In Chu Shong Tin’s excellent tome, ‘The Book of Wing Chun’, there is a single page that outlines the sequence of events that occur when performing any movement correctly. Most of the people who have this book seem not to have noticed it, however in my opinion it is one of the most helpful nuggets of information to be found in CST’s writing.
Those who already have the book may wish to go direct to the source. It is in the section described as ‘Preparatory to’ and has the sub-heading of ‘Order of Using Different Powers’. Many of the people that I have pointed it out to, including several Sifus who run schools of their own, had either misunderstood or failed to recognise the importance of this piece. With that in mind I present my interpretation here for interested readers.
To begin with it is important to keep in mind that this sequential way of moving is quite natural. In fact it is simply the way that people move when not using muscular strength or brute force. If I turn on a light switch or hand someone a cup of tea, I pass through the sequence of events that Chu Shong Tin describes. So why don’t we just ‘not use force’? Because to resist using force when trying do something powerfully is incredibly difficult. Analysing our action when moving this way can be helpful in correcting mistakes that arise when we succumb to the brute force problem.
This order of powers is crucial in accessing our centre of mass. They begin at our centre and move outwards, in effect opening doors in the only sequence available from our physical centre to our extremities. This can be felt as a natural flow, which is a much simpler model of course. However I maintain as did Chu Shong Tin, that understanding the science is helpful in regard to understanding, performing and teaching Wing Chun.
Every process once begun continues throughout the entire sequence as each movement is layered upon those preceding. This means that by the time force is exerted on the target seven actions are in play. They may be so minimal that they cannot be seen visually or hardly felt until the moment of striking or deflection.
So what are these powers and what do they mean? Here they are in the correct order along with my explanation of each. The first is quite fittingly the fundamental Wing Chun quality attained through the meditative practice of Sui Nim Tau.
1. Idea Power
Chu Shong Tin described this to me as the Siu Nim Tau condition (mental state or brain pattern), applied along with an intention to perform an action.
2. Moving-body-weight-power
This is essentially movement of our centre of mass, which will allow access to one’s entire body weight.
3. Rotational Power
Here we are talking about rotation of the body, once again this is done with the centre of mass. Pivoting is an example. CST stated that in Wing Chun, power is produced by movement and rotation of our centre of mass.
4. Shoulder Power
Shoulder power is often misunderstood. It means the release of tension that restricts weight travelling from our torso through to the arms. It can be seen as a sinking of the shoulders towards the elbows. Chu Shong Tin emphasised the importance of this action again and again. He would spend hours demonstrating this movement as he walked around his Kwoon instructing us.
5. Shoulder Joint Power
This term relates to rotation of the shoulder joint. Chu Shong Tin told us to imagine the shoulder joint as small marble or pea rotating in such a way as to move our upper arms in the desired direction.
6. Forearm Power
It is important not to confuse power with muscular exertion or brute force. It is not helpful to calculate the rotational vectors of the elbow joint when performing an action. The rotation will happen naturally as a consequence of the rotation of the shoulder along with the direction of the fist, palm or forearm. Applying force at the elbow joint is a common mistake with Wing Chun novices.
7. Wrist Power
In Chu Shong Tin’s teachings we do not clench the fist or wrist on contact. Rather we expand them. This is different to many other lineages of Wing Chun. Rotation will occur naturally as we align the knuckles or palm to the target in order to generate more force.
Once this way of moving has been absorbed into our sub-conscious it will feel quite natural. The revelation for me was realising that this is actually how we move when we are completely relaxed. One feels one’s centre of mass allowed to travel through to the striking point as if doors are opened at each juncture and ‘something’ is allowed to flow through. Over many years this feeling of something flowing has become more pronounced. It may be that it was happening earlier but I did not possess the awareness to feel it. As a mechanical way of breaking down each movement the order of powers has been useful in both analysis and performance. My attention has been drawn to problems of tension along the chain of action and helped my understanding considerably.
~ Mark Spence