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Chin Na is a Chinese term describing techniques used in the Chinese martial arts that control or lock an opponent’s joints or muscles/tendons so he cannot move, thus neutralizing their fighting ability. Also chin na su, su meaning technique. Chin na su literally means technique of catching and locking in Chinese.Villari’s Shaolin Kempo Karate incorporates White Tiger Chin Na. Long before either the Chinese or the Okinawans practiced and developed their arts, the Tibetans and Mongolians had their own form of combat from which the venerable art of Chin Na, or the art of the White Tiger, was further developed - a devastating form of locking, seizing, holding and grappling. The Tibetans and the Mongols were masters of grappling.

The secret Art of the White Tiger is the ultimate form of neutralizing an opponent, utilizing holding, seizing, locking, throwing, felling and delivering controlled pain. No other martial art gives such control over an attacker.

For street defense, I believe possessing the knowledge and skill in this art offers these four powerful advantages over other grappling arts including mixed martial arts, Brazilian jiu jitsu, and other wrestling and grappling sports:

Advantage Number One- Yielding

Chin Na does not require overwhelming strength. Yielding (not retreating, which I will address in future video lessons) equips a smaller individual with the ability to control and immobilize a bigger, stronger opponent;

Advantage Number Two

Seizing and controlling blood vessels, breathing and nerve centers. This differs from mere chokes and strangulation in that it may be applied not only to the windpipe directly but also to muscles surrounding the lungs, supposedly to shock the system into a contraction which impairs breathing. Seizing requires sinew strength, not muscular strength, which can be developed by women and children as well as males. Applying a tiger claw or eagle’s talon to a nerve center “paralyzes” your opponent and gives you full control over how much pain you deliver.

Advantage Number Three

Not generally going to the ground. Although Chin Na teaches devastating ground technique, the trapping and felling skills give you the advantage of taking your opponent to the ground while maintaining the superior standing position. This is vital for effective defense in multiple attacker street scenarios.

Advantage Number Four

Mongol Locks. The Mongols perfected the art of holding, locking and throwing. These incredibly powerful techniques completely immobilize your opponent and give those with the strength the ability to break the neck, spine, and other joints. A deadly art not taught until only to very advanced students.

Watch Grandmaster Fred Villari teach White Tiger Chin Na. Contact me directly for more information on how to obtain the complete Chin NA: The Art of the White Tiger.

10th Degree Black Belt Fred Villari, Grandmaster of the 20th century and founder of Shaolin Kempo Karate, gave an impromptu class in Mongol locking techniques to 60 of his studio operators attending the 2nd Annual Villari Summit in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

For more than 45 minutes, Grandmaster Villari taught multiple variations of these amazingly powerful locking techniques, focusing on how to implement them in a practical, “on the street” encounter.

After 36 years with Villari’s I am continually humbled and amazed by the Grandmaster’s skill and depth of knowledge. When people ask me why I am still as enamored with the martial arts as when I was a White Belt, I point to events such as this.

Yes, it is wonderful to feel like a beginner again!

 Defense experts tell women to fight back

By Jessica Heslam  |   Tuesday, January 29, 2008  |  http://www.bostonherald.com  |  Local Coverage

Photo by Angela Rowlings

The T’s top cop, Paul MacMillan, says subway gropers tend to prey on women on crowded trains.

So what should you do if you’re groped or fondled by a subway pervert? Slap him silly and give him a loud verbal lashing, says one veteran self-defense expert.

“A women should immediately slap the guy and loudly say, ‘Don’t touch me like that’ and move away,” said David Leggeri, owner of Villari’s Self Defense Centers in Somerville.

Leggeri also suggests you shout loud enough so others realize you’ve been assaulted. “That’s going to embarrass the guy so he’s going to get off the train,” he said.

A woman should also trust her sixth sense, Leggeri added.

“Before you step onto the car, step back,” he said. “Let other people get on the car first and see how you feel about the people that are getting on the car. If there’s a car with more women on it, get on that car.”

You shouldn’t be afraid to move to another seat or another part of the train if the person near you makes you feel uncomfortable, Leggeri said.

