WSL Wing Chun Chinese Boxing (Brunswick) Melbourne Australia

What is Chi Sau?
The word Chi Sao is a Cantonese expression which means in English "sticking hands". It is a name given to the exercise practiced by Wing Chun students to develop sensitivity in the arms, drill basics, develop a central elbow position, concentrate energy forward along the centre line, build co-ordination and develop powerful reflex reactions. With the arms remaining in contact during the exercise, students learn to fight at very close range with very efficient movements. Chi Sao can be divided into several parts.

What is Dan Chi Sau?
Single sticking hands is an exercise which requires the student to maintain contact with one hand and perform the movements from the Sil Lum Tao form (Tan Sao, Bong Sao, Fook Sao, Vertcal plam), training basic attack and defence movements.

What is Lok Sau?
This is the next stage where the student learns to maintain constant contact and relaxed pressure with both arms in a rolling action.

What is Gor Sau?
This stage is more combat orientated while starting from the rolling drill. Students attack either in turns or at will, with each trying to gain advantage over the other. Or counter attacking by learning to deflect, redirect, defend against each other and attack in the most efficient manner. This can be made harder by introducing kicking or by practicing blind folded.

What is Lap Sau?
Lap Sau means "deflecting hands" and is an exercise generally practised about the time a student begins to learn Chum Kui form which helps to improve the reflexes by teaching a student to release pressure on the arms and to counter immediately. It is practiced while standing in what is called a side stance. It is a continually flowing drill changing from one side to the other. Once the student has learned the basic drill; attacking and defence movements are added.

What is the "Four Corners" drill?
The Four Corners are zones, which we aim to defend. If we divide the body vertically in half along the centreline and then horizontally at the waist we can define four zones or corners:
upper right corner, upper left corner, lower right corner, and lower left corner.

To defend the upper corners we use combinations of basic attaking and deflection hand techniques.
To defend the lower corners we use both our hands and legs depending on the height and type of attack. We always try to avoid defending outside the Four Corners beyond the extremes of the body.
These ideas are practiced in our Four Corners drill.

What is the centre line?
The centre line refers to the vertical axis dividing your body in half or your opponents body in half. This line extends forward from your body. The majority of Wing Chun techniques originates and travels along the centre line. The centre line is the quickest route between you and your opponent or straightest line between A to B.

What is the fixed elbow position?
The fixed elbow position refers to the Wing Chun theory of always keeping the elbow a fist away from the body and as close to the centre line as possible. If the elbow maintains this position (with the rear hand always near by) all defensive and attaking techniques will be easier to perform and the body well guarded. Note the elbow does not always have to be exactly in the centre as long as it is not against the body, and the forearm is in the centre. (The above idea applies specifically to the front hand position.)

What is Pak Sau?
This is a drill some times called slapping block. The drill is performed with a partner and is used to instil a sense of timing. And to develop attacking and counter attacking skills.

WSL Wing Chun Terminology courtesy of David Peterson

Siu Nim Tau - (First Form) "Young Idea"
Cham Kiu - (Second Form) "Seeking/Finding The Bridge"
Biu Ji - (Third Form) "Pointing Fingers"
Muk Yan Jong - "Wooden Dummy" Form
Luk Dim Boon Gwan - "6.5 Point Pole" Form
Baat Jaam Do - "Eight Slashing/Cutting Knives" Form
Yi Ji Kim Yeung Ma - "Character Two Goat Gripping (Basic) Stance"
Saam Gok Ma - "Triangular Advancing/Retreating Stance"
Saam Gok Bo - "Triangular Advancing/Retreating Footwork"
Dui Gok Ma - "Side-facing Stance"
Juen Ma - "Pivoting/Turning Footwork"
Seung Ma - "Forward Attacking Footwork"
Tui Ma - "Defensive (Side-stepping) Footwork"
Yat Ji Kuen - "Sun-character (Basic Vertical) Fist/Punch"
Taan Sau - "Spreading-hand" Deflection
Fook Sau - "Subduing-hand" Deflection
Bong Sau - "Upper-arm" Deflection
Huen Sau - "Circling-hand" Deflection
Wu Sau - "Guarding-hand" Deflection
Paak Sau - "Slapping-hand" Deflection
Jing Jeung - "Standing (vertical) Palm-strike"
Waang Jeung - "Lying (horizontal) Palm-strike"
Soh Sau - "Pressing Palm" Deflection
Fak Sau - "Whisking/Whipping Hand" Attack
Lan Sau - "Barrier-arm" Deflection
Jam Sau - "Sinking-arm" Deflection
Jat Sau - "Jerking/Dragging/Obstructing-hand" Deflection
Biu Sau - "Thrusting/Spearing-hand" Attack
Naat Sau - "Pressing-down/Extinguishing" Deflection
Daan Sau - "Rebounding-hand" Deflection
Gaan Sau - "Splitting/Dividing-hand" Deflection
Che Jeung - "Slanting/Descending Palm-strike"
Dai Jeung - "Underneath/Lifting-palm" Deflection
Senk Sau - "Scraping/Shaving-hand" Deflection
Dang Geuk - "Ascending (Basic Heel) