This page is a reference for students when training at home. It provides a basic overview of:
- The Wing Chun Forms (First Form, Second Form, Third Form and the Wooden Dummy Form)
These are presented in the order – simply scroll down the page to find the section you need or use the above hyperlinks.
Standing Meditation: What is it?
Chu Shong Tin focused on the internal side of Wing Chun, with an emphasis on students attaining Nim Tau through the Wing Chun stance. This requires long periods practising standing meditation, and receiving instruction on how to “sing” the spine to achieve the Nim Tau state. This offers the physiological qualities required to achieve power without resorting to brute strength. Many schools basically ignore the process of attaining correct posture and alignment of the spine. The resulting level of relaxation may be quite inferior, and training will progress slowly if at all.
Standing Meditation, or Zhan Zhuang in Chinese, refers to the practice of standing statically in a set posture for a period of time. There are innumerable mental and physical benefits to correct and regular practice of Standing Meditation, but we are primarily concerned with the physiological improvements it can provide. Standing Meditation has a normalising effect on the body. Practicing Standing Meditation allows one to identify and dissolve unnecessary or habitual tension and stiffness in the body. It also drastically improves ones proprioceptive and somatic senses, allowing better body awareness and co-ordination. Through consistent, correct practice, inefficient and awkward postural and movement habits are replaced with efficient and smooth ones, and the body regains its ability to function optimally.
The main goal of Standing Meditation in the Chu Shong Tin system is to be able to “sing” (rise-up) the spine and activate the Nim Tau point at the top of the back of the head. This occurs when the body is deeply relaxed such that the practitioner is able to send ‘thought’ through the spine, expanding and decompressing the joints between the vertebrae. Then, the Qi is able to flow from the coccyx (base of tailbone) up through the spine to the Nim Tau point at the back of the crown of the head. If one can produce and maintain this state on command, they gain access to a far more physiologically efficient, relaxed and powerful way of moving.
How should Standing Meditation be practiced?
The first aim in the internal approach is to be able to stand correctly. Initially, one should ensure that the posture of the body is as correct as possible. Correct here means physiologically efficient – the body should be aligned in such a way that the muscular tension needed to remain upright is minimised as much as possible. In order to properly adjust our posture we need to be able to feel the body properly. The ability to feel the body will naturally be developed as you practice relaxing while doing Standing Meditation. This is an ongoing process and although it can be demanding, it is also very rewarding. As your ability to feel your own body improves, the heightened awareness of the body will help you identify areas of excess tension or ‘blockages’ and you will be able to make postural adjustments as necessary, or simply work on releasing the tension from those areas internally.
Students should aim to build up to 1 Hour of Standing Meditation practice each day. A basic outline of how to Stand correctly can be found below:
1. Physical Posture
Basic Stance: The feet should be roughly shoulder width apart. The hips and shoulders should be square and facing forwards. The spine should be upright, the shoulders neutral, the head held erect as if you were suspended by a string from the ceiling. The knees should be slightly bent, and kept soft and springy. The feet should point inwards slightly, focusing towards the point where the kicks from both legs can reach. This position requires the least effort for us to stand on our feet.
2. Establish Tai Gung
Think of drawing upwards from the anus, as if delaying going to the bathroom. This may involve a gentle lifting of the anus or engagement of the pelvic floor, but should be done just with thought rather than muscular tension. It’s just a feeling and idea, not a physical action. Establishing Tai Gung should connect the lower and upper body and create a sense of stability in the stance.
3. Release muscular tension throughout the body
Relaxation should be considered as a type of expansion, an open relaxed hand, rather than a tense gripped fist. As one relaxes correctly, there is a feeling of more room in the body, as if all muscles, tendons and bones etc., have moved apart from each other; as if the body has unravelled and inflated in all directions. The alignment between opposing muscle groups will adjust slightly. The quadriceps should feel like they are raising up slightly and the hamstrings and buttocks muscles should feel like they are dropping down. One’s body-weight should feel like it is constantly releasing downwards, like a coat on a coat-hanger.
4. Relax the Tailbone
Try to feel your tailbone and relax the muscles around it. Imagining the hip joints as small spheres rotating inwards to concur with your feet pointing in will help to release tension and create space in this area.
