BENEFITS OF CHIN-NA IN DAILY LIFE
Being an internal art, chin-na gives us good health, vitality and longevity
Question
Could you discuss the benefits of Chin Na in daily life?
Situ Roeland Dijkema
Answer
It is worthy to note that transferring the benefits of kungfu training to daily living is a special feature of our school. As far as I know, it is unprecedented in all kungfu history. Some masters in the past might have benefited in their daily life as a result of their kungfu training, but transferring the benefits of kungfu training to enrich daily life, was never taught systematically and coherently as in our school.
An obvious benefit of chin-na training is having a firm grip. This benefit can be transferred to our daily life, not just physically but also intellectually. As a result of our chin-na training, we have a firm grip of any concepts, aspirations, planning and other aspects of our daily life.
Not many people realize that the use of tactics and strategies is important in chin-na. This use of tactics and strategies can enrich our daily life. As a result of our chin-na training, we do not merely perform our tasks haphazardly, but plan to complete our tasks well with tactics and strategies.
Chin-na is an internal art, as its training involves essence, energy and mind. Please note that kungfu terms are used for convenience. In another context, of the three ultimates of Shaolin, chin-na and dim mark are considered external as they relate to external movements for combat, whereas neikung is internal as its cultivation does not involve much external movement.
As an internal art, chin-na training contributes to good health, vitality and longevity. It is a good contrast to many martial arts which are detrimental to health.
Chin-na is a compassionate martial art. Instead of cracking an opponent’s skull, breaking his bones or causing him serious internal injury so that he cannot continue fighting, chin-na disables an opponent from combat, but the opponent can later seek treatment to remedy the chin-na injury. Being compassionate enriches our daily life.
The questions and answers are reproduced from the thread 10 Questions on the 72 Shaolin Arts in the Shaolin Wahnam Discussion Forum.
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