Choy Li Fut, and Wing Chun.
Nèi Jiā- Chinese- "Internal" martial arts- those which focus primarily on cultivation of "qi" or vital energy, characterized by subtlety, slow movement (primarily for training purposes because of the way it develops the muscles) and flowing force- either by redirecting the opponent's energy, or channeling energy from the entire body into the blow, often both at once. Examples include Ba Gua, Taiji, Hsing I, Ze Ran Men and Liu He Bai Fa.
Po- Japanese- also "Do" (both pronounced with a long O, rhymes with sew) signifies the body of philosophy, lifestyle, and principles which direct a certain sect or "way" as in "ninpo" (way of ninja- as opposed to "ninjitsu" or technique of ninja) or "Karate-do" (empty hand way- signifying "karate" as a way of life, not just a fighting style)
Regarding technique and application
Diǎn Xué- Chinese- striking vital points- equivalent to Japanese Kyusho or Atemi Waza depending on the school.
Dim Mak- alternative term for Diǎn Xué
Nage- (pronounced NAH-gay) Japanese- giver of technique, the "thrower" or one who executes the technique.
Qin Na- Chinese- also Chin Na or Qinna- clutching or grappling of vital points- equivalent to Japanese Tuite.
Tuī Ná- Chinese- the therapeutic counterpart to Qin Na which uses various techniques of touching, qi channeling, and physical manipulation to heal the body and bring qi into balance and harmonious flow. It combines massage, acupressure and Qi Gong. Anma is a Japanese school derived from it.
Uke- (pronounced OO-kay) Japanese- receiver of technique, "one who suffers" the person a techniques is done TO.
Esoteric concepts
Yin- Chinese- principle energy of expansion, assertion, and initiative, commonly correlated to "masculine" or "light"
Yang- Chinese- principle energy of contraction, receptivity, and patience, commonly correlated to "feminine" or "dark"
{note that the familiar "YinYang" symbol is not simply about "opposites" as the western mind tends to see it, but rather about the constant flow and exchange of energy as expressed in these principle forms. It is not "good vs evil" or "male vs female" but one whole with cyclical changes in expression}
Ai- Japanese- the complex principle of balance, harmony and union, similar to "wu-wei" in the Tao.
Bu- Japanese- "warrior" often used as a prefix in words like "budo" -warrior way.
Gō- Japanese- "hard" style or technique, seen as prefix in "Goju Ryu" literally "hard-soft school"
Gongfu- also Kung Fu- Chinese- essentially equivalent to Japanese "Jutsu" referring to any skill or vocation to which one has dedicate themselves with diligent study and practice.
Jū- Japanese- "soft" style or technique often used as a prefix as in "jujitsu" literally "gentle art"
Jutsu- also Jitstu- Japanese- signifies "masterful skill" or prowess. Perfection or artfulness in execution or vocation. Something that is done, to which one strives to be ever better.
Ki, Qi, Chi- various spellings of the term for vital energy or essence.
{note here that aikido is actually Ai-Ki-Do- "harmonizing-energy-way"}
Wài Jiā- Chinese- "External" martial arts- those which focus primarily on physical strength, agility and flexibility, usually characterized by hard strikes and fast movement. Examples include Hung Gar, Choy Li Fut, and Wing Chun.
Nèi Jiā- Chinese- "Internal" martial arts- those which focus primarily on cultivation of "qi" or vital energy, characterized by subtlety, slow movement (primarily for training purposes because of the way it develops the muscles) and flowing force- either by redirecting the opponent's energy, or channeling energy from the entire body into the blow, often both at once. Examples include Ba Gua, Taiji, Hsing I, Ze Ran Men and Liu He Bai Fa.
Po- Japanese- also "Do" (both pronounced with a long O, rhymes with sew) signifies the body of philosophy, lifestyle, and principles which direct a certain sect or "way" as in "ninpo" (way of ninja- as opposed to "ninjitsu" or technique of ninja) or "Karate-do" (empty hand way- signifying "karate" as a way of life, not just a fighting style)
Regarding technique and application
Diǎn Xué- Chinese- striking vital points- equivalent to Japanese Kyusho or Atemi Waza depending on the school.
Dim Mak- alternative term for Diǎn Xué
Nage- (pronounced NAH-gay) Japanese- giver of technique, the "thrower" or one who executes the technique.
Qin Na- Chinese- also Chin Na or Qinna- clutching or grappling of vital points- equivalent to Japanese Tuite.
Tuī Ná- Chinese- the therapeutic counterpart to Qin Na which uses various techniques of touching, qi channeling, and physical manipulation to heal the body and bring qi into balance and harmonious flow. It combines massage, acupressure and Qi Gong. Anma is a Japanese school derived from it.
Uke- (pronounced OO-kay) Japanese- receiver of technique, "one who suffers" the person a techniques is done TO.
Esoteric concepts
Yin- Chinese- principle energy of expansion, assertion, and initiative, commonly correlated to "masculine" or "light"
Yang- Chinese- principle energy of contraction, receptivity, and patience, commonly correlated to "feminine" or "dark"
{note that the familiar "YinYang" symbol is not simply about "opposites" as the western mind tends to see it, but rather about the constant flow and exchange of energy as expressed in these principle forms. It is not "good vs evil" or "male vs female" but one whole with cyclical changes in expression}
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
On "Self-Taught" Martial Artists
Can you be self-taught and develop any REAL skill?
I, personally believe as host of "Martial Arts Chat" Mike Reis does; Yes, you can be self-taught and yes you can learn new things from other styles, even from things like youtube -AFTER you have a solid foundation in PRACTICAL *hands-on* fighting-
Formal instruction is key to learning what you need to do and what you need to look for to learn new technique. The alternative is just to get beaten to crap by people with more skill than you until you get to the point where you can pay attention while being beaten to a quivering heap. Those are the ONLY two ways to learn to fight. Period.
Can you "master" a complete martial art from videos or books? NO, absolutely not. Can you absorb new techniques that way? Yes, you can, provided you know what to look for. Can you successfully apply a technique learned in that way in a defense situation? NO, not until you have practiced it extensively with a REAL training partner who will challenge you and put up resistance to the technique until you work out all the kinks... and you are only going to know how to do that if you have firm foundations in the fundamentals.
Like it or not, all martial arts, like all religions, have the exact same foundations at the most basic level. People need to realize that despite their personal feelings or beliefs about this or that, despite all the overt stylistic differences between one system and the next, they all serve the same purpose to achieve the same end. If you can put aside personal bias and pursue things in their pure form you can move effortlessly from system to system. Just as a Christian could just as easily pass as a Muslim or even a Buddhist if they were in fact true to the fundamental characteristics thereof, a Karate ka could win a fight using Muy Thai techniques.
How you stand, how you move, how you generate and redirect force, all these things are common to every single martial art out there, and even to no-rules street fighting, because they are means to the same end, and there is an optimal way of achieving that end. The style is just a modality, a means of transmission.
At some point in history someone had to come up with the ideas and systems we use today. Just because something is old does not make it necessarily better than something new. Vedic Hinduism is the oldest religion with an unbroken lineage in the world. Christianity, by comparison, is far younger, yet many would vehemently argue its superiority over the other. So why is a 2,000 year old religion better than an 8,000 year old religion? For that matter, why is a 50 year old religion inferior to the 2,000 year old one? Every religion has been re-written and re-structured many times by many men. Martial arts, all of them, have been done the exact same way.
Someone invented Southern praying mantis. According to lore, it was a man who lost to a bunch of "traditional" kung fu masters and was determined to create something better, and he eventually succeeded. Those older style were invented and transmitted and re-formatted too. Yue Fe, father of Eagle Claw, originally learned something called "elephant style" from a Shaolin monk if you believe the stories. So why don't we still see elephant style kung fu? Bruce Lee invented Jeet Kune Do in modern times and no one balks at it. Why? Because the system has been proven effective through practical application. How did sifu Lee accomplish this incredible thing? By having an uncanny grasp of martial arts in general. He was a prodigy, like Mozart, who saw (or "heard" in Mozart's case) his art in everything.
It will take most of you much longer than Bruce Lee to learn even a single new technique. You will have to study, diligently, under a master for considerable time. Eventually, if you remain open minded, yet still well grounded, you will be able to develop your own "style" too, because fighting is fighting, it's a means to an end and your body will be more effective with some techniques than others. Will your "style" become an international sensation like master Lee's? Probably not, but you have to make your art your own nonetheless, because that is what makes one a TRUE martial artist. Because every art is an expression of the artist. Learning the impressionist style does not make you a Monet or a Degas any more than these two artists produce the exact same works.
Bottom line, learning a style, getting your black belt, that is not the final step, it is the FIRST step. That only shows you have the foundations, it does not make you an artist, it is just the end of art school and the beginning of graduate school. So, yes, you can learn martial arts from youtube or from books, provided you know what you are doing to begin with, and you have the nerve to test it out in real life, and to fail a few hundred times before getting it right.
Saturday, July 9, 2016
How to be a Peaceful Warrior
Soft style martial arts use the assailant's force against them, essentially turning violence back upon itself. Thus does the enlightened warrior teach the hard lesson, that the path of destruction leads ultimately to self-destruction. Live by the sword, die by the sword.
Those who walk the path of peace must take care not to stray to the path of ignorance, for to "ignore" violence, without or within, does not nullify it. We may deny our violent nature, but violence will only bubble and seethe within us, like magma beneath the still mountain which, in time, explodes in a rain of fire and ash, destroying all around it. We may try to ignore violence in the world, but it will still cause destruction though we choose to look away. By and by, when violence finds us, we may attempt to respond with peace, love and acceptance, but if the only motivation is to destroy us, we have then only peacefully accepted our own destruction. It is a shame, really, that enlightened prophets so often make of themselves martyrs for their excessive devotion to "peace".
Enlightenment is not all mantras and crystals. True enlightenment is often paid for in pain and tears of wisdom hard-won. The enlightened warrior has seen the pain wrought by the path of destruction, often first-hand. Most people do not survive such ordeals, or, if they do, are broken by them. The enlightened warrior, having endured and overcome, seeks to preserve others from a worser fate at the unforgiving hand of another. Thus, like the firm hand of a loving parent, they administer discipline to those who will learn no other way.
By mastering violence, we come to terms with the violence, both within and without, learning to control it, to reign it in and subdue it, rather than allowing it to run rampant and unchecked. To allow this is not compassionate, neither to the world which is subjected to that violence, nor to the violent person running headlong down the path of violence toward their own eventual destruction.
When a child too young to understand language or reason reaches out to touch a flame, is it better to let them learn by burning their hand or to lightly smack the hand so that they still associate fire with pain without blistering their flesh? When an adult commits a crime does the judge or officer say to them "I love you, please don't do that" or is the person arrested, charged and punished?
When mass shootings occur, has any shooter EVER stopped because a victim asked them "why?" or said to them "I have never hurt you, please don'e hurt me."
Has a rapist ever been stopped in their tracks by an intended victim saying "it is okay that you do this to me because I love you."
Would the holocaust have been prevented if only the Jews embraced Hitler as their feurer?
I believe in love and compassion. I believe in acceptance and understanding. I believe in the pursuit of peace, and I believe that "fighting" for "peace" is largely pandering because, in the literal sense, the two are mutually exclusive. However, I believe, as I expressed in the mission statement of this project, in BALANCE above all. Mercy must sometimes be tempered with severity and forgiveness with punishment. True love and compassion cannot abide violence, hate and fear indefinitely. True peace must sometimes be obtained by destruction of the destroyer. If they can be converted or rehabilitated, wonderful. Always try that first, but do not assume that they will accept it willingly. Sometimes it is necessary to subdue and control the source of violence before they will listen to reason. Those who do not know compassion must be taught compassion, but when they feel that they are protecting some higher good by destroying that which they are offended by, they may need to find themselves on the other end of the proverbial stick before they can see the error of their philosophy.
One can learn to master violence and, in so doing, obtain peace. One can inflict pain out of love to spare another from even greater pain. One can help to heal a wounded individual with compassion, acceptance, and understanding, but only if they themselves survive the initial confrontation.
It IS, in fact, possible to be a "Peaceful Warrior"
As the old adage says;
Those who walk the path of peace must take care not to stray to the path of ignorance, for to "ignore" violence, without or within, does not nullify it. We may deny our violent nature, but violence will only bubble and seethe within us, like magma beneath the still mountain which, in time, explodes in a rain of fire and ash, destroying all around it. We may try to ignore violence in the world, but it will still cause destruction though we choose to look away. By and by, when violence finds us, we may attempt to respond with peace, love and acceptance, but if the only motivation is to destroy us, we have then only peacefully accepted our own destruction. It is a shame, really, that enlightened prophets so often make of themselves martyrs for their excessive devotion to "peace".
Enlightenment is not all mantras and crystals. True enlightenment is often paid for in pain and tears of wisdom hard-won. The enlightened warrior has seen the pain wrought by the path of destruction, often first-hand. Most people do not survive such ordeals, or, if they do, are broken by them. The enlightened warrior, having endured and overcome, seeks to preserve others from a worser fate at the unforgiving hand of another. Thus, like the firm hand of a loving parent, they administer discipline to those who will learn no other way.
By mastering violence, we come to terms with the violence, both within and without, learning to control it, to reign it in and subdue it, rather than allowing it to run rampant and unchecked. To allow this is not compassionate, neither to the world which is subjected to that violence, nor to the violent person running headlong down the path of violence toward their own eventual destruction.
When a child too young to understand language or reason reaches out to touch a flame, is it better to let them learn by burning their hand or to lightly smack the hand so that they still associate fire with pain without blistering their flesh? When an adult commits a crime does the judge or officer say to them "I love you, please don't do that" or is the person arrested, charged and punished?