5. Point the Tailbone downward
When the coccyx is sufficiently relaxed it will feel like it can hang down, like a tail. Think of it pointing downwards.
6. Rotate the Tailbone
Once you can relax the tailbone, bring your mind to the tip of the tailbone and imagine it rotating inwards and upwards, as if it was looking upwards through the spine to the Nim Tau Point, (the point at the top and back of one’s skull where the spine would go if it reached all the way to the top of your head). This must be done with your mind and relaxation, not with physical force. When the tip of the tail-bone and the Nim Tau Point come into line you will feel a connection.
7. Expand and raise the spine
“Rise up” through the spine from the tip of the tailbone. This is very difficult to do and you probably won’t know how to think this at the beginning stages but just imagine it raising up and keep practising this. Allow thought to travel up through the spine to the Nim Tau Point. When done correctly, this will cause the spaces between the vertebrae to expand. It is not easy to do and the process cannot be forced. The expansion is something that happens by itself when the correct thought is established.
8. Activate the Nim Tau point
I particularly like a quote from Chu Shong Tin regarding this aspect as it demonstrates his common sense approach and wish to demystify the learning process. He said;
“Once you can do this very well there will be a force expanding the gaps between each vertebrae, it will keep raising through the neck and all the way to the top of the head. If you can do this well, you can feel that there is something, maybe it’s called Chi or whatever, I don’t quite know how to describe it. So let’s say we call this Chi. This Chi will then expand the gaps between each vertebra as you raise up your spine. You should feel that you have become taller. The Chi then goes all the way up to the top of the head. You will then be able to activate the Nim Tao and be able to generate a lot of force without using physical brute force. Once you can activate the Nim Tao you can then control muscles that you wouldn’t normally be able to control.”
When the entire spine has been raised the energy or ‘chi’ will travel right up to the Nim Tau Point. The practitioner will feel taller and may also feel a gentle pressure at the Nim Tau Point, as if something was pushing up from the spine onto the inside of the skull. At this stage the student will be able generate considerable force without using physical force. He or she will be able to control muscles that cannot be utilised in one’s normal state. In this “Nim Tau” condition the thought of using brute force for power will seem unnatural and inefficient.
Standing Meditation: Guided Meditation
Students can refer to the following video for examples of some of the things to work on while practicing Standing Meditation. It is not necessary to always be consciously working on something but this video gives many ideas of ways to work on your relaxation and body awareness. If Standing is feeling particularly tiring or onerous, or if a stubborn bit of tension is making you feel uncomfortable and you cannot find a way to release the tension, it is often best to simply stop trying. Standing Meditation is a way to let the body balance itself. If you simply hold the posture and hold the idea of relaxation in your mind, things will work themselves out given enough time.
The Wing Chun Forms: Overview
The qualities developed through the standing meditation exercise are now applied to the task of learning the forms. As the student learns to do the movements of the forms while maintaining the features of the Wing Chun stance they become very powerful. The Wing Chun Forms are designed to develop powerful body-mechanics in a systematic way. The first form, Siu Nim Tau (Tiny Idea Form), is the foundational form. It develops a connected structure and the basic movements. The second form, Chum Kiu (Seeking the Bridge), begins to introduce the power of body rotation and body movement in conjunction with the movement of the arms. The third form, Biu Jee (Darting Fingers), develops whipping forces and employs spiral structures and maximum acceleration to produce incredible force. Each form builds upon the foundation laid by the previous form. Correct study of the forms provides a student with a comprehensive understanding of how to use their body in the most efficient way.
The forms are tested through a method known as power generation. As students practice their forms they are given resistance, generally by holding at their wrist or another part of their arm. Their goal is to be able to move effortlessly despite the restraint. Muscular exertion, speed and leaning or pushing off the ground, are some of the reactions we wish to avoid. New students often comment that they cannot overcome the resistance without using some muscular force – but actually they can! This seems to go against common sense; however after a decent amount of practice they will change their opinion.
Hours of Form practice bring about heightened body awareness. When we move unencumbered through thin air our body supports our action at every point. If I decide to turn on a light switch I am not committed or pushing off the ground. Should that switch suddenly disappear as I reach out, I do not fall forward. I remain balanced because I am not intending to use force or expecting a force to attack me. Eventually one can maintain access to one’s centre of mass and employ it to produce or resist force without muscular exertion. The main thing is to be able to hold this thought.