To stay on the safe side, you should avoid traveling alone whenever possible and take self-defense classes, said Leggeri, a ninth-degree black belt.

While authorities were able to catch a suspect after a victim snapped his photo with her cell phone camera, the T’s MacMillan said a woman should only take the perv’s picture as long as she doesn’t put herself in harm’s way.

“We found that that picture was extremely helpful in identifying that suspect,” he said.

Go with the Flow

Develop Body Wisdom through eurhythmics and you will unleash your physical and mental powers.

Eurhythmics is the art of harmonious, rhythmical body movement. It is a dynamic system, marked by a continuous sequential flow of movement. It requires shutting off the mind, shutting the mouth, and letting the body take the lead.

As a training principle, we speak of this concept as “the empty mind” or “no mind”. In Japanese, the translation is Moo (none) and Shing (mind) and in Korean, Moo Shim.

The system is aerobic, quick to learn, and will help you and your students build confidence from your training. Here are the simple steps to follow:

Empty the mind and find great wisdom.

Repeat a harmonious pattern of movements rhythmically until reflex is conditioned.

Repeat this pattern on both sides to become equally dextrous.

Repeat this pattern with increasing speed to prevent an analytical mental process and to further ingrain wisdom i the body.

Do not burden yourself with overly critical self-assessment or demands for personal perfection. Train hard but relax, go with the flow, and your best will emerge.

From time to time, I will post kata video from various styles so we can discuss the similarities and differences.

This is a fine example of Italian Shotkan champion Luca Valdesi. For you Shaolin Kempo Karate students, you will see the similarities in movement to our Five Pinan.

Being Shotokan, it is by nature more rigid and linear in technique. Yet Mr. Valdesi is powerful and explosive in his execution. This is a big part of why Grandmaster Villari values karate as a foundation of his art. 

Open the Door

Walk into a dojo and feel the positive energy. Feel the tradition, the honor, the respect, the courtesy, and the warmth. You will feel welcomed by the smiling faces of your fellow students and teachers.

Ahead, you will face the doors to learning. Afraid or not, open these doors and proceed without fear because supportive hands will be there to help and to guide you. Pause for a moment and visualize the new you. See yourself with strength and flexibility and grace and power. See yourself at your best.

Knowledge in the mind. Honesty in the heart. Strength in the body. It is my goal and responsibility, as it is the goal and responsibility of all black belts to pass on this tradition of excellence. To share with those who follow the rewards that will come from a commitment to the disciplined demands of martial arts insruction. To pass on the feeling of empowerment that the martial arts offers to all who walk the path and all who can say with sincerity, “Hey, I’m stronger than I thought I was.”

When a martial artist delivers a punch or kick, the object is to remain loose and light. This aids speed and focus. The only time that rigid force is needed in karate is when contact is made. Most karate movements are loose, light, fluid, agile and flexible, rather than tense, hard, rigid and stiff.The martial artist realizes that although he may be young and powerful today he must prepare for tomorrow when he will be neither. If he relied on brute strength alone, it would follow that he would become a less efficient warrior as he aged and became physically weaker. The martial artist accepts that in addition to continued strength training, he must also work on endurance, speed, agility, timing and coordination.

All opponents cannot be defeated through head charging confrontation. As the martial artist reaches the black belt level, he learns an ever increasing number of physical and mental techniques to deal with opponents. The martial arts offer a lifetime learning opportunity.

In your personal dealings, remain loose and light. Eliminate stress. There is rarely need to be tense and hard-headed. Many fights can be won and problems solved with calm reason and a soft voice.

Discover the Greatness Within

Martial artists should put more emphasis on becoming athletes first. Get your bodies in shape. Don’t try to hide or pretend any longer. Quit hiding behind your PC keyboard, living the fantasy through magazines and videos or camouflaging your insecurities behind some need for certification.

There is only one way to become a real fighter and that is to go to a real gym with high athletic standards. Don’t watch. Make a commitment to yourself to go back to your basics. With enthusiasm, you must practice and keep practicing. Then, get out there and fight. Never yield. Never quit. Strength, wisdom, and spirit are the traits of greatness. Work hard, train smart, study with the best, and you will discover the greatness within yourself.