When mass shootings occur, has any shooter EVER stopped because a victim asked them "why?" or said to them "I have never hurt you, please don'e hurt me."
Has a rapist ever been stopped in their tracks by an intended victim saying "it is okay that you do this to me because I love you."
Would the holocaust have been prevented if only the Jews embraced Hitler as their feurer?
I believe in love and compassion. I believe in acceptance and understanding. I believe in the pursuit of peace, and I believe that "fighting" for "peace" is largely pandering because, in the literal sense, the two are mutually exclusive. However, I believe, as I expressed in the mission statement of this project, in BALANCE above all. Mercy must sometimes be tempered with severity and forgiveness with punishment. True love and compassion cannot abide violence, hate and fear indefinitely. True peace must sometimes be obtained by destruction of the destroyer. If they can be converted or rehabilitated, wonderful. Always try that first, but do not assume that they will accept it willingly. Sometimes it is necessary to subdue and control the source of violence before they will listen to reason. Those who do not know compassion must be taught compassion, but when they feel that they are protecting some higher good by destroying that which they are offended by, they may need to find themselves on the other end of the proverbial stick before they can see the error of their philosophy.
One can learn to master violence and, in so doing, obtain peace. One can inflict pain out of love to spare another from even greater pain. One can help to heal a wounded individual with compassion, acceptance, and understanding, but only if they themselves survive the initial confrontation.
It IS, in fact, possible to be a "Peaceful Warrior"
As the old adage says;
It is better to be a warrior in a garden than to be a gardener in a war.
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Kung Fu Field Day- A Family Event for Fun and Fitness
Kung Fu field day was a silly idea for family activity I came up with some time ago in which each event is based on the characteristics of one of the animal styles. It worked out really well, I think, for a number of reasons. First, it gets the whole family outside and interacting which, in today's world of smart phones and social media is no small matter. Secondly, The animal styles are so diverse that everyone gets a chance to play to their strengths. While the exercises we do may not be traditional, the whole event challenges the body and mind while encouraging an interest in other cultures. Kids may even feel encouraged by how well they did in a certain event and decide to pursue actual kung fu training.
The examples I have presented here are just that, examples for your consideration. Use those you like, but if you have better ideas, by all means use them and tell us how it worked out in the comments section below!
The format is pretty simple. We kept scores on a grid with our names down one side and the animals along the top. So, each event had 1st 2nd and 3rd place winners, with an overall high scoring contestant being crowned champion.
TIGER- "Fu Jow Pai"- physical power, inner power, endurance
Trial of the Tiger-
First, contestants do as many push ups as they can in one minute. More advanced students and adults (if competing with children) may do push ups on the finger tips. Second, they must run a distance of 10 meters (half that for kids), strike a wooden target 5 times with each hand using a "tiger claw" in any combination (alternating hands, 5 per side, switching stances or fixed stance) they choose. Bonus points may be awarded for actually breaking boards if you choose to go that route. Next, contestants should lift a heavy weight, such as a sand bag, and run back to the previous position 10 meters away. Finally, from a still and stable horse stance, bring the weight to the chest and shove it away, releasing as the arms are fully extended. Score is a combination of the number of push ups and the distance the weight traveled, plus any bonus points awarded. The running is required only to increase physical fatigue, but this contest could just as easily be run as a relay by starting with a fixed number of push-ups and contestants placing in the event based solely on the speed with which they completed all actions.
CRANE- "He Quan"- poise, timing, explosive power
There are 5 different crane styles- "Fei He Quan"- Flying (or leaping) crane, "Shi He Quan"- Feeding crane, "Ming He Quan"- Crying crane, "Zong He Quan"- Shaking (or trembling) crane, and "Su He Quan"- Sleeping crane. Each emphasizing different aspects of the crane style.
Swatting flies-
There are 5 different crane styles- "Fei He Quan"- Flying (or leaping) crane, "Shi He Quan"- Feeding crane, "Ming He Quan"- Crying crane, "Zong He Quan"- Shaking (or trembling) crane, and "Su He Quan"- Sleeping crane. Each emphasizing different aspects of the crane style.
Swatting flies-
This game is inspired by the "sleeping crane" which emphasizes timing and defense. Player starts by assuming a Crane stance (one leg lifted in a block) and with hands in crane wing form, participants throw paper balls at contestant who must try to remain in this pose for one minute. Points are awarded both for deflecting incoming balls AND for not reacting to those that fall to the ground without striking the contestant, but a point is taken for each that actually strikes the body. Contestant may hop to avoid low strikes, and may switch legs when doing so, but If both feet touch the ground the round is over and only the points scored up to then are awarded.
Kick volleyball-
From the "leaping crane" method, which emphasizes agility, evasion, and long-range attacks. Players are divided into two teams. A net is set at tennis height (or lower) and the ball can only be played with feet , knees, and shins. If a player is hit with the ball, or uses their hands for anything other than holding the ball to kick off a serve, they are out. 1st place goes to last one standing. 2nd place to their opponent, and 3rd place to the last person to be out on the team with the most points. Typically, this game would be played to a point goal (first team to 20, for instance) but because this is kung fu field day, the conditions are modified.
Kick volleyball-
From the "leaping crane" method, which emphasizes agility, evasion, and long-range attacks. Players are divided into two teams. A net is set at tennis height (or lower) and the ball can only be played with feet , knees, and shins. If a player is hit with the ball, or uses their hands for anything other than holding the ball to kick off a serve, they are out. 1st place goes to last one standing. 2nd place to their opponent, and 3rd place to the last person to be out on the team with the most points. Typically, this game would be played to a point goal (first team to 20, for instance) but because this is kung fu field day, the conditions are modified.
SNAKE- "She Quan"- perception, focus, fluidity
Snake Hooping-
Using a hula hoop, begin with the hand closed, palm up, holding the body of the hoop up in the air. Rotate the hand, letting the hoop follow, then open the palm down entering into a "snake fist" hand form. The arm must move in a snake-like twining motion to keep the hoop turning while the other hand is poised at the armpit already in snake form. The hoop may rotate on one arm for no more than 20 seconds before the other hand strikes out along the underside of the arm for a switch. This challenge continues on until the hoop is dropped, or the contestant fails to switch arms in time. The winner is the one who can keep it going the longest.
Snake Tug-of-War-
An alternative event using a classic game. Begin with a rope with knotted ends for grip. Only two people compete at a time. The object is to use any combination of twining, binding and footwork techniques to gain the advantage over the opponent. The rope can be wound around the arm to take up slack and use inner strength and superior leverage to bring the opponent down, or you may attempt to wrap them up with the rope, binding their arms and/or legs. As a matter of safety, the neck must be off limits, and the opponent may give up before being brought down if they are bound and afraid to fall.
