Chin Na
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Chin Na or Qinna (擒拿, pinyin: qín ná; Wade-Giles: ch'in2 na2; Cantonese: kàhm nàh) is a Chinese term describing techniques used in the Chinese martial arts that control or lock an opponent's joints or muscles/tendons so he cannot move, thus neutralizing the opponent's fighting ability. Also chin na su, (traditional Chinese: 術; pinyin: shù meaning technique) literally translates as technique of catching and locking in Chinese. Some schools simply use the word na to describe the techniques.
The recent understanding that grappling is as important as striking has also caused some Chinese martial arts instructors to focus on their chin na techniques, even expanding the system by incorporating or developing new ones. This is one reason why the chin na of one school may differ from that of another. There are over 700 traditional techniques and countless more being developed/adopted, depending on the specific school.
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[edit] Chin na and the development of jujutsu
Chin na is also accredited in the development of jujutsu.[citation needed] Japanese and Chinese documents state that Chen Yuan-Yun (Chin Gempin or Chen Yuan-Pin; 1587-1674) was the first to introduce Chinese ju techniques (柔道 rou dao) into Japan during the early to middle 1600's. One such Japanese document is “Collections of Ancestor’s Conversations Volume 2".
“Honcho Bugei Shoden” (also referred to as “Kanjo Shoden”) written by Hinatsu Shigetaka in 1716 states the following:
- Recently, Chin Gempin came to Japan and stayed at the Kokusa monastery, where he met three ronin: Fukuno Hichiroemon, Isogai Jirozaemon, and Miura Yojiemon. Chin Gempin told them that in China, there is an art of seizing a man. He said that he had seen it practiced and gave a brief example of the art. Chin Gempin also stated that he had not learned all of the principles of the art. Upon hearing this, the samurai further researched this art. Once achieving a degree of skill, the samurai founded the Kito-ryu school of Jujutsu. This same story is repeated in various Japanese documents including Honcho Seji Danki, Bujutsu Ryusoroku, Roi Shintoryo Hisho, Kitoryu Kempohi, Kitoryu Toka Mondo, Owan Meisho Zue, and Zoin Kinsei Kijindenas. Rickson Gracie also attributes the Chinese with bringing the techniques of Jiu-Jitsu into Japan, as stated on his website, when explaining the origin of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Qinna rou dao can also be found in shuai jiao. Judo's development was influenced by Kito-ryu. Similarities between judo and shuai jiao are apparent through the common link with chin na rou dao. The process of both of these arts becoming a sport further influenced similarities within their softer techniques.
However, grappling systems in Japan do predate the introduction of chin na as demonstrated by such documents as Yukisenjo-Monogatari, Kuyamigusa, and Hitotsubashi-Joken and by the existence of many schools of grappling that predate Chen's visit. One of the oldest jujutsu school still in existence, Takenouchi Ryu, was founded in 1532, well before the birth of Chen Yuan-Yun.
[edit] Techniques
While techniques along the lines of chin na are trained to some degree by most martial arts worldwide, many Chinese martial arts are famous for their specialization in such applications. Styles such as Eagle Claw (Yīng zhua quán 鷹爪拳), which includes 108 different chin na techniques, Praying Mantis (Tánglángquán 螳螂拳) the "Tiger Claw" techniques of Hung Gar (洪家), and shuai jiao are well known examples.
Chin na can generally be categorized (in Chinese) as:
- "Fen Jin" or "Zhua Jin" (dividing the muscle/tendon, grabbing the muscle/tendon). Fen means "to divide", zhua is "to grab" and jin means "tendon, muscle, sinew". They refer to techniques which tear apart an opponent's muscles or tendons.
- "Cuo Gu" (misplacing the bone). Cuo means "wrong, disorder" and gu means "bone". Cuo Gu therefore refer to techniques which put bones in wrong positions and is usually applied specifically to joints.
- "Bi Qi" (sealing the breath). Bi means "to close, seal or shut" and qi, or more specifically kong qi, meaning "air". "Bi Qi" is the technique of preventing the opponent from inhaling. This differs from mere strangulation in that it may be applied not only to the windpipe directly but also to muscles surrounding the lungs, supposedly to shock the system in to a contraction which impairs breathing.
- "Dian Mai" or "Dian Xue" (sealing the vein/artery or acupressure cavity). Similar to the Cantonese dim mak, these are the technique of sealing or striking blood vessels and chi points.
Chin means to seize or trap, na means to lock or break, and while those actions are very often executed in that order (trap then lock), the two actions can also be performed distinctly in training and self defense. Which is to say, a trap isn't always followed by a lock or break, and a lock or break is not necessarily set up by a trap.
There is quite a bit of overlap between chin na theory and technique with the branches of traditional Chinese medicine known as tui na (推拏) as well as the use of offensive and defensive qigong as an adjunct of chin na training in some styles.
[edit] See also
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