CORE IDEAS.

We need a method to train how to activate our previously “established” Chi Sau training in Sparring sessions. Or, we will just be dancing.

In any Martial Art, there is a well-established path from basic training to actual engagement, these “Core Ideas” separate one style from another.

This progression works along the lines of physical conditioning → coordination drills → combat technique → force-on-force sparring and then engagement.

Wing Chun is no different in its approach, the progression is the same just the type of content differs.

Our FORMS act as conditioning and basic coordination; we also have combat techniques, and then we have Chi Sau, which is as close as we come to force-on-force sparring.

But Chi Sau is far more complex than just sparring, Chi Sau is both a training vehicle and a sparring vehicle, which can cause problems and misunderstanding.

Training and Sparring are very different animals to the extent that Sparring is of very little value as a training vehicle, just as we are too busy to be thinking about training while sparring.

As a training vehicle Chi Sau teaches coordination, combat techniques, and physical conditioning, but of real interest, it teaches how to dynamically accept force.

Sparring is where we use what we have learned through training.

We need a method to train how to activate our previously “established“ Chi Sau training in Sparring sessions. Or, we will just be dancing, and learn very little regarding engagement.

Wing Chun is a very intelligent system so it should be no surprise that we do have such a method, if we know where to look for it, and how to access it.

Enter the Mok Jan Jong, the Wooden Man.

Like so much of our training, there are many layers or levels of understanding to every component of our system, how we approach or work on the Wooden Man is far more important than what we do with it, this is the “Concept” aspect of the work.

When playing on the Dummy, what “Concept” are we trying to realise?

This is not as complex as it may sound, after all, the main IDEA behind Wing Chun is simplicity.

So what are we doing here, are we trying to realise attacking concepts are we trying to realise defending concepts, or are we exploring our Chi Sau?

The Wooden Man is nothing more than a training partner, so are we playing, sparring or training?

For the context of this post, we are exploring Chi Sau with our Wooden Man.

From this perspective, when working on the dummy pay special attention to the rotations that occur when moving into contact, at contact and through contact with the Dummy Arms.

This is SO very important, in fact, I recommend exaggerating the amount of rotation that you are using to illuminate that there is natural rotation in every move.

Once we reach a stage where through practised repetition we have internalised and habitualised rotating into, through, and out of contact it will naturally become how we make contact with everything we interact with.

It is this rotation that constantly compromises our attacker/partner’s balance.

If we are at a stage where we practise our FORMS with freedom of movement, going more with feeling than shape and pattern, and here as well it does not hurt to exaggerate the movements; we are adding more and more complex rotations to everything we do.

Bringing both of these practices into our Chi Sau allows us to get comfortable with doing them in a semi-dynamic environment, that transfers well to free play, and of course free play is a precursor to genuine engagement with an attacker.

Once we become comfortable with this type of work it becomes clear that this type of engagement keeps our attacker/partner permanently off balance and in a weakened position.

No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man. Heraclitus.