Qin Na: The Chinese Art of Joint Manipulation

All disciplines of Martial Arts begin with self defense as the basis. Without self defense technique the form is an empty show only. Self defense techniques must always be taught with every form of martial arts. One can never become a Master of Tai Chi or any Martial Art without learning the self defense techniques!

All schools of Martial Arts teach a form of Qinna. It historically has, and even today, is almost always treated as a guarded secret, including in Chen Style Tai Chi.  16th generation Grandmaster (Chen Xin)… said he would rather burn all the information about Qinna than teach it to any unworthy student. Consider the information we are being taught as special and something to treasure.

We will learn many techniques and “secrets”, do not worry, but first must start with the basics and learn them well, for there is no progressing further without them.

Qinna techniques are considered so damaging that many schools who do teach it only teach a watered down version. Only a small percentage of all of the actual techniques are known and taught widely. As mentioned before, the Qinna techniques have been kept as a guarded secret throughout history, passed down to particular students chosen by their Masters. Few Masters have been taught the true art to its deepest levels.