Training update

Last night we did the usual warm-up drills in chin na class: Finger-tip push-ups, catching phone books, catching a bag of BBs, weighted poles, horse jumps, etc. Then we seperated into two groups: Beginners and advanced.

Us newbies reviewed Two Children Worshipping the Budda and Butterfly Bores Through the Flowers. Here’s a video of the second technique. It really does not do the pain of this techniuqe justice.

One thing that the video does differently is to not roll the elbow at the entry. At 0:16 you can see his entry and he basically shoots to the side. We are being taught to shift our elbows to our center when grabbing the fingers and stepping. It’s a subtle difference and I’m not sure which is better at this point.

Incidentally that video also shows Double Finger Split. I’ve been introduced to it once and have not seen it since. It’s a fun one to watch but not so fun when you are on the receiving end!

We’ve been shown 80% of the level 1 locks. I know there’s more to learn but to be honest I appreciate the review. This stuff is so much harder to practice at home without a partner. When I get time I try to work on the basic movements and can occasionally talk my wife into being a good sport. (she likes chin na even less than taekwondo!)

A few weeks back the instructor gave me a sheet that explains the level 1 locks in detail. He also recommend Yang’s Analysis of Shaolin Chin Na. The problem is I’ve been so busy I’ve not had time to print the sheet out or order the book! Perhaps this weekend. I think both will really help me to review.

~BCP