I
was just reminded of one of the most valuable books I have. Of course I can’t
find my copy right now. It was the 1984 edition of Advanced Tai Chi 2 by Dr. Yang Jwing- Ming. At a time kata applications were first
being discussed in the magazines as ‘bunkai’
he showed how each of the major techniques of tai chi could be applied.
And going from memory the structure he used was this. Each movement was shown
as working in 3 different ways;
Downing
the Opponent
Chin
Na
Cavity
Strikes
I have seen others adopt this analysis with
changes such as dividing sub-characteristics into separate divisions. Such as
turning the 3 methods into 5 methods,
Downing the
Opponent
meaning using the technique as a takedown of throwing technique.
Chin Na controlling
techniques which could also project the attacker.
Cavity Strikes or where the
technique strikes into the body for effect.
Taken together a useful way to analyze motions from
form.
It
certainly in not the only way to do this, but it is interesting. It sure helped
me understand what a logic of application could be.
The
lesson about time you keep learning, is how often what was old is new again.
Martial literature, which in most cases is a form of vanity press (one time
publicational) even that which is provoking at the time of publication, dosen’t
reach the new audience unless we share it exists from time to time.
Specifically
the writings of Dr. Yang Jwing- Ming, sharing both his arts and other works
from Chinese Martial writings,which were very thought provoking when initially
published, are now often overlooked.
But
when published they were at the front of the wavefront of what was happening.
For
myself, from my beginning kata application was not a concern with karate. I
later studied yang tai chi and various Chinese forms, more for knowledge that
martial use, of course some of it came along with the rest. But I was not ready
for that knowledge then.
At
a later date, when Advanced Tai Chi 2 was
published, a friend who was then teaching me his families form of ‘bunkai’ and
some Indonesian tjimande, remarked that this publication could be what was in
his tjimande.
My
tai chi instructor certainly knew what the tai chi and Northern forms I had
studied could do, but it wasn’t what I wanted then.
I first took Dr. Yang’s book, random ally opened
a page and tried to use it. It worked. The Chinese forms just to be a more knowledgeable
judge. Tai Chi was just to do tai chi. And that is what I got.So I turned to
another page at random, That one worked too. I discovered I could use all of
it. And I had not studied that.
In
the long run it was more than just what I could do. It provided me a framework
which I have used for application studies ever since, Now 3 decades later.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comprehensive
Applications of SHAOLIN CHIN NA
By Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming
This
exhaustive work explains how Chinese Chin Na works. Written in 1995 as well as
a series of videos and subsequent works on the topic.
Dr.
Yang, IMO , used his engineering background and applies it to topic structuring
Chin Na to provide specific development of the topic. Chin Na (Qin Na) is found
in most Chinese systems in one way or another. While one work will never
address every version, this work goes a long way to look at the topic.
At
a major level he addresses the use of Chin Na against various attacks:
Against
Barehand Attacks
Against Blocking
Against Kicking
Against Knife Attacks
Against Grabbing
Offensive Qin Na Techniques
More
specifically against grabbing]
Wrist Grabbing
Arm Grabbing
Shoulder Grabbing
Chest and Rear Back Grabbing
Neck Grabbing
Belt Grabbing
Embracing
Hair
Grabbing
There
were also videos showing the techniques. They are most useful used with the book, Each assists the other, if you cannot train
directly with Dr. Yang. Today searching YouTube most of these can be found
there.
Of
course these can be useful companions for skill building to accompany karate
application studies. There is no question to gain all of these skills requires
much time. Which few will take the time to do.
However
as individual technique studies building skills to use is where this work
becomes most valuable for most of us. There is required skill building and that
takes time.
It is also important to realize they can be
very painful and dangerous for your training partner. Using slow speed to build
control, and soft application of these techniques will prevent injury.
When
my wife took Dr. Yang’s course some of the members of the clinic would not
listen to Dr. Yang’s advice and always went full speed and power. They
continually injured each other.
It
time you will appreciate that some of them are answers for how to apply some of
your kata techniques. But the human body only is designed to work in certain
ways.
Other
systems developed similar techniques. Such as Ju Jitsu,
As
for any body of knowledge
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