CompleteMartialArts.com - Practical Chin Na: A Detailed Analysis of the Art of Seizing and Locking
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List Price: $19.95
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Manufacturer: Unique Publications
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 796
EAN: 9780865681750
ISBN: 0865681759
Label: Unique Publications
Manufacturer: Unique Publications
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 224
Publication Date: 1999-06
Publisher: Unique Publications
Studio: Unique Publications
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Editorial Reviews:
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Yuan Zhao Da, chief martial arts instructor at the Chinese Police Officer Academy in Beijing, China, provides an in-depth and practical introduction to the art of chin na. This work is a must for those who wish to learn and incorporate joint locking and throwing techniques into their martial art.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: The best out there
Comment: 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
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book on Chin-Na!
Comment: I found this to be a very thorough, detailed text on the subject of joint twisting and locking. Not only are the techniques well illustrated but the underlying principles are presented as well. Very well written, easy to understand. If you're interested in Chin-Na, you've got to have this one on your shelf.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Outstanding volume
Comment: 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.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Not a good choice for practical purposes
Comment: I bought this book in may 2003 hoping to expand my knowledge in joint-lock techniques that I use in police work.Sorry to say this book has been useless! Either the techniques are not explained with enough details to be praticed in real life or they are in fact not good techniques. A big disadvantage is that the follow-ups are not shown. I dont't have any idea what the author think you are going to do next standing beside TOP having him in a lock. The general idea is that joint-locks should end with control on the ground. Don't buy this book if you are serious about locks. Pictures and explanitions are not of high standard. As far as I can understand from them, techniques are not ment used in combat situations, but rather as a means to impress your buddies when they have had to much to drink.
Customer Rating:
Summary: HOW and WHY of Chin Na Studies
Comment: 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.
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