Chin Na was founded by an Indian Priest who was visiting Chinese monasteries in the year 527 AD. The priest was disturbed by the frail condition of the monks and proceeded to meditate on this problem for nine years. The result was a regime of physical conditioning which included methods of self defense for the physically challenged monks. Today, many police departments use Chin Na as a "pain compliance" technique to restrain unruly prisoners without causing injury.

Chin Na is the study of how to control your opponent. It uses joint locks to limit mobility, and attacks acupuncture cavities and other sensitive parts of the body with strikes, grabs and other techniques. Chin Na is part of the course of study in almost all Chinese martial styles, and it can be a valuable addition to any other martial system. Chinese Chin Na is the root of the Japanese arts of Jujitsu and Aikido, and practitioners can use the study of Chin Na to increase their understanding of the theory and principles of their own arts.

Martial arts students typically learn to kick, punch, and knock their opponents down -- methods that require a lot of energy, agility, and strength. Chin Na, which can be translated as "catch and hold," involves twisting of the joints, applying pressure to blood vessels, choking, tripping, throwing, and grappling. The basis of Chin Na is understanding the body's anatomy and attacking vital areas. For example, by controlling a single finger, a 100 pound person can cause great pain to a 300 pound attacker.

Chin Na is not a martial art, but a subset of kung fu. It aids in the completion of a system, and compliments any fighter's ability, but it does not stand alone. Since Chin Na is a Chinese style, most Japanese or Korean oriented schools will not offer Chin Na. Look for a school that offers Chinese style martial arts and emphasizes hands-on classes.