This revelation only happens after considerable time spent training in the Siu Nim Tau form. Once the way has been found, the objective is to be able to maintain this quality while performing the other forms and Chi Sau exercises and eventually in combat. The difficulty is to convince the student that effortless power is possible – hence the importance of Siu Nim Tau. As is so often the case, Chu Shong Tin put it succinctly in crisp, clear language; “The purpose of Siu Nim Tau is to train the mind to accept the idea of not using force”.
The First Form: Siu Nim Tau
An Article about Siu Nim Tau by Grandmaster Chu Shong Tin:
Siu Nim Tao is the basic form of Wing Chun. It comprises three specialties: (1) No need to exert force; (2) It possesses the strongest structure with the minimum use of energy; (3) It induces the release of mind force [Nim Tao] from a person.
Learning Siu Nim Tao is divided in to three stages.
Firstly, one must relax the muscles of the whole body. Then, he should infuse the spirit into the spine so that it is maintained straight. Drawing up through the anus is also important because it can help different parts of the body to form a unified structure.
The second stage is to practice in a completely relaxed state. When one is fully acquainted with all the moves, he should practice every move with the mind to initiate the movement without paying attention to whether the move is correct or not. He must ensure that every movement is initiated by the mind and not by the muscle.
After completing the training of the above two stages, it now comes to practice the main point of Siu Nim Tao. This is to learn how to release the mind force and the familiarization of the automatic reaction applying to fighting. Expressing this kind of technique on paper is just like inventing a theory without experiment. One will not believe it unless he has experienced such techniques. Luckily, with the assistance of the video, a Wing Chun learner can have a chance to fully understand the techniques.
The important points of Siu Nim Tao can be grouped as follows:
(1) The structure of the moves
(2) The moves to be controlled by the mind
(3) The input of mind force [Nim Tao]
(4) The theory of center line
SIU NIM TAO
(1) The structure of the moves
The basic concept is to utilize the rotation of a circle to generate the force and to tolerate any force applied externally. This is due to the fact that anything of the same mass when in a circular shape can tolerate heavier force applied externally and generate greater driving force with minimum energy than in any other shape.
The ‘Tan Sau’, ‘Bong Sau’ and ‘Fook Sau’ of Siu Nim Tao are the obvious examples of applying the principle of circular motion. The practical use is to let the opponent’s wrist contact on the internal side or external side of the circle. From Tan Sau to Bong Sau is to let the opponent’s wrist from the internal side of the circle go to the external side of the circle go to the internal side of the circle. Fook Sau is to use the external side of the circle to contact the opponent’s wrist.
To use the straight line as the base of exerting force during attack. The motto of Wing Chun “A straight line is the shortest distance between two points” is actually applying the principle of the straight line. This is the application of speed and force of impact. In real fighting, speed and great force of impact is of prime importance. The short distance is to reduce the attacking time whilst attacking on a straight line is to increase the striking force. The combination of a “short distance” and a “straight line” will result in high speed and a heavy punch.
The concealed skill of the “Two Adduction Stance” (Yee Chi Kim Yeung Ma). The “Two Adduction Stance” fully reflects the skill in concentrating the force of impact. Because of its posture, it can concentrate the force of impact at the center line or even to the center point so that every move contains the weight of the whole body. Since the knees are slightly bent and springy, one can transfer the striking force from the wrist of the opponent to one’s knees. This action can reduce the burden of the arms, thus increasing the mobile ability of the arms.
(2) The moves to be controlled by the mind
From the name [Siu Nim Tao] (In Chinese means “sense from the brain” or “idea”), it can be seen that the form is based on idea or mind. Hence, when one has attained a stage that he is familiar with the form and perform all the moves correctly, he need not practice with a mirror in front of him just to see if the moves are correct. In order not to affect the concentration of the moves, he should use the mind to perform the moves. After practicing for a long period of time, he should be able to perform the moves with the mind freely at any moment without exerting force of the muscle.
