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What is Chin Na?

In many Kung Fu styles (but not only), there are particular types of advanced interactions with the body of the adversary named “Chin Na”. These fighting techniques (with significant differences between schools / styles / masters) aim at:

Control / immobilize / force the opponent to surrender
Paralyze / hurt / break one or more opponent’s bodily elements
In the most extreme of cases, to take the life of the adversary

Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend our home study classes here Learn Kung Fu online: a beginner-to-expert course).

The word “Chin Na” or “Chinna” or “Qinna” literally means “grasping and holding” and it encloses various categories of techniques (according to the styles):

Those who work on the respiratory system
Those who work on breakings and displacements of bones
Those who work on the blood flow
Those who work on muscles, tendons, etc.

In the study of this branch of Kung Fu, are also included:

The relative countermoves
Many neutralization methods (to “cancel” or “limit” the caused damages)

A note by Master Kongling – Of course, it is not possible to carry out a neutralization for all techniques (see breaks, etc.) but for many others, by acting promptly, it is possible to limit the damage or even eliminate it completely (a kind of first aid).

The use of Chin Na

A note by Master Kongling – A big part of this knowledge can be applied in self-defense contexts but only after years and years of serious training (read A scheme to quickly learn any kind of technique). If we are not prepared for everything that comes before (working on striking moves, spatial intelligence, sparring, balance, etc., read Introduction to the idea of Precision Control), it is ridiculous to think to be able to use in a real scenario so articulated techniques (especially against prepared opponents, read Why martial arts do not work: 5 reasons).

Despite the eyes of today’s civilized world, Chin Na may appear extreme but in the past, they were considered “compassionate”, because in most cases they allow ending a clash (potentially lethal) without killing.

The result of the correct execution of a Chin Na can be:

An immobilization – Immobilize the opponent with the intent of demonstrating an overwhelming superiority
A slight damage – Cause a small injury able to discourage the continuation of the fight
A serious damage – Cause serious damage that makes it impossible to continue to combat

The fact is that these methods can be efficiently performed at multiple levels of incisivity:

From the lowest (for instance in learning / teaching)
Up to the highest (which involves serious injury if not even death)

A note by Master Kongling – Behind this millennial knowledge (still widely applied by high-level martial artists, military special forces, etc.) there is a profound and articulated scientific study of body mechanics (double-stranded with TCM, traditional Chinese medicine). Contrary to what many claim to teach, it is not an ensemble of shortcuts to prevail without knowing how to fight but the landing point of a serious and thorough preparation.

In the specific context of 6 Dragons Kung Fu, we will see, with time, several of these techniques (from the simplest / educational to the most articulated, from the most traditional to the ones born / perfected in our days).

Final notes

To terminate this introduction it should be emphasized that:

What is most important in the interiorization of Chin Na is not the mechanical application of each individual technique but the understanding of the founding concepts / principles behind them
Those who choose the techniques as their point of arrival, limit their ability to fight to old, outdated things (of which all non-amateurs know the counter-moves), the true expert instead seeks (always through the study of the techniques) their founding principles
The idea is that at the end of the path, we should be able to improvise and adapt, at the speed of instinct, “new” applications based on each fighting context
In conclusion, it must be stressed that without a high-level attitude, it is better to opt for normal striking techniques; the best thing that we can do with a low-level Chin Na interiorization is to trick our friends in predetermined settings, nothing more
…

In the next article of this series (and in the following), we will look at the basics of this important branch of martial arts (read Chin Na: the basics).

In-depth video courses

Chin Na: Principles and Learning – A Step by step video course about Chin Na (for beginners)
Hand grip strength conditioning – A visual explanation about how to improve the grasping capability of the hands

In-depth articles

Chin Na technique: twist the wrist – A sample Chin Na technique that acts on the opponent’s wrist
Stretch the upper limbs: 3 easy exercises – Elongation exercises that contain Chin Na principles

Questions

Reply in the comments and share your experience:

Have you ever suffered a Chin Na technique?

Author: Master Kongling

Founder of 6 Dragons Kung Fu.

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