CHI SAU CLUB WING CHUN  KUNG FU N.Z

Wing Chun – forms

While one is working towards developing correct posture, the heightened body awareness that is brought about will be applied to learning the actual movements of Wing Chun. There is a logical order to this process, as the movements become more complex from one form to the next. The first and fundamental form is the Sui Nim Tao.

Siu Nim Tao
Siu Nim Tao is performed with the student standing in one position and practicing the arm movements of Wing Chun. Once the movements are correct, the student focuses on employing the heightened awareness developed by attaining correct posture/stance to move the body with thought, rather than muscle. This concept may be very difficult to grasp, particularly among those who put an emphasis on muscular strength as a source of power. People argue that it is impossible to move without using muscles. Even if that is true, the fact is that that a skilled practitioner will feel that they are not using any muscle at all, and more to the point, the easiest way to achieve real power with Wing Chun is to try to move that way.

Chum Kiu
Of course, one cannot fight effectively from a stationary position, so in Chum Kiu we learn to apply the arm movements from Siu Nim Tao, along with pivoting the body and stepping. Much emphasis is directed to maintaining correct Tai Gung, (drawing energy up through the spine and centre of the body, and using that energy to expand the joints), while performing the form. The movements in Chum Kiu are more easily recognisable as fighting techniques.

Biu Jee
Biu Jee builds on the skills developed in the first two forms and adds another dimension by twisting the vertebra on the spine to create a vortex type force. The human body is extremely powerful when moved in this way, and the effect of Biu Jee can be devastating. Other qualities are also learned, such as being able to transfer force to the extremities of the body.

Mook Yan Jong - Wooden dummy
Put simply the Mook Jong can be used as an extremely realistic opponent to practice the moves of Wing Chun on. The way the arms give, and the general springiness of the dummy, replicate the responses of an opponent. A reasonably long form is performed that covers many possible applications of Wing Chun techniques. When a student is skilled, the dummy feels like a training partner that is happy to stand there all day as one practices on them.

Weapons
The skills developed up to this stage are now applied to weapon training. The butterfly knives, (Bart Jarm Do) represent any weapon that can be wielded with one hand, and the long pole, (Lok Dim Boon Gwun), represents a weapon that would require two hands. The desired affect is that the weapon becomes an integrated extension of the practitioner’s body.

Wing Chun – Chi Sau

Chi Sau develops the fighting reflexes of Wing Chun. Strikes and counters are directed between students, to begin with, in a co-operative manner and a certain order. This is known as Lok Sau. Initially the movements are done from a stationary position, concurring with the Sui Nim Tao period in training. Moves are first done with one hand and then with two.

The movements in Wing Chun cannot be classified into attack or defence. A single movement can serve either purpose, and at higher levels does so simultaneously. Put simply, a Wing Chun student will defend against an attack by delivering their own strike back at the opponent, intercepting the incoming strike in the same movement. The practice of sticking hands deals with the moment of contact as the strike is intercepted, and trains the Wing Chun student to deflect the opponent’s strike, whilst striking through themselves. The shapes of Wing Chun and the paths they take, are arranged to provide a structural advantage to the exponent. The correct responses are ingrained through the practice of Chi Sau.

As one learns the skills of pivoting and stepping in Chum Kiu, they are applied to Chi Sau. Students also begin to apply movements randomly, rather than in order. This is developed into a co-operative form of semi-sparring. When practicing Chi Sau, one should not try to ‘win’, no brute force should be exerted. Effort should be focussed on relaxing and maintaining balance.

Chi Sau can be incredible fun when done correctly, and like much of Wing Chun has an addictive element to those who train it regularly.