(3) The input of mind force [Nim Tao]
In learning Siu Nim Tao, when one has passed the stages of imitating the moves and performing the moves with the mind, he should try to input the mind force into the limbs. “Mind Force” is like an invisible power. Looking at it from another angle, it is the power created when concentrating the mind and is similar to Qigong and Neigong. When one has achieved the stage of driving the mind force, he can feel the existence of it. Wherever the mind force is moved to inside the body of a person, the power of that part of the body is increased, and every move he performs will be springy and filled up with energy. In fighting, since he has already possessed the absorbing and rebounding effect due to the existence of the mind force, when encountering the opponent, he is able to use the appropriate move automatically without thinking, thus, achieving the best result in attack and defence.
(4) The theory of centre line
The centre line of any object is the centre point of that object. It is also the perpendicular line from the centre of gravity of that object, and supporting at the centre of gravity is actually supporting the weight of that object. Hence, if that object moves to any direction, and if one touches the centre of gravity of that object in the direction it is moving, he will have to suffer the whole weight and impact of the object. Since an object with a different shape will have a different centre of gravity, depending on the shape of that object, it is necessary to determine where the centre of gravity is on each occasion.
The basic moves of Siu Nim Tao is founded basing on the centre of gravity of a person together with the principle of the centre line. The Tan Sau and Fook Sau moves forward from one’s centre point. This is to use the centre of gravity of a person to move forward thus concentrating the whole bodyweight of the person to attack. Bong Sau, which is moving up from below, is using the centre of gravity of the person moving obliquely forward and upwards. Garn Sau and lower cut down is using the centre of gravity of the person moving obliquely forward and downwards. For this reason, if one can master the principle of the centre of gravity, the opponent has to tolerate your attack with your whole body weight. This is the main idea of Siu Nim Tao: using the bodyweight in fighting.
The above is just the basic theory of Siu Nim Tao and does not consist of any particular skill. Hence, if you practice Siu Nim Tao in accordance with the above theory and achieve the described level, you will be able to tolerate heavy force and generate enormous power without exerting muscular force. One cannot imagine this unless he has personally experienced it. In order to really know Siu Nim Tao and feel its power, one must practice Siu Nim Tao repeatedly and persistently for a long period of time. – Chu Shong Tin
The Second Form: Chum Kiu
An Article about Chum Kiu by Grandmaster Chu Shong Tin:
Literally, Chum Kiu when translated is the method of how to deal with the opponent’s wrists once in contact. In other words, Chum Kiu is the form applicable to fighting. If the theory of Chum Kiu is analyzed carefully, it is found that it has reached the acme of perfection.
Chum Kiu is to utilize the body weight of a person as the source of energy and combining the moves of Siu Nim Tau to create a skill that can apply force in different directions. As a result, the opponent will find it difficult to tackle these kind of moves because his centre of gravity has been affected and will be easily toppled over. Hence, your chance to win in fighting is increased. The important points of Chum Kiu can be grouped as follows:
(1) The application of “two-way” force
(2) Using the centre of the body as the source of energy
(3) Using the mind to control the movement of the body
(4) Using the simultaneous attack and defence movements
1. The Application of “Two-Way Force”
The majority of the moves in Chum Kiu is to apply the force moving in two different directions to contact with the wrists of the opponent. Although it is called the “two-way force”, yet, if analyzed in more detail, it is found that it consists of skill of applying the force pointing from more than two directions. The turning stance of Chum Kiu is a two-dimensional turning, i.e. turning on a surface. When the turning stance is combined with use of Tau Sau, Bong Sau and Fook Sau of Siu Nim Tau at the same time, every move of Chum Kiu will comprise the effect of having a force pointing from two different directions. Thus, the opponent will find it difficult in dealing with these kind of moves.
I was invited to organize a seminar in Holland in 1994 in which I demonstrated the “two-way force” of Chum Kiu. During the demonstration, I demonstrated on a huge young man nicknamed ‘Black Mountain’ who could easily lift up 250 kg. At that time, I weighed only 60 kg. As the body weights vary so greatly, my winning with the use of Chum Kiu obtained the shouts of triumph from everybody present on that occasion.
The reason why the “two-way force” is difficult to be deal with is very simple. Assume that one can easily raise up an object of 50 kg, but if a person pushes you with a force of 20 kg from the side while you are lifting an object of 30 kg then you will find it very difficult to resist the pushing and will even lose your balance and fall over.
2. Using the centre of the body as the source of energy
In practicing Chum Kiu, one must use the centre of the body as the source of energy. The purpose is to maintain the body weight as a unity and then every move will contain the weight of the whole body. When the opponent is in contact with any part of your body, he will then have to suffer an attack from your whole body weight.
