The Centre of Excellence for training in Martial Arts and Chinese Medicine
Personal Protection Training Services and Conflict Management
 

 

aHome
aOur School
aTimetable / Schools
aHistory & Masters
aPicture Gallery
aChinese Sports Medicine
aCourses / PPTS
aInstructors
aArticles
aDemonstrations
aTraining Events & Trips
aChing Mo Chat Forum
aCalendar
aContact Us
aLinks

 

 

Chi Sau黐手

  • Chi Sau is the most important part of the system.
  • Chi Sau is not a form of kata.
  • Chi Sau is not a form of sparring.
  • Chi Sau is the bridge between techniques from the forms and real fighting.
  • The forms are always the same.
  • Chi Sau is free development.
  • Every session is different.
  • Some sessions look similar but they are different.
  • The difference between Chi Sau and fighting is that a fight produces a winner and a loser by points or K.O., and it is not important in Chi Sau which person gets hit. Chi Sau is only a form of training.
  • The main objectives are good hand techniques, positions, sensitivity and reflexes.
  • If the basics are wrong the defence will be poor.
  • If two people play Chi Sau with the sole aim of knocking each other down the real point of Chi Sau training will be missed.
  • Chi Sau develops good hand techniques from the forms, e.g. tan, bong, fook and provides a method to promote a better understanding of the basic techniques and learn to recognise mistakes.
  • Through Chi Sau more advanced techniques can be gradually introduced.
  • Sharp reflexes are essential in a fight. Chi Sau helps to develop together both reflexes and sensitivity of the arms.
  • Relaxation is the key to sharp reflexes—even is the hand techniques are correct they become useless if the arms are tense.
  • E.g. when attacking with a punch, the arm should be relaxed until the last moment and then relaxed. The power is only applied briefly. The maximum damage is on impact. There         is no point in continuing to apply forward energy after missing contact as this will not have much effect and there is the added danger that      the opponent can apply a lap sau.
  • E.g. 1 - Defending. When using a biu gee to de        fend against a straight punch, the arm must move fast to stop the punch. After the punch is stopped the blocking arm can be relaxed again. If the attacker continues to push forward, his energy can be used against him by using a turning lap sau and gum sau.
  • E.g. 2 - Defending. Although the position of a          technique is correct if the energy is applied wrongly the         technique will not be effective. If the opponents tan sau is correct in position but is pushing forward, he will not be     able to defend against a lap sau. If his energy         is correct (he releases after blocking) he will be able to detect through contact reflexes and respond with a bong sau.

Training method. Both face ‘square on’. One person punches the other blocks with a biu sau , emphasis on tensing up on contact then relaxing.

  • By correct use of energy it is possible to Chi Sau or fight for a prolonged period.
  • The speciality of wing chun is close distance fighting, this distance is the same distance as Chi Sau training. Playing Chi Sau develops good understanding of fighting distance and position.
  • Close ’in fighting’ requires high level of skill to apply energy at close range. This skill can be developed in two ways. The first form (second section) deals with the development of close range energy. This also applies to biu gee techniques such as kop jarn, man sau, palm strikes and biu gee strikes. The skill is further developed by Chi Sau training.
  • Training Chi Sau using tension in the arms is a waste of time as it will not be possible to train reflexes, feelings or good techniques.
  • Tension of bicep muscle indicates wrong energy.

 

By Master Samuel Kwok