| Chi Sao - this is one of the most well known feature | | | | effective counter. |
| of wing chun kung fu training. It has been the object of | | | | 3 Training the flow of techniques |
| curiosity among other non wing chun students. Unless | | | | Wing chun techniques are interchangeable providing |
| you have firsthand experience and have trained in it, | | | | the student many possible permutations. Stance, hand, |
| you will not likely see its finer and subtle points. | | | | legs and body applications all come into play. Chi Sao |
| I have watched this training featured in many movies | | | | imparts this. Experiment and find which is the best and |
| and web sites. Sadly, they do not demonstrate the | | | | most natural. |
| effectiveness and advantages. Nicholas Cage does it | | | | 4 Variations among different partners |
| in the assassin, Bruce Lee does it in many movies and | | | | People come in many forms and sizes. By training with |
| the version in the Matrix looks like an adulterated | | | | varied partners allow the student this experience of |
| version. Wing chun students can take pride in that they | | | | confronting adversaries of different built and |
| see this as the symbol of wing chun training but I think | | | | temperament. |
| they sorely missed the point. | | | | 5 Development of character |
| You will often find the sequences depicted in videos | | | | The hallmark of a good practitioner is ability in self |
| as being fast and furious. This would give the | | | | control. In chi sao you may be hit and your ego bruised. |
| impression that the faster you are able to do chi Sao | | | | How able are you to confront that? The adage is that |
| the better your skills. How wrong. Being fast will come | | | | the true test is humility tha comes from confidence |
| from practice and is not a measure of a student's | | | | 6 Confidence building |
| proficiency nor ability. | | | | With training confidence in one's ability grows. This is |
| The essence of chi Sao is in being able to grasp a | | | | one aspect which will rub on to all areas of one's life |
| few points which are briefly: | | | | and activities. |
| 1 As a check of your hand positions. | | | | 7 Overcome fear |
| Positioning is very vital in effective wing chun. Proper | | | | Many students shy away from chi Sao for fear of |
| positioning is the determinant of whether you are | | | | being hit. Never to worry about this. Being hit is part of |
| successful in defense, in counter attack as well as in | | | | the process. On the other hand,you should not have to |
| launching an attack. | | | | worry about hitting others in training because if you do |
| 2 To provide a good feel of distancing | | | | not learn how to hit in training how are you going to |
| Proper distancing is another key area which | | | | know how a hit is like in a real confrontation. The sand |
| determines success. With chi sao you are able to | | | | bags may toughen your hand but chi sao and sparring |
| gauge how far you should be with your adversary. It | | | | toughens you all round. |
| will tell you what the right distance should be to provide | | | | Do chi sao more but do not take it as the be all and |
| you with the ability to have that solid defense and | | | | end all of wing chun. It is just the bridge. |