> Here is what I mean - if I learn the concepts "delete = d", "change = c", "copy(yank) = y", "in = i" and "around = a", I can construct "delete around (" = "da(", "yank block" = "yank around {" = "ya{", "change array contents" = "change inside [" = "ci[" and so on.
Vim is super cool in how it lets you combine commands. There's nothing quite like it in emacs. Emacs generally takes a more interactive approach, where each part is a separate command that can be interactively repeated. It's left to the user to combine them either by recording (and saving) a macro or by taking the function names for the commands and writing their own command. Emacs is rarely fewer keystrokes by default. For people who like vim editing commands there's viper, vimpulse, and evil.
da( = C-r ( RET C-w
My C-w is customized to cut the appropriate thing at point if there's no region. Without that you'd need a C-M-SPC before C-w
I would often do C-M-u repeatedly as it would cycle me through [, (, and {.
ya{ = C-r { RET M-w
Again I'd normally use C-M-u instead of C-r {, but if you know you want a { this is better. The difference between emacs and vim approach is clear here. Emacs separates the things and makes each step interactive, so you don't have to think before hand how many { are between cursor and where you want to start yank.
ci[ = C-M-9 C-k
C-M-9 is my custom which goes inside [, (, or {.
C-k is is paredit's kill, which goes to closing item instead of end of line.