LEOPARD- "Bao Quan"- speed, precision, simultaneous aggression and evasion
Leaping Leopard-
Note; full credit for this idea goes to my 8 year old (at time of ths writing) son Caegan, for whom I started "kung fu field day" in the first place. How fitting that he should be the one to complete the list when I myself was stumped for weeks <3 :)
For this game, you first need to lay out a course by placing a number of markers in different positions. The number and distance between points will be determined by the skill level of the contestants. We used 6 points in a diamond pattern with two points just off center. Number the points so that contestants follow the pattern in the correct order. The idea is to challenge contestants to jump maximum distance while landing with precision. To incorporate leopard's aggression and dynamic reaction, participants will throw water balloons at the contestant who may dodge or strike at them with leopard paw fists, arms, elbows, knees, shins or feet to earn bonus points. 1 point is awarded for striking a single target, and 2 points each for multiple targets. The goal is to finish the course as quickly as possible without being hit. If no one completes the course, or if there is a tie, the win goes to the highest bonus score. If neither applies, then it goes to whoever made it the farthest along the course.
Snag the Leopard's Tail-
This is a game popular in youth martial arts classes to teach evasion, proprioception, and awareness of the center line. Each contestant gets a "tail" (belt or strip of cloth) tucked into their belt or waistband. On "GO" all participants begin trying to snag the "tails", one at a time, from other contestants. Each tail is tucked it into the belt or waistband, along with the others and the game continues until one person has all the tails. Alternatively, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places are awarded to the final three based on their respective number of tails and how quickly they acquired them.
Leaping Leopard-
Note; full credit for this idea goes to my 8 year old (at time of ths writing) son Caegan, for whom I started "kung fu field day" in the first place. How fitting that he should be the one to complete the list when I myself was stumped for weeks <3 :)
For this game, you first need to lay out a course by placing a number of markers in different positions. The number and distance between points will be determined by the skill level of the contestants. We used 6 points in a diamond pattern with two points just off center. Number the points so that contestants follow the pattern in the correct order. The idea is to challenge contestants to jump maximum distance while landing with precision. To incorporate leopard's aggression and dynamic reaction, participants will throw water balloons at the contestant who may dodge or strike at them with leopard paw fists, arms, elbows, knees, shins or feet to earn bonus points. 1 point is awarded for striking a single target, and 2 points each for multiple targets. The goal is to finish the course as quickly as possible without being hit. If no one completes the course, or if there is a tie, the win goes to the highest bonus score. If neither applies, then it goes to whoever made it the farthest along the course.
Snag the Leopard's Tail-
This is a game popular in youth martial arts classes to teach evasion, proprioception, and awareness of the center line. Each contestant gets a "tail" (belt or strip of cloth) tucked into their belt or waistband. On "GO" all participants begin trying to snag the "tails", one at a time, from other contestants. Each tail is tucked it into the belt or waistband, along with the others and the game continues until one person has all the tails. Alternatively, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places are awarded to the final three based on their respective number of tails and how quickly they acquired them.
DRAGON- "Long Xi Quan"- evasion, redirection, balance of internal and external power
Balloon onslaught-
Participants get a supply of water balloons to throw at the contestant. For one minute, they must endure the assault. Points are awarded as follows; 2 points for destroying a balloon with dragon claw strikes. 1 point for destroying a balloon on the ground by stomping it. 3 points for destroying a balloon with a whipping kick. 4 points for deflecting a balloon without popping it (against the body, if it pops after hitting the ground, the points still count). and 5 points for absorbing the force of the balloon to catch and throw it back, with a bonus 5 for bursting it on one of the throwers. -3 for every balloon which bursts on the body without being struck or deflected.
MONKEY- "Hou Quan"- unconventional movement, momentum, multi-level targeting
Like crane, Monkey is divided into 5 different styles, each with different specialties; drunken (soft structure, attack vital points and low targets, heavy strikes, sacrifice throws and feints), stone (iron body, powerful attacks to weak points), lost (speed, agility, feigning weakness to launch unpredictable attacks), tall (long range, maintains superior position, “climbs limbs” as in moving up the body as openings are created, or literally climbing the opponent to drop down with gravitational force) and wooden (heavy movements, grappling).
Monkey ball-
Like crane, Monkey is divided into 5 different styles, each with different specialties; drunken (soft structure, attack vital points and low targets, heavy strikes, sacrifice throws and feints), stone (iron body, powerful attacks to weak points), lost (speed, agility, feigning weakness to launch unpredictable attacks), tall (long range, maintains superior position, “climbs limbs” as in moving up the body as openings are created, or literally climbing the opponent to drop down with gravitational force) and wooden (heavy movements, grappling).
Monkey ball-
This game is inspired by the "Lost Monkey" style 4 fist sized balls or bean bags and a goal placed under a target. Participants throw balls one at a time onto the field while the contestant collects them and takes them to the goal. Contestants are ONLY allowed to use monkey movement on the field- running on all fours, tumbling, rolling, or leaping. They must strike the target as they drop balls into the goal. Balls may be thrown at any time another ball is not on the field, ie when the ball in play is either in the goal OR in the contestant's possession. A bonus of 3 points is awarded for striking a ball mid flight and 5 points for catching it. If a ball fails to go into the goal or contestant fails to strike the target, that ball's points are forfeit. 2 points is awarded for each correctly executed goal.
MANTIS- "Tang Lang Quan"- inner strength, precision, patience
Mantis Style Egg and Spoon-
There are many mantis styles, but all of them rely on extremely powerful lower bodies and footwork from which to generate power for effective technique. Balance, patience, and the ability to make small, dynamic adjustments are also important. For these reasons, I have chosen a modified version of the classic "egg and spoon race" for mantis style training on kung fu field day. The basic concept is the same, carry a raw egg in a large spoon from point A to point B without dropping it. The twist is the contestant must navigate the course using only a low, cross-stepping stance. This stance is achieved by bending the knees, then bringing one foot behind the body and crossing it over on a line with the opposite shoulder and resting on the ball of the foot. The stance should be balanced, not too narrow, not too wide. Forward movement is achieved by constantly crossing one leg over the other. Side stepping is done by uncrossing and re-crossing the legs. Pivots are done with both feet planted and pivoting from front to back should put you back into the same stance on the opposite side. Lay out the course with boards or tape, making it as simple or complex as you wish, keeping the abilities and limitations of your family in mind. A 12ftX12ft square could be used with the contestant starting at one corner, then stepping forward, side stepping, pivoting to the back, forward stepping again, then side stepping, and finishing by pivoting to the back once more. Contestant with the fastest time wins. If everyone drops their egg, then whoever made it the farthest wins.
EAGLE- "Ying Jow Pai"- grip, agility, seamless progression
Brick Catch-
This is the training exercise I used to use for eagle claw. From a deep horse stance, hold a brick at arm's length in front of you with palm facing down in an "eagle claw" grip. The other hand is at the hip, fist clenched, with palm up. Drop the brick (do NOT toss or raise the hand) and shoot the clenched hand out to catch the brick in the same (palm down eagle claw) position before it hits the ground while simultaneously bringing the other hand to the opposite position (the hand that was holding the brick goes to the hip, palm up, fist closed). Score is based on the number of times contestant can perform this move without the brick touching the ground.
