Chi Sao : The Sticky Hands Drills
Chi Sao can be best described as the Fight Laboratory of Wing Chun. The purpose of drills like Chi Sao is to provide a learning link between the forms and fighting. It quickly teaches us how to apply the random techniques of free fighting in an environment of safety and learning. Risk of injury is slight as Chi Sao is a learning process and not a fight. Hence Chi Sao is like testing our skills under laboratory conditions as opposed to the rough road test of real fighting practice.
Learning research has shown that random practice is far more effective than practicing prearranged sets of movements. Drills are learned in Chi Sau but it is also used to experiment and ad lib. You never know what to expect, and must learn to feel attacks in order to defend correctly. There is also little evidence that the conditions, under which a skill is learned, need to replicate those in which they will eventually be used. This means that you don’t need to fight whilst practicing Chi Sao, in order to learn effective fighting skill.
Pak Sau : Slapping Hands (and variations)
Lap Sau : Grabbing & Deflecting Arm (and variations)
Dan Chi Sao : Single Hand Chi Sao (and variations)
Chi Sao : Double Hands (and variations)
• Poon Sau : Double sticking hands
• Jeung Sau : Changing hands
• Dok Sau: Analytical hands
• Gor Sau: Free applications
• Chi Sau Lye Bye Muk : Blindfolded chi sao
The programme of Chi-sau is further subdivided into seven sections which were devised by Grand Master Leung Ting. Each containing selected movements from the Siu-Nim-Tau and Chum-Kiu forms. These movements, of which some are offensive and some defensive, are grouped into sets of large and small cycles. On completion of these exercises the student is introduced to sparring, as it is only in this way that he will learn to apply what he has been taught. We believe that sparring should begin as early as possible, so that the student, through personal experience, will be able to see that he is learning a useful fighting skill, and not just an elaborate dance.
Advanced chi sao sections cover applications of Biu Tze and Wooden Dummy
Other Training Tools
At “India Wing Chun” we encourage the use of different training tools which allows the individual to develop strength and to condition oneself. Below are some of them.
Sand Bag Training:
Sand bag training is one of the most traditional Wing Chun Tools. It helps train structure, penetration abilitiy and power. It also conditions the hands and tools used in striking. We train our students to execute the Wing Chun attacks and defensive techniques with help of various drills on the sandbag to give a real experience of hitting. Practise of hitting punch/wall bags with different types of blows, from unusual angles and from very close range. This will also teachs the students how to hit hard without over-committing their body weight.
Juk Jong : Bamboo Dummy Training:
Bamboo Dummy used in many mainland China Wing Chun curriculum. The Freestyle bamboo dummy for conditioning, free flow, continous attack and defend, getting use to retraction or reaction of the arms. The Juk Jong trains the flexible energy and is different from the inflexible wooden dummy. The Bamboo dummy used by IndiaWingChun has 16 arms and is used only by very serious students. In Yuen Kay-San Wing Chun Kuen, there is also a Juk Jong (Bamboo Dummy) that has twelve bamboo hands. The Snake style Wing Chun also advocates the use of Juk Jong to develop the snake like fluidity of movements.
Juk Wan Bamboo/Rattan Ring Training
One of the most effective training implements used in IndiaWingChun for the development of “Whirlpool Energy” is the Jook Wan, or Rattan Ring. Use of the Rattan Ring develops different skills simultaneously. Firstly, the ring promotes circular, rolling motion in hand techniques, as the trainee learns the proper method of circling the hands in terms of which should circle inside, outside, below or above the other. Rolling in this manner promotes Drilling Power as well as Connecting Energy —the ability to make smooth transitions from one movement to the next, transferring power and momentum from one motion to the other through relaxed circular energy. This smooth transition from motion to motion is referred to as “Flowing” and is developed to a higher degree through Rattan Ring training as well as in Wooden Dummy and Chi Sau exercises.
