I had all of these episodes saved on my Tivo, but something tells me that they are gone thanks to the move.

Mr. Patterson: What a killer comment! Thank you for taking the time to provide us with some insight into chin na. For readers that are interested in more, check out Mr. Patterson’s blog Striking Thoughts.

I’ve watch most of these episodes, but haven’t seen this one. I find it interesting how the two American gentlemen hosting the show always comment on the force of the power and speed of the blows, but never mention things like slipping to the dead side on the first video and the roll of the fist around the captured wrist in the second.

Nice catch you your part sir!

I’m looking forward to your next couple articles… I know you’ve probably got a dozen or so pre-written, so out with them!

1. Most of the chin na that I’m learning tries to position you to the attacker’s outside. This so at best they have to punch across their body which is not very effective.

2. Not sure about block counter parallels…We are taught to emphasize speed over technique. If you pull chin na off with speed and get it half write you still can disrupt someone. This opens them up for the “kill shot” aka a punch, kick, knee, etc.

3.Balanced stances are very important. Last night when I learned “forward turning elbow” we use that exact same horse stance. Basically you check a punch, slide and grab, crank them into a goose neck wrist lock while simultaneously stepping through and to the side into horse stance. When you do this even if you mess the lock up they are off balance (aka uprooted). In fact, attacker is practically bent backwards and in half.

4. Vital striking is stressed more in chin na than taekwondo. Every chin na technique has the option (and intent) to give you a window where you can strike vital points. Funny but some martial arts might consider it dirty fighting. Also something called “stealing your opponent’s mind”.

5. The closest parallel to bunaki would be how the advanced chin na folks learn to freestyle flow from technique to technique and respond to their changing opponent. Sadly, at level one there’s not much of that because we are still foundation building.

So long as you keep being the sponge, you can use that title!

Thank you very much for stopping in.