Bean Bag catch-
For a more dynamic game, participants throw beanbags (or sand, or rice) at the contestant, who must, dodge, and catch them with their "eagle claws" piling them up on the ground to be counted/reused. Points are scored for each bag seized midair. Contestant is "out" when a bag hits them anywhere on the body.
Bean Bag catch-
For a more dynamic game, participants throw beanbags (or sand, or rice) at the contestant, who must, dodge, and catch them with their "eagle claws" piling them up on the ground to be counted/reused. Points are scored for each bag seized midair. Contestant is "out" when a bag hits them anywhere on the body.
DOG- "Gou Quan"- power, agility, and speed, all delivered from low position.
Dog Fist Dodge Ball-
Contestant starts from a position lying on the ground with arms and legs up. Participants throw balls at the contestant who must evade or deflect incoming balls from all sides. Round time is one minute. Every ball successfully evaded is worth 1 point and those struck by the hands, feet, knees or elbows are worth 3 points. Contestant is allowed to get up from the ground to dodge, but is NOT allowed to stand upright for more than a few seconds. Instead, they must roll, dive, or turn to avoid being hit. If a ball strikes the body, a point is deducted, but if a ball strikes the head, the round is over.
Bonus rounds:
5 animals +
The 5 traditional animals are snake, leopard, tiger, crane and dragon. Bonus rounds may be dedicated to any one of the additional animals- mantis, eagle, dog, or monkey- for a shortened version of the game. The first time we did kungfu field day was actually inspired by my son's love for the Dreamworks movie "Kung Fu Panda" so we ended up doing monkey, mantis, tiger, crane and snake with a bonus round for dragon.
Demo own animal style
This would take some planning, but if the family was informed of the event at least a week or so ahead of time, they could start pondering and practicing forms based on another animal of their choosing. If you made Kung Fu Field Day a yearly event, they could even spend all year working on their new forms. Capitalizing on your kids' competitive attitudes to get them to study nature and martial arts doesn't seem like such a bad thing to me ;)
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Combat Grappling or Chin Na
The Chinese art of Chin Na, also spelled Qi Na or Qinna is something I employ heavily in my fighting style. I began learning it at a very early age, maybe 6 or 7. There are myriad techniques, but once you know the fundamentals, and some basic anatomy, it is not that hard to figure out the various ways to apply it in any given situation.
Chin Na is not grappling in the MMA or wrestling sense, it is extreme close-quarters combat based upon seizing, subduing, or breaking the adversary. Many of the techniques are practiced from a starting position wherein the uke (receiver of technique- one who stuff is done to) has grabbed nage (executor or technique- one who does stuff) in some way. While this would be a perfect opportunity to apply chin na to the opponent, it is not a terribly common occurrence in street fights. It should be understood that this is only a means of setting up the technique for teaching purposes. In the real world, you would more likely apply chin na after dodging and seizing a limb, or once a fight has gone into "clinch" to use the sporting term. Chokes, bear hugs or waist grabs may happen sometimes, particularly in domestic abuse and rape attempts, so I do tend to deal with those more in women's self defense.
Chin Na can be found in many traditional martial arts. Most notably taijiquan (tai chi) and gongfu (kung fu). The "Eagle Claw" style (ying jow pai) is heavily geared toward chin na techniques. Jujitsu and Hapkido are foreign (non-Chinese) martial arts which also use chin na.
The techniques of chin na come in a variety of "flavors" if you will. I borrowed the following list off wikipedia because it included the (hopefully correct) Chinese terms, but I am adding my own descriptions. {note; after writing this I dusted off my copy of "Comprehensive Applications of Shaolin Chin Na" by Dr.Yang Jwing-Ming to show and discuss with my partner and found this same list in there}
fen jin/zhua jin- These are techniques which seize (zhua) or divide (fen) body tissues, primarily muscle and tendon. An eagle talon pinch and shake targeted at the love handles is a relatively safe technique you can use at home to practice zhua jin and see what it is about. First, make sure you have a partner willing and ready to let you try it. Prepare by bending your fingers sharply down and in, like making a tight C shape, then spread the digits apart just until you feel the bones in your hand shift into position (you should know it when you feel it). Next, using three fingers and the thumb (all but the pinkie) take hold of the"meaty" portion of your partner's waist, just above the hip bones (the area commonly known as the "love handles") and squeeze, hard, rolling your fingers toward your palm (like an eagle closing it's talons) while rotating your hands in a counter-clockwise motion (toward uke's back) and shaking like a dog tearing at an old rag. Make sure you do not have long nails before attempting this. The target is not just the skin but the musculature underneath. Done correctly it may cause the legs to buckle and should cause a good bit of pain, but should also subside rather quickly when released. A more serious and combat-oriented examples would be attacking H-2, L-5 or LI-12&13 around the bicep using the same "eagle claw" technique described above. Even a physically weaker person can temporarily disable the arm in this way and, with enough force, severe damage is possible. These points are often used in combinations to lock the arm.
cuo gu- these are techniques to displace, dislocate, and break bones and joints. The back of the elbow is a common target for this. Used in combinations with wrist techniques the effect is synergistic. By bending the hand of the uke into a "goose neck" and twisting the elbow joint will expose itself one way or the other, depending on how you apply the technique. Keeping the pressure on the wrist while applying pressure to the elbow simultaneously results in a crippling joint lock which can easily be transformed into outright destruction of the limb. Remember to think in "small circles" rotating the hand around the wrist, not the whole arm, thus you should draw the arm out and expose the elbow. Working the wrist and elbow in opposing directions of rotation can also help.
bi qi- any technique which interrupts or restricts breathing. While chokes are the obvious example, a bear hug or attack to the diaphragm would technically qualify. The "full nelson" is such an example. These are more dangerous knock-out techniques which, if not carefully monitored, could result in unintended death. As such, these are rarely discussed or practiced in conventional dojos. I believe I have mentioned the "scissors" or "crab claw" type choke before. It is a bi qi which also incorporates fen jin and dian xue. The thumbs press into the arteries at stomach 9 (the dian xue element) the fingers dig into the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius (fen jin, also, if your hands are big enough, you can hit points on the gall bladder meridian as well) and the bones of the thumb clamp into the trachea (bi qi). Both hands are held in an extended C shape, almost mimicking a crab claw, and the thumbs are criss-crossed at the base. As the hands dig into the neck, the wrists rotate slightly outward. Yes, I have actually used this in real life. Yes, it does leave you open to getting hit, but they also stop hitting pretty quickly. It also helps if you take them to the ground and grind your knees into their arms while choking from your center (lower dan tien) rather than with arms extended.
