Wahnam Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan) Thailand

3 Basic Chin Na Techniques of Wahnam Taijiquan

'Old Eagle Catches Snake' from Wahnam Taijiquan is very useful for Chi Na.

Chin Na includes the gripping, breaking,  and dislocating of limbs, bones and joints, it also the tearing of muscles, tendons and skin. It sounds quite brutal, but as my Sifu has often said “Chi Na is a compassionate art” that can enable you to quickly disable and subdue an assailant with out the need for excessive violence. Many people are un aware of the Chin Na techniques in Taijiquan, though there are actually plentiful amounts of Chi Na in traditional Taijiquan. Here is a good place to mention that the Chi Na techniques of Taijiquan should be applied using the philosophical tactics of Taijiquan, which take time to train. If you try to use the techniques with brute force and muscle power it will be very difficult to use Taijiquan Chi Na effectively, indeed pure muscle power is to be avoided in Taijiquan. Some of the Taijiquan tactics include ‘not meeting force with force’ and ‘flowing with your opponent’ this is useful to bare in mind when trying to apply Taijiquan Chin Na. For example when you have a hold of your training partners arm and are trying to execute a Chi Na it is important not to become physically tense and mentally locked into the application. This type situation can quickly enter into a contest of strength and expose you to other attacks as you become too focused on a contest of strength. It is better to flow with your opponent or to change technique if this situation arises.

Chin Na No.1 Throw water up to rice field

'Throw water up to rice field'

This technique is found in the Wahnam Taijiquan set called ‘flowing water floating clouds’ and his quite a nifty technique when you are stuck in a fix. Quick and flowing movements help to apply this technique. Below for fun, Mark and I start standing with him grabbing me and threatening to punch me. I quickly step back into a false leg stance to extend mark’s arm, then I pull his wrist down and lock his elbow joint. If done with good timing and force it is possible to break the elbow joint, so it is best to exercise caution when practicing this technique.

The arm that grabs the shirt is extended.

Making use of 'throw water' by moving to the side and gripping extended arm.

Applying 'throw water' as a Chi Na, from here it is advisable to move to another technique, for example 'old eagle catches snake'

Carry Moon at chest will follow.

Chin Na No.2 Carry Moon at Chest

'Carry Moon at Chest' a pattern from Wahnam Taijiquan.

Like ‘Throw water up to rice field’ this technique is also found in the Wahnam Taijiquan set called ‘flowing water floating clouds’.It takes skill trained over a decent period of time to be able to apply the technique effectively, as it requires good timing and footwork to execute. Also you will notice that the stance or arms (depending which way you look at it) are the opposite way around to the stance of the picture showing only the form of ‘Carry the moon at Chest’. Why is this? It’s because at the time of doing the application that happened to be the convenient way to apply the technique effectively. In Wahnam we always aim to have ‘picture perfect’ form in application and combat but if we need to change hand patterns to be effective we certainly do it without a moments thought, this is a good example to show that Wahnam Taijiquan is ‘alive’ and is able to adapt and change to the situation at hand.

Mid lelvel attack arrives.

Intercepting the attack by gripping and barring the arm.

Applying 'Carry the Moon at the Chest'

'Carrying the Moon at the Chest' Notice the change of stance from the standard mode.

‘Old Eagle Catches Snake’ is to follow

Chin Na No.3 Old Eagle Catches a Snake

'Old Eagle Catches Snake' from Wahnam Taijiquan.

‘Old Eagle Catches Snake’ is a hall mark of Wahnam Taijiquan and is a very effective. Indeed I can remember the first time my Sifu applied this technique on me. It was the first time I had trained with Sifu and he asked me to punch him, I did so and was quickly ‘kissing the ground’ with my face. I could not move or resist the Chi Na at all and was duly impressed. Even though I was much bigger than Sifu he controlled me like I was small boy!

Below you can see it is used to avoid a punch and then applied on the elbow joint.

Mid level attack arrives.

Intercepting and Gripping the arm.

Turning the elbow joint over.

Applying 'Old Eagle catches Snake'

Series complete, conclusion to follow!

Hit, Kick ,Grip, Throw conclusion

Wahnam Tai Chi Chuan felling technique 'Fisherman Casts Net'

If you remember I started this series by asking the question.

Have you ever see a Taijiquan practitioner dodge a kick, swiftly jump forward, strike the would be kicker, capture him in a joint lock all before felling him forcefully to the ground!!!??

Again, if you have witnessed the above you are lucky, but I am sure that many people who know Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) as the ‘gentle dance’ in the park would have trouble conceptualizing how Taijiquan could be used in the above description. My aim was to show just some of the basic applications of Wahnam Taijiquan that could be used in such a situation, though of course it would take regular training with a qualified instructor and daily practice to able to use such applications effectively. It is also my aim to make more pictures of Wahnam Taijiquan application available for viewing pleasure.

Application of 'Swinging Fist'

I hope you enjoyed this ‘Hit, Kick, Grip, Throw series.

Robin