Austin Wing Chun Kung Fu

A Path to Chi Sao

2011-06-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

DOAN CHI SAO

When most practitioners discuss Chi Sao they are really describing the exercises of Doan Chi Sao and Seong Chi Sao. Doan Chi Sao or single sticky hand is an exercise used in Wing Chun to sharpen the cycles of receiving, retaining and releasing energy. These cycles are also referred to as the attacking and defending sequences of Wing Chun. During the Doan Chi exercise the focus can remain on the position and timing of a single hand. In practice one person receives with bong sao, retains with tan sao and releases with a palm strike while the other receives with jum sao, retains with fuk sao and releases with a punch. As the arms transition through each phase the focus is on proper position and timing as cultivated through the individual lineage. In addition, the exercise allows for sharpening of the six elements of good form, the six applied principles of good form and other fundamental concepts to be discussed throughout the complete version of this article.

SEONG CHI SAO

The exercise of Seong Chi Sao or double sticky hand is an exercise used to further sharpen the above communication cycles with the added complexity of using both hands. Incorporating the additional hand offers a new level of difficulty in flowing through basic cycles. Now during practice one hand must receive while the other retains and one must release while the other retains. Practice of this kind builds independence in the hands while stressing the structure to differentiate between substantial and insubstantial elements of form. As the intensity in the Seong Chi Sao training increases the student is forced to continuously correct all of the details which eventually lead to the unique chi sao energy of a lineage.

During the exercise of Seong Chi Sao details associated with this unique energy can be slowly absorbed. As Chi Sao is absorbed by the student it begins to permeate every facet of Wing Chun training. Eventually even a simple straight punch is filled with this unique Chi Sao energy. The realization of the relationship between Chi Sao energy and a simple straight punch unlocks new avenues of skill training in the wing chun system.

CHI SAO

In contrast, the concept of Chi Sao extends far beyond the exercises of Doan Chi and Seong Chi Sao regardless of their application. One sould never wrestle a wrestler or box a boxer because this gives them the advantage, but if someone touches the wing chun man they are doing chi sao and the advantage goes to wing chun. This insight into how chi sao permeates everything in the wing chun is instructive. In fact, it is the defining characteristic of one’s wing chun skill. Every movement generated by the wing chun practitioner carries with it all the information of their skill. This information derives from application of every element and principle in wing chun during movements, combinations and techniques. The road to cultivating higher levels of chi sao is a meticulous one full of thought and refinement. There is no easy way to discover it, but careful study of the following should help light the path.

Austin Texas Kung Fu

2010-07-06T11:33:00.000-07:00

Just a few words about our Wing Chun training philosophy here in Austin Texas. My Sifu Karl Godwin always maximized Wing Chun training, with students, by removing all but the most essential talking. Remarkably, as a student's skill level increases new drills and exercises can be introduced without the teacher's verbal guidance. The student's hands naturally find their way through the new exercise with the teacher leading the way. Simple one word directions further supplement deficiencies in movement or structure without interrupting the workout cycle. This method of training allows the student ever expanding access to more techniques.

Here in Austin Texas we specialize in this kind of hands-on approach to learning Wing Chun. Workouts center around a theme, but routinely incorporate many aspects of Wing Chun such as empty hand sets, wooden dummy training, weapons and chi sao. For more information about what we do please visit our website.

Substantial and Insubstantial

2010-06-16T06:59:00.000-07:00

Properly differentiating substantial (yang) and insubstantial (yin) elements of structure opens new opportunities for cultivating skill. As one element of structure fills with substantiality it simultaneously empties its insubstantiality and vice-versa. The ability to continuously and smoothly empty and fill every part of the body as pressure is delivered and received creates ever sharper timing and precision.

To begin, if an element of form is to be considered substantial then it must be capable of supporting pressure while defending and attacking structure. If an element of form is to be considered insubstantial it must be capable of refined attacks to soft targets while also attacking and defending structure. If one side of the body is substantial then the other side must be insubstantial. Dividing this into smaller sections of the body such as the ulna and radial sides of the hand continues to unlock new levels of skill development.

Continuing this line of observation we highlight that there is no simple rule of thumb for differentiating substantial and insubstantial. Even concepts of yielding and controlling or inside and outside do not always predict substantial and insubstantial elements of form. Instead adhering to the ideas above allows for substantial and insubstantial to flow freely and manifest itself in any place that requires it.

Take as an example the Wing Chun technique "Kwun Sao". Kwun Sao is very yielding in nature and yet this property alone does not dictate its substantial and insubstantial elements. Both components of Kwun Sao (tan sao and di bong sao ) are capable of supporting pressure, if necessary, and they are both capable of attacking soft targets such as the eyes and groin. One hand contacts the inside while the other occupies the outside position. Here the substantial and insubstantial properties are more dependent on the timing and direction of force resulting from the flow of engagement.