3. Using the mind to control the movement of the body
The purpose of using the mind to control the movement of the body is to generate the whole body weight without using any unnecessary muscular force. Thus, every move you are using will contain the weight of the whole body.
4. Using the simultaneous attack and defence movements
Practicing Chum Kiu has entered into the stage of body contact with the opponent. This means that Chum Kiu is the form which will comprise of the combating skill. Hence, every simple move of Chum Kiu contains a common structure which is fit for attack or defence. Apart from having the specialty of Wing Chun (i.e. not to waste energy), every move will contain the scientific structure for combat, allowing the fighting skill to show up when facing the opponent.
It is in my opinion that the fighting skill of Chum Kiu is difficult to describe in writing. The best way to understand it is through demonstration and practice. If I have to put down all the Chum Kiu skills in writing, the article will be so profound that the person who reads it will find it hard to understand and will be confused. – Chu Shong Tin
The Third Form: Biu Jee
An Article on Biu Jee by Grandmaster Chu Shong Tin:
Biu Jee is the form which concentrates an enormous destructive power in attacking. It is to use the natural skill to release the potential power of a person to the highest level and is also the combination of the mind and the theory of force.
It is wrong to say that by learning the form of Biu Jee one will then possess the enormous power of Biu Jee as well as having the very high skill in concentrating the force. Without first establishing the basic skills of Siu Nim Tao and Chum Kiu, the Biu Jee’s power cannot be produced. Sometimes, one may even hurt oneself when applying Biu Jee in fighting if one does not possess the basic skill of Siu Nim Tao and Chum Kiu.
To analyze the original idea of Biu Jee from the moves of the form:
When practicing Biu Jee, one must move in speedy motion. When one is familiar with the moves of Biu Jee, he should practice it speedily because everybody knows that the destructive power is greater when moving faster. Using rotation as a source of releasing energy. Whether it is as hard as steel or as soft as water, once rotated, the steel or water can generate enormous power. It is obvious that one will be unwilling to approach a rotating steel. Also, when the air is rotated, it creates a powerful hurricane. The whirlpool formed by the rotation of water is just as bad.
BIU JEE THEORY
Hence, when practicing Biu Jee, one must infuse his mind into the moves. In the way, he can feel the speedy effect and the original idea of Biu Jee so as to obtain the greatest satisfaction.
The profound skill of Biu Jee can only expressed through demonstration, as such complexities can never be expressed in black and white. Hopefully, I wish that the participants of this course can grab hold of this profound skill so as to increase their understanding of Wing Chun. Consequently, they can practice Wing Chun with great interest. – Chu Shong Tin
Mook Yan Jong: Wooden Dummy Form
An article on the Wooden Dummy by Grandmaster Chu Shong Tin:
The Wooden Dummy is recognized as the highest skill in Wing Chun. Hence, the majority of Wing Chun learners consider that learning the moves of the Wooden Dummy will automatically become a good Wing Chun fighter. Some even feel very happy with themselves and boast about their own achievements to the junior learners.
The moves of the Wooden Dummy are all good for fighting. However, those moves are actually formed by the basic moves of Siu Nim Tao, Chum Kiu and Biu Jee. They are not uniquely owned by the Wooden Dummy only.
In fact, the practice of the Wooden Dummy is taken as an auxiliary measure for the training of the Wing Chun forms. If your purpose is to practice the skill of the three forms then you should treat the Wooden Dummy as a piece of equipment and try your best to practice the moves and the skill of the three forms on it. You should also try to feel if your goal has been achieved, e.g. trying to concentrate the force of the whole body to a particular point and induce the opponent’s force for your own use (N.B. to induce the opponent’s force for your own use is one of the basic structure of Biu Jee, which is the combined effect of rotation of the body and the formation of the whirlpool effect).
On the other hand, if you treat the Wooden Dummy as your opponent, you should try to concentrate your own force, as well as the skill of inducing the opponent’s force, to attack the Wooden Dummy so as to attain the state that your hands can reach any part of the opponent as your mind wishes to do. – Chu Shong Tin
An Introduction to Chi Sau by Sifu Mark Spence
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 Look Sau. Initially the movements are done from a stationary position, concurring with the Siu Nim Tau 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 opponents 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.
