What EFFECTIVE Chi Sau Practice Looks Like

Continuing with more of my instructor Keith dispensing both wisdom and sarcasm in our back-alley, parking lot lot chi sau session on a hot July night, pay attention to his observations on forward pressure and attack, why you shouldn’t use bong sau unless necessary and the need to be forever vigilant against reaching or flaring your elbows out.

Specifically, every attack should be to your opponent’s centerline.  This can be done either by cutting in and deflecting into your opponent’s center or by shooting forward when your opponent is forcing you off of their centerline.  Why fight it?  If you are being forced to one side or another, ole that shit like a matador and shoot your chambered hand to their center.

Every time I watch these clips I gain a bit more clarity, for the simple reason that what chi sau is designed for is simple: imposing your will on your opponent. Simple?  Yes.  Easy?  No-but then more your mind becomes attuned to why you are doing what you are doing, the more your body falls in line.

People make chi sau into more than what it is.

Chi sau isn’t “sparring.”  It isn’t a form of tournament competition.  It isn’t some woo-woo, esoteric energy field disruption ritual.

Chi sau is simply the skill of sensing both the intention of your opponent and an opening to attack through pressure and exploiting that opening to your benefit with no wasted motion or movements, period.

If you are interested in Wing Chun as a form of personal protection and self-preservation through combative means, that is more than enough for you.

As I said with the first video of Keith and I, watch this often and pick up little things each time; everything makes more sense when one thing makes more sense.

Once again, to Keith and my brothers from the NFMA, thanks guys!  I sure do miss them days.

Train Smart, Stay Safe

Sifu Bobby