Wing Chun is uniquely equipped for cultivating this skill by combining the wooden dummy, empty hand-sets, chi sao and weapons training. Properly training these areas of Wing Chun allows one to change between substantial and insubstantial with ever increasing precision and timing. Eventually, this skill development gives insight into the realization that every place has the same insubstantiality and substantiality. Mastering the substantial and insubstantial can raise ones awareness and give real meaning to literary translations such as "(My) changes caused by the opponent fill him with wonder...He does not know me; I alone know him" Lo/Inn Amacker/Foe, The Essence of T'ai Chi Ch'uan 1979.

Shocking and Immovable Energies of Wing Chun

2009-02-03T08:04:00.000-08:00

Shocking energy (Jut Lik) is created throughout Wing Chun in techniques such as pak sao, lop sao, gum sao…etc. This form of energy gets its title “shocking” from the resulting posture disturbance created in the opponent as the techniques are being applied. As the opponent’s structure is shocked (attacked) vital targets are exposed. In this sense the application of shocking energy is often used to create right of way before striking the vital targets located on the centerline. In reality, these techniques are themselves attacks against the opponent’s structure not only creating openings, but also weakening his ability to absorb subsequent impacts.

Interestingly, shocking energy is most easily generated farther away from the body’s center. For this reason most of the well-known techniques applying (Jut Lik) utilize finger energy located the greatest distance away from the body’s center. In contrast to shocking energy there also exist the concept of immovable energy, which is most easily realized closer to the body’s center such as in the shoulders. This form of energy is most often realized as the immovable elbow (butt doan jeong) of Wing Chun. Exploring the complementary relationship between shocking and immovable energies can unlock new areas of Wing Chun skill.

To cultivate these energies a student must learn to relax and sink the shoulders downward connecting them to the waist. This heaviness in the shoulders can then be slowly transferred to the elbows cultivating the immovable elbow energy of Wing Chun. This heaviness in the elbows is then extended into the wrist where the opponent will feel a heavy responsiveness in the hands. This cultivation of heavy relaxed forwardness in the Wing Chun hands will allow the fingers to create devastating shocking energy (Jut Lik) in the opponent without disturbing ones own structure. As more skill is developed the fingers can apply ever-increasing amounts of shocking energy without compromising the six elements of good form (see www.austinwingchun.com).

Eventually, just as the heaviness of the elbows extended to the fingers, the shocking energy of the fingers can be slowly realized in the elbows as (Jeong Lik). With practice, one can begin to cultivate both shocking and immovable energies in the elbow. This unique combination allows one to apply subtle shocking energies during all forms of contact. For example, advanced chi sao will allow for subtle attacks every cycle while the structure, control and precision remain undisturbed.

This combination of both immovable and shocking energy in the elbow is a simple realization of the complementary relationship between the shoulder and finger energies. My teacher would say that shocking and immovable energies are two sides of the same coin resembling that of the well-known wave particle duality in physics. The fingers exhibit shocking energy properties while the shoulders exhibit immovable energy properties as a result of their relationship to the body’s center. The elbows, located between the two, can uniquely realize both properties just as a photon can exhibit both wave and particle properties. Notice that this relationship restricts the amount of either energy present in any one area. More shocking energy in one location means less immovable energy and visa versa.

It is worth emphasizing again the order of energy cultivation outlined above for both immovable and shocking energies. These energies if artificially manufactured (done by most practitioners) create openings and instabilities that can be easily exploited by masters of the art. Proper cultivation of these energies must follow a clear order of skill development. Like all aspects of Wing Chun these energies must be cultivated over time under an experienced teacher through empty hand sets, wooden dummy, chi sao and weapons training.

The Soft Approach to Austin Wing Chun

2008-08-05T13:36:00.000-07:00

The soft approach to Wing Chun Kung Fu stresses proper structure, timing and position for both receiving and delivering force. To accomplish this the spine must be straight with the pelvis tucked underneath and the head held up as if suspended by a string. The appendicular skeleton (arms and legs) and axial skeleton (torso) must be made independent to handle violation energies without shocking the structure. Proper elbow position must be cultivated over time allowing energy to sink down into the elbows. The energy must be in the elbows and felt in the wrist. The feet find stability in the ground not on top of it. As in the elbows, energy must sink downward into the knees allowing the feet to grip the ground.

Once the structure is properly built the ability to change while maintaining proper structure must be pursued. When one can change effortlessly without disturbing their structure they will become a peerless boxer. To separate oneself from this path for only a moment may lead many miles astray in the future. I have never seen a limit to this approach and suspect that I never will.

Austin Wing Chun specializes in this approach building it from the the ground up. A student must be shown how to relax while reinforcing the structure. The student must feel what it is like to be uprooted thousands of times to allow proper cultivation of structure and timing. These corrections must be made from the interaction of chi sao. Only through this interaction energy can the student be shown the way.