A Path to Chi Sao

:: By Michael Herrera ::

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 should 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 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...

About the Author
Sifu Michael Herrera has practiced martial arts for most of his life focusing exclusively on Wing Chun since spring of 1994. Mike, as he prefers to be called by his students, learned Wing Chun under the private supervision of Sifu Karl Godwin; Mike considers himself to be fortunate having learned Wing Chun from such a highly skilled and meticulous teacher who is always careful to point the way without injecting too much interpretation. For more info, visit his website at austinwingchun.com.



© The Dragon Institute | Orange County | Wing Chun Kung Fu | 34241 Pacific Coast Highway | Dana Point, CA 92673 | ocwingchun.com

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:: By Michael Herrera :: 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 should 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 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... About the Author Sifu Michael Herrera has practiced martial arts for most of his life focusing exclusively on Wing Chun since spring of 1994. Mike, as he prefers to be called by his students, learned Wing Chun under the private supervision of Sifu Karl Godwin; Mike considers himself to be fortunate having learned Wing Chun from such a highly skilled and meticulous teacher who is always careful to point the way without injecting too much interpretation. For more info, visit his website at austinwingchun.com. © The Dragon Institute | Orange County | Wing Chun Kung Fu | 34241 Pacific Coast Highway | Dana Point, CA 92673 | ocwingchun.com