dian xue- These are techniques which target "pressure points" or, more specifically, those which correspond to major blood vessels located close enough to the surface as to be vulnerable to attack. Strikes to these points will often result in a knock out due to sudden drop in blood pressure. Chin na, however, refers to grappling and seizing. By squeezing these points in the arms and legs you can restrict blood flow and cause the limb to go limp or lose power. This can be handy when trying to apply a complex lock to an overpowering opponent. This is the secret of some arm locks which would have you bend the arm at the elbow by inserting your forearm into it. By applying pressure to the blood vessels there you can compound superior leverage (owing to your hopefully correct stance and positioning) with dian xue to weaken the forearm, thus ensuring your ability to maintain pressure and control at the wrist. Dian xue also targets nerve clusters (sometimes erroneously called "chi points" thus supporting the fallacy that arts like kyusho, dim mak, and chin na do not work because they are based on mystical thinking) which can cause disruptive electrical signals to be sent to the brain and body. Such is the case with the choke described above when the fingertips attack the points at the back of the neck. The brachial plexus, radial and ulnar nerves are also common dian xue targets.
rou dao- These are described as techniques which are "safe" for practice. Whether in a formal setting this means holding back force to protect uke, any technique which is not forbidden for safety concerns, or those which do not directly attack vital points, I cannot say. I can, however, attest to the existence of certain points which do not correspond to the traditional acupuncture points yet are very effective at controlling the opponent. One which I teach to beginners and children who may be tempted to abuse more dangerous techniques is actually between two points on the conception vessel (dividing the front of the body going up the center) -23 and 24 Ren to be specific- located at the tip of the submental triangle at the mandibular symphysis, or under the chin, right at the front. By pressing in and up, almost with a "come hither" type motion, the entire body is easily controlled. Striking this point with significant force at the prescribed angle will often result in a concussive knock out, but to use the hand or arm results only in profound influence over the uke's balance. This is a key point in many throws and take downs that involve a "clothesline" type of technique. Twisting the forearm in a small circle to activate this point while turning the body at the waist makes bringing them down much easier than turning or throwing alone would. So, learning to use this point in a most gentle way is quite safe, yet it can be exploited with "harder" techniques to cause significant damage. This, to me, seems a good example of rou dao.
So, one thing that I like to do, though I know many will take issue with it, is try and condense a mass of information into more digestible bits for quicker assimilation, allowing the student to get a grasp of the fundamentals without having to learn each and every specific technique. This has been done in other martial arts as well. A prime example is the way the Filipino martial art of Kali, which contained many advanced techniques, weapons, and esoteric concepts (including alternative medicine and spiritual elements) was condensed down into Eskrima and Arnis where specific techniques are taught in terms of angles of attack/approach and weapons become analogous to each other- a sword, a stick or a hand all being dealt with in much the same manner. Such teaching methodology allows for much more efficient transmission of knowledge, in my opinion. Some may think it smacks in the face of tradition, but, in a fight, the person you are applying a technique to does not care what it is called or what grand master invented it while watching a hummingbird fight a bumblebee or whatever. As long as it works and it saves your life, then that means you can live to learn about it another day and tell the stories to your grand kids while you teach them in the traditional manner should you feel so inclined...
Please, do go out and learn this stuff properly, when you can, from a qualified instructor. Learn in the traditional manner, with respect to the traditions, and do as your master says without showboating or rushing anything. Understand that I am presenting an over-simplified version just to familiarize readers with the concepts and theories underlying the techniques. If you try and apply it without knowing the specifics of how to do so, or what the results will be, that's on you. On the same note, however, if someone threatens your life and you try something, not knowing for sure what it will do, and it happens to work, you may have lucked out, but knowing this at least improved your odds slightly, and that is why I write this. Traditionalists can disagree all they want, I am not at war with them, even though they may take issue with me.
Right then, now that we understand each other... Chin Na, like everything else, has certain patterns. Whether you know the specific locations of the points, or the anatomical features behind them, you can still find and exploit them (though, I remind you, doing so without this knowledge may result in unexpectedly severe injury, even death, so, again, I encourage sincere study before attempting anything). Here we go;
When attacking a joint, look to the points and creases. Anything that only bends up and down, like a knuckle, elbow, or knee, can be thought of as a "box" joint. The corners of a box can be crushed most effectively by striking them in an X pattern, and the box can be collapsed by driving down through the crease where two flaps meet. Wrists, shoulders and hips are all "circle" joints but even these have limits. Think in 3-D here. A clock's hands can go around and around all day on a vertical plane, but move them horizontally and they easily snap. The trick with circle joints is to hyper-extend them and force them in an unnatural direction. Body positioning is of utmost importance here, because you must trap the opponent or move quickly when you have the advantage before they can compensate for your movement as will be natural to them when the body is threatened. Again, getting into the creases will often reveal hidden nerve and blood points.
When attacking muscles, again, look for the creases. When you flex a muscle, lines form. The target points are often between those lines, or on the tips. The peak of the bicep is one, the tendons which connect it at the ends are two more. You do not have to be an acupuncturist to see these are vulnerable points, and you don't have to know what organs are affected by that meridian to inflict pain. This is all valuable knowledge, but irrelevant when it comes to protecting your life by taking someone down. Simply "divide the muscle" by driving your bony fingertips or knuckles into them and separating the fibers, like ripping up coconut husk.
The muscles which control the lungs are protected by the ribs, so you have to penetrate the ribs in some way to get to them. The suprasternal notch (they little key hole where your collar bones meet) is the most direct rout, and, lo and behold, it is one of those crevices revealed by the anatomy. Pressing into this hole will affect the breathing. Striking the ribs hard enough for the force to penetrate will do the same, particularly if you hit the floating ribs, or strike any of them in such a way that causes the connective cartilage to give a bit. The nerves which affect the breathing vicariously would be discovered accidentally by following the other tactics.
Use small circles. There are so many ways in which this simple concept applies. When bending a "box" joint, folding it in toward its "crease" as if making a small circle around it will control it MUCH better than using a wide motion. The same applies to "circle" joints. You can swing your arms like a windmill, but driving the shoulder in a tight circle will cause pain and dislocation. Likewise, when seizing a point around muscle or bone, moving your digits in small circles will apply variable pressure to the point, thus preventing the body from coping with it as easily as it would with constant pressure. Also, this makes it more likely you will hit the point at the correct angle at some point in your rotation. Using the correct angle, then making even smaller circles while applying it will make an even bigger difference, but you can refine the technique once you discover the point.
"A neck is a neck" someone once said. Any part of the anatomy which resembles a neck can be attacked like the neck. The same methods for an effective choke to the throat can be applied to the wrist. The "full nelson" hold applied to the neck via the head is exactly the same as the "goose neck" applied to the wrist via the hand. Choking the "love handles" uses the same basic motion as the scissor choke described above. Even the back of the knee conceals blood vessels and nerves which can be attacked with a "choke" as does the inner elbow. Using the thumb to penetrate into these channels while using the fingers for leverage is simple chin na. If you can find crevices in the musculature, tendons, or bones in which to place the fingers, that is even better chin na.