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. – Mark Spence
A video compilation of Mark Spence doing Chi Sau with a number of students over the years.
A Note on Chi Sau Training by Sifu Mark Spence
Chi Sau may be one of the most misunderstood of all martial arts practices. It is uniformly misconstrued by martial artists outside Wing Chun, which is understandable, but sadly practitioners within our style also sometimes get it wrong.
This lack of comprehension extends to most aspects of Chi Sau including:
- The reason for practising
- The way it should be practised
- The desired outcome
- Its application in self-defence
The reason for practising:
To quote Chu Shong Tin, “Chi Sau develops the fighting reflexes in Wing Chun”. That seems straight forward, but of course it is not.
The way it should be practised:
Confusion often arises from the way it is and should be practised.
A couple of things that Chu Shong Tin told me helped my understanding. He said, “When playing Chi Sau do not try to win” and “roll to the best of your ability while ensuring that your partner can do the same”.
The most obviously non-combative stage of Chi Sau deals with the moment that our forearms intercept the forearms of an opponent as he delivers a strike. This particular sub-group of Chi Sau is called Look Sau. While doing Look Sau our forearms stay in contact as with our partners as move through several agreed strike/attack positions. As we advance the positions and shapes are done without being predetermined and partners may disengage. This is actual Chi Sau.
Martial arts critics say that in a fight they would not leave their arms out in space to be controlled by an opponent in the way that Wing Chun people do when rolling. This is a reasonable point. Their mistake is to assume that our fighting looks like our Chi Sau practice. Chi Sau is not fighting or even sparring. It is an exercise to develop the fighting reflexes.
People often confuse fighting training with rote learning of predetermined actions. Hours of practising drills where you know which strike is coming and seek to hone your response though repetition does not instil pure reflexive ability, it simply polishes your movement. This is similar to what a musician achieves by practising scales. Chi Sau training on the other hand develops the ability to jam, (improvise).
The desired outcome:
So, what is the desired outcome of playing Chi Sau? An important, but not the only skill we seek to develop is how we deal with force when our limbs come into contact with an opponent’s. This matters to a Wing Chun person because of our preference to intercept an incoming blow with a strike of our own. Generally this will involve forearm-to-forearm contact but it can be upper arms or legs as well as hips, shoulders etc.
The aim is to learn to receive the incoming force on our arms in such a way that it is even and all options of attack and defence remain equally available. Think of a stick balanced upon another in a t-shape. One could equate this process of accepting and adapting to force with the way that a surfer deals with the buffeting of waves on his board in order to remain upright and balanced. At first this must be learned in a co-operative manner. A surfer does not begin to hone his skills on a massive gnarly wave. He starts with gentle tiny waves and even these are initially quite difficult for the novice. It is the same with Chi Sau.
As well as balancing the forearms novices focus on the correct shapes and applying them against the opposing force with the edge of the circle rather than the face. It is hard to explain without a physical demonstration but this is one facet of structure.
Its application in self-defence:
Non-Wing Chun martial artists point out reasonably, (if somewhat gleefully), that the fancy hand traps and elegant moves that one sees performed by two Wing Chun students playing Chi Sau never seem to be applied in a self-defence/real fighting situation. This is a fair comment and fundamentally true. I worked as a bouncer for six years and believe I have had more experience than the average martial artist in real combat situations. In all those events, (maybe sixty or more), there would have been only a handful of times that one of the delightful Chi Sau techniques that I performed some thousands of times in practice actually happened in the real world where your opponent is trying to hurt you. But that is not the point of playing Chi Sau.
Chi Sau skills applied in real fighting situations enable an adept practitioner to strike through the guard or attack of a physically stronger opponent. As well, the sticking quality developed in Chi Sau training allows a Wing Chun person to control an attacker even if that person is actually faster than them. These things are immensely important in fighting.
The point I wish to make is that Chi Sau is not a fighting method; rather it is an exercise that develops skills that advance one’s competency in fighting. When done properly it is not only an extremely efficient training technique, it is also great fun.
To prevent the flailing arms, ill temper, and wasted time that can arise from not understanding this, I usually draw on CST’s guidance and advise new students that when playing Chi Sau – don’t try to win. Many find this to be a particularly difficult instruction to follow!
– Mark Spence