Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

10 Questions on Shaolin Chin-Na

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • #31
    You are welcome! I am happy to learn and share the word

    Question 10

    The Brazilian variant of Jiu-Jitsu is now a popular and respected martial art worldwide.

    Please can you discuss the similarities and differences between Shaolin Qin-na and modern Jiu-Jitsu.

    Sifu Andy Cusick


    Answer

    According to Chinese sources, a Shaolin chin-na master, Chen Yun Pin, went to Japan and taught Japanese warriors. This art evolved to become jujitsu, which means “the art of softness”. Jujitsu sources, as far as I know and I am not sure of its validity, do not mention this Chinese origin.

    Japanese jujitsu was an effective fighting art. At the end of the 19th century, jujitsu evolved into judo, which means “the way of softness”, when the founder of judo, Kano Igoro, removed all dangerous techniques of jujitsu and made it into a sport.

    In the 20th century, Carlos Gracie developed the art which is now popularly called Brazilian jujitsu. Carlos Gracie, who himself was a world champion, learned from the great Japanese champion, Maeda Mitsuyo, who in turn learned from Kana Igoro.

    I do not know enough of jujitsu to give a fair comment on it. Hence my comparison with chin-na is based on my limited knowledge of jujitsu.

    Although jujitsu was reputed to originate from chin-na according to Chinese sources, there are more differences than similarities between Shaolin chin-na and modern jujitsu.

    A major similarity is that both chin-na and jujitsu employ extensively what may be called gripping. But the similarity is superficial. Gripping in chin-na is on energy points. Gripping in jujitsu, which is actually holding in chin-na terminology, is holding opponents in locks.

    In chin-na, a distinction is made between holding and gripping. Holding is keeping in a particular position, whereas gripping is pressing into energy points. Chin-na actually means “holding and gripping”. A chin-na practitioner first holds a part of an opponent’s body, like a limb, then he grips into the opponent’s energy points. Jujitsu, I believe, does not make this distinction between holding and gripping. What is applied by a jujitsu practitioner on an opponent, like keeping the opponent in a lock, is holding.

    Another similarity is that both are “soft” arts. (Here the term “arts” is used loosely. Modern jujitsu, protected by safety rules, is more of a martial sport than a martial art.) But chin-na is relatively “harder” than jujitsu.

    Again, the similarity is superficial. Shaolin chin-na is an internal art, whereas modern jujitsu is external. In Shaolin chin-na training, much emphasis is placed on essence, energy and mind, whereas in modern jujitsu training, emphasis is placed on external physical movements.

    Like the distinction between holding and gripping in chin-na but not in jujitsu, the Chinese master who taught chin-na to his Japanese students probably taught only external forms, leaving our gripping energy points and training of essence, energy and mind.

    Basically Shaolin chin-na is a martial art where there are no rules in actual fighting, whereas modern jujitsu is a marital sport protected by safety rules. In Shaolin chin-na, a practitioner can grip an opponent’s throat or genitals, but this is not allowed by safety rules in modern jujitsu.

    Paradoxically, despite being a martial art where no rules abide, sparring in chin-na results in far less injuries than in jujitsu where safety rules disallow drastic techniques. A practitioner in chin-na has better control than a practitioner in jujitsu.

    Not many people may realize that chin-na techniques, despite appearing to be simple but are actually profound, are combat ending, whereas jujitsu techniques are not, although they may look complicated. In other words, when a chin-na practitioner releases his chin-na techniques, his opponents cannot continue to fight, but a jujitsu practitioner himself is being immobilized when he applies his locks on his opponents.

    This is because the chin-na techniques stop the energy flow, resulting in the opponents’ inability to fight. When a jujitsu exponent applies his locks on his opponents, he has to hold on to the locks. When he releases the locks, the opponents are also released and can continue to fight.

    There is a lot of ground fighting in modern jujitsu, like in Brazilian jujitsu, but ground fighting is infrequent in Shaolin chin-na. Being a sport, jujitsu practitioners are not allowed to strike their opponents when attempting to take the practitioners down to begin ground fighting. But in a fighting art where there are no protective rules, opponents foolhardy enough to attempt taking practitioners down, will be seriously injured by chin-na practitioners.

    Outwardly chin-na and jujitsu may appear similar. But deeper examination shows there are many differences.

    <End>
    Engage and maintain joyful practice!

    May all of you get the best benefits from what you do.

    Anton Schmick
    Shaolin Wahnam Germany Nord

    shaolinwahnamchina.com
    http://chikunghamburg.wordpress.com
    http://shaolinwahnam-nord.de
    http://kungfu-luebeck.de

    Comment


    • #32
      Thank you Sifu for the in-depth response.

      With Shaolin Salute,
      Sifu Andy Cusick

      Shaolin Wahnam Thailand
      Shaolin Qigong

      sigpic

      Connect:
      Twitter Facebook LinkedIn

      "a trained mind brings health and happiness"
      - ancient wisdom

      Comment


      • #33
        Dear Sigung,

        Thank you for answering my question so thoroughly.

        All the best,
        David
        Shaolin Wahnam USA

        "Every morning you are born again. What you do today is the most important thing".

        Comment


        • #34
          Last but not least! The final question on benefits of Chin Na for daily life

          Question 11

          Could you discuss the benefits of Chin Na in daily life?

          Situ Roeland Dijkema


          Answer

          It is worthy to note that transferring the benefits of kungfu training to daily living is a special feature of our school. As far as I know, it is unprecedented in all kungfu history. Some masters in the past might have benefited in their daily life as a result of their kungfu training, but, as far as I know, transferring the benefits of kungfu training to enrich our daily life, was never taught systematically and coherently as in our school.

          An obvious benefit of chin-na training is having a firm grip. This benefit can be transferred to our daily life, not just physically but also intellectually. As a result of our chin-na training, we have a firm grip of any concepts, aspirations, planning and other aspects of our daily life.

          Not many people realize that the use of tactics and strategies is important in chin-na. This use of tactics and strategies can enrich our daily life. As a result of our chin-na training, we do not merely perform our tasks haphazardly, but plan to complete our tasks well with tactics and strategies.

          Chin-na is an internal art, as its training involves essence, energy and mind. Please note that kungfu terms are used for convenience. In another context, of the three ultimates of Shaolin, chin-na and dim mark are considered external as they relate to external movements for combat, whereas neikung is internal as its cultivation does not involve much external movement.

          As an internal art, chin-na training contributes to good health, vitality and longevity. It is a good contrast to many martial arts which are detrimental to health.

          Chin-na is a compassionate martial art. Instead of cracking an opponent’s skull, breaking his bones or causing him serious internal injury so that he cannot continue fighting, chin-na disables an opponent from combat, but the opponent can later seek treatment to remedy the chin-na injury. Being compassionate enriches our daily life.

          <End>
          Engage and maintain joyful practice!

          May all of you get the best benefits from what you do.

          Anton Schmick
          Shaolin Wahnam Germany Nord

          shaolinwahnamchina.com
          http://chikunghamburg.wordpress.com
          http://shaolinwahnam-nord.de
          http://kungfu-luebeck.de

          Comment


          • #35
            Dear Sifu,

            Thank you for elaborating on the benefits of Chin-Na! It is an awe inspiring Art. I am very happy to attend this course!

            Dear Anton,
            Thank you and see you soon!

            Best wishes,
            Roeland Dijkema
            www.shaolinwahnam.nl
            www.shaolinholland.com

            Comment

            Working...
            X