It can be difficult, if not impossible, to recall all the anatomical details in a serious self-defense situation. You cannot rely on fine motor skills to attack highly specific points in highly specific ways. You are not going to be thinking about the medical science behind how and why it works, nor the results of using it. Your first and only priority is to get out alive, not the safety of your assailant. Do not go too far, but do not hold back either. Neutralize, then get away. Even with formal training, it will avail you naught if your mind is reeling to recall so many details under pressure. These simple principles, along with practical training, will make it much easier for you to apply chin na techniques when you need them without too much hesitation. Toying with it unsupervised may be dangerous, but doing nothing when your life is threatened is dangerous too. Do not rely on simple words and theory. You can practice on yourself, or with a willing partner, and your own risk, or with a master who will have you sign a safety waver. Martial arts is about hurting people, so there is always risk. Better to take a controlled risk, however, than to find yourself helpless in a high risk situation. Chin Na works, and it can give a physically inferior person a remarkable advantage over much more physically capable assailants. It is not much good in a group assault, I will go on and say that. However, when it comes to one-on-one, particularly in close quarters, the kinds of situations where devious people try to take advantage of your trust, chin na can really turn the tables.
Study anatomy. Look at pictures of blood vessels and nerves. Learn to find them. Develop your grip and reaction speed. Find a teacher if you can. Practice. Practice. Practice. Oh, and "tui na" is the healing aspect to this art, if anyone is interested ;) BALANCE in all things! ;)
Chin Na is not grappling in the MMA or wrestling sense, it is extreme close-quarters combat based upon seizing, subduing, or breaking the adversary. Many of the techniques are practiced from a starting position wherein the uke (receiver of technique- one who stuff is done to) has grabbed nage (executor or technique- one who does stuff) in some way. While this would be a perfect opportunity to apply chin na to the opponent, it is not a terribly common occurrence in street fights. It should be understood that this is only a means of setting up the technique for teaching purposes. In the real world, you would more likely apply chin na after dodging and seizing a limb, or once a fight has gone into "clinch" to use the sporting term. Chokes, bear hugs or waist grabs may happen sometimes, particularly in domestic abuse and rape attempts, so I do tend to deal with those more in women's self defense.
Chin Na can be found in many traditional martial arts. Most notably taijiquan (tai chi) and gongfu (kung fu). The "Eagle Claw" style (ying jow pai) is heavily geared toward chin na techniques. Jujitsu and Hapkido are foreign (non-Chinese) martial arts which also use chin na.
The techniques of chin na come in a variety of "flavors" if you will. I borrowed the following list off wikipedia because it included the (hopefully correct) Chinese terms, but I am adding my own descriptions. {note; after writing this I dusted off my copy of "Comprehensive Applications of Shaolin Chin Na" by Dr.Yang Jwing-Ming to show and discuss with my partner and found this same list in there}
fen jin/zhua jin- These are techniques which seize (zhua) or divide (fen) body tissues, primarily muscle and tendon. An eagle talon pinch and shake targeted at the love handles is a relatively safe technique you can use at home to practice zhua jin and see what it is about. First, make sure you have a partner willing and ready to let you try it. Prepare by bending your fingers sharply down and in, like making a tight C shape, then spread the digits apart just until you feel the bones in your hand shift into position (you should know it when you feel it). Next, using three fingers and the thumb (all but the pinkie) take hold of the"meaty" portion of your partner's waist, just above the hip bones (the area commonly known as the "love handles") and squeeze, hard, rolling your fingers toward your palm (like an eagle closing it's talons) while rotating your hands in a counter-clockwise motion (toward uke's back) and shaking like a dog tearing at an old rag. Make sure you do not have long nails before attempting this. The target is not just the skin but the musculature underneath. Done correctly it may cause the legs to buckle and should cause a good bit of pain, but should also subside rather quickly when released. A more serious and combat-oriented examples would be attacking H-2, L-5 or LI-12&13 around the bicep using the same "eagle claw" technique described above. Even a physically weaker person can temporarily disable the arm in this way and, with enough force, severe damage is possible. These points are often used in combinations to lock the arm.
cuo gu- these are techniques to displace, dislocate, and break bones and joints. The back of the elbow is a common target for this. Used in combinations with wrist techniques the effect is synergistic. By bending the hand of the uke into a "goose neck" and twisting the elbow joint will expose itself one way or the other, depending on how you apply the technique. Keeping the pressure on the wrist while applying pressure to the elbow simultaneously results in a crippling joint lock which can easily be transformed into outright destruction of the limb. Remember to think in "small circles" rotating the hand around the wrist, not the whole arm, thus you should draw the arm out and expose the elbow. Working the wrist and elbow in opposing directions of rotation can also help.
bi qi- any technique which interrupts or restricts breathing. While chokes are the obvious example, a bear hug or attack to the diaphragm would technically qualify. The "full nelson" is such an example. These are more dangerous knock-out techniques which, if not carefully monitored, could result in unintended death. As such, these are rarely discussed or practiced in conventional dojos. I believe I have mentioned the "scissors" or "crab claw" type choke before. It is a bi qi which also incorporates fen jin and dian xue. The thumbs press into the arteries at stomach 9 (the dian xue element) the fingers dig into the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius (fen jin, also, if your hands are big enough, you can hit points on the gall bladder meridian as well) and the bones of the thumb clamp into the trachea (bi qi). Both hands are held in an extended C shape, almost mimicking a crab claw, and the thumbs are criss-crossed at the base. As the hands dig into the neck, the wrists rotate slightly outward. Yes, I have actually used this in real life. Yes, it does leave you open to getting hit, but they also stop hitting pretty quickly. It also helps if you take them to the ground and grind your knees into their arms while choking from your center (lower dan tien) rather than with arms extended.
dian xue- These are techniques which target "pressure points" or, more specifically, those which correspond to major blood vessels located close enough to the surface as to be vulnerable to attack. Strikes to these points will often result in a knock out due to sudden drop in blood pressure. Chin na, however, refers to grappling and seizing. By squeezing these points in the arms and legs you can restrict blood flow and cause the limb to go limp or lose power. This can be handy when trying to apply a complex lock to an overpowering opponent. This is the secret of some arm locks which would have you bend the arm at the elbow by inserting your forearm into it. By applying pressure to the blood vessels there you can compound superior leverage (owing to your hopefully correct stance and positioning) with dian xue to weaken the forearm, thus ensuring your ability to maintain pressure and control at the wrist. Dian xue also targets nerve clusters (sometimes erroneously called "chi points" thus supporting the fallacy that arts like kyusho, dim mak, and chin na do not work because they are based on mystical thinking) which can cause disruptive electrical signals to be sent to the brain and body. Such is the case with the choke described above when the fingertips attack the points at the back of the neck. The brachial plexus, radial and ulnar nerves are also common dian xue targets.
rou dao- These are described as techniques which are "safe" for practice. Whether in a formal setting this means holding back force to protect uke, any technique which is not forbidden for safety concerns, or those which do not directly attack vital points, I cannot say. I can, however, attest to the existence of certain points which do not correspond to the traditional acupuncture points yet are very effective at controlling the opponent. One which I teach to beginners and children who may be tempted to abuse more dangerous techniques is actually between two points on the conception vessel (dividing the front of the body going up the center) -23 and 24 Ren to be specific- located at the tip of the submental triangle at the mandibular symphysis, or under the chin, right at the front. By pressing in and up, almost with a "come hither" type motion, the entire body is easily controlled. Striking this point with significant force at the prescribed angle will often result in a concussive knock out, but to use the hand or arm results only in profound influence over the uke's balance. This is a key point in many throws and take downs that involve a "clothesline" type of technique. Twisting the forearm in a small circle to activate this point while turning the body at the waist makes bringing them down much easier than turning or throwing alone would. So, learning to use this point in a most gentle way is quite safe, yet it can be exploited with "harder" techniques to cause significant damage. This, to me, seems a good example of rou dao.
So, one thing that I like to do, though I know many will take issue with it, is try and condense a mass of information into more digestible bits for quicker assimilation, allowing the student to get a grasp of the fundamentals without having to learn each and every specific technique. This has been done in other martial arts as well. A prime example is the way the Filipino martial art of Kali, which contained many advanced techniques, weapons, and esoteric concepts (including alternative medicine and spiritual elements) was condensed down into Eskrima and Arnis where specific techniques are taught in terms of angles of attack/approach and weapons become analogous to each other- a sword, a stick or a hand all being dealt with in much the same manner. Such teaching methodology allows for much more efficient transmission of knowledge, in my opinion. Some may think it smacks in the face of tradition, but, in a fight, the person you are applying a technique to does not care what it is called or what grand master invented it while watching a hummingbird fight a bumblebee or whatever. As long as it works and it saves your life, then that means you can live to learn about it another day and tell the stories to your grand kids while you teach them in the traditional manner should you feel so inclined...
Please, do go out and learn this stuff properly, when you can, from a qualified instructor. Learn in the traditional manner, with respect to the traditions, and do as your master says without showboating or rushing anything. Understand that I am presenting an over-simplified version just to familiarize readers with the concepts and theories underlying the techniques. If you try and apply it without knowing the specifics of how to do so, or what the results will be, that's on you. On the same note, however, if someone threatens your life and you try something, not knowing for sure what it will do, and it happens to work, you may have lucked out, but knowing this at least improved your odds slightly, and that is why I write this. Traditionalists can disagree all they want, I am not at war with them, even though they may take issue with me.
Right then, now that we understand each other... Chin Na, like everything else, has certain patterns. Whether you know the specific locations of the points, or the anatomical features behind them, you can still find and exploit them (though, I remind you, doing so without this knowledge may result in unexpectedly severe injury, even death, so, again, I encourage sincere study before attempting anything). Here we go;
When attacking a joint, look to the points and creases. Anything that only bends up and down, like a knuckle, elbow, or knee, can be thought of as a "box" joint. The corners of a box can be crushed most effectively by striking them in an X pattern, and the box can be collapsed by driving down through the crease where two flaps meet. Wrists, shoulders and hips are all "circle" joints but even these have limits. Think in 3-D here. A clock's hands can go around and around all day on a vertical plane, but move them horizontally and they easily snap. The trick with circle joints is to hyper-extend them and force them in an unnatural direction. Body positioning is of utmost importance here, because you must trap the opponent or move quickly when you have the advantage before they can compensate for your movement as will be natural to them when the body is threatened. Again, getting into the creases will often reveal hidden nerve and blood points.
When attacking muscles, again, look for the creases. When you flex a muscle, lines form. The target points are often between those lines, or on the tips. The peak of the bicep is one, the tendons which connect it at the ends are two more. You do not have to be an acupuncturist to see these are vulnerable points, and you don't have to know what organs are affected by that meridian to inflict pain. This is all valuable knowledge, but irrelevant when it comes to protecting your life by taking someone down. Simply "divide the muscle" by driving your bony fingertips or knuckles into them and separating the fibers, like ripping up coconut husk.
The muscles which control the lungs are protected by the ribs, so you have to penetrate the ribs in some way to get to them. The suprasternal notch (they little key hole where your collar bones meet) is the most direct rout, and, lo and behold, it is one of those crevices revealed by the anatomy. Pressing into this hole will affect the breathing. Striking the ribs hard enough for the force to penetrate will do the same, particularly if you hit the floating ribs, or strike any of them in such a way that causes the connective cartilage to give a bit. The nerves which affect the breathing vicariously would be discovered accidentally by following the other tactics.
Use small circles. There are so many ways in which this simple concept applies. When bending a "box" joint, folding it in toward its "crease" as if making a small circle around it will control it MUCH better than using a wide motion. The same applies to "circle" joints. You can swing your arms like a windmill, but driving the shoulder in a tight circle will cause pain and dislocation. Likewise, when seizing a point around muscle or bone, moving your digits in small circles will apply variable pressure to the point, thus preventing the body from coping with it as easily as it would with constant pressure. Also, this makes it more likely you will hit the point at the correct angle at some point in your rotation. Using the correct angle, then making even smaller circles while applying it will make an even bigger difference, but you can refine the technique once you discover the point.
"A neck is a neck" someone once said. Any part of the anatomy which resembles a neck can be attacked like the neck. The same methods for an effective choke to the throat can be applied to the wrist. The "full nelson" hold applied to the neck via the head is exactly the same as the "goose neck" applied to the wrist via the hand. Choking the "love handles" uses the same basic motion as the scissor choke described above. Even the back of the knee conceals blood vessels and nerves which can be attacked with a "choke" as does the inner elbow. Using the thumb to penetrate into these channels while using the fingers for leverage is simple chin na. If you can find crevices in the musculature, tendons, or bones in which to place the fingers, that is even better chin na.
It can be difficult, if not impossible, to recall all the anatomical details in a serious self-defense situation. You cannot rely on fine motor skills to attack highly specific points in highly specific ways. You are not going to be thinking about the medical science behind how and why it works, nor the results of using it. Your first and only priority is to get out alive, not the safety of your assailant. Do not go too far, but do not hold back either. Neutralize, then get away. Even with formal training, it will avail you naught if your mind is reeling to recall so many details under pressure. These simple principles, along with practical training, will make it much easier for you to apply chin na techniques when you need them without too much hesitation. Toying with it unsupervised may be dangerous, but doing nothing when your life is threatened is dangerous too. Do not rely on simple words and theory. You can practice on yourself, or with a willing partner, and your own risk, or with a master who will have you sign a safety waver. Martial arts is about hurting people, so there is always risk. Better to take a controlled risk, however, than to find yourself helpless in a high risk situation. Chin Na works, and it can give a physically inferior person a remarkable advantage over much more physically capable assailants. It is not much good in a group assault, I will go on and say that. However, when it comes to one-on-one, particularly in close quarters, the kinds of situations where devious people try to take advantage of your trust, chin na can really turn the tables.
Study anatomy. Look at pictures of blood vessels and nerves. Learn to find them. Develop your grip and reaction speed. Find a teacher if you can. Practice. Practice. Practice. Oh, and "tui na" is the healing aspect to this art, if anyone is interested ;) BALANCE in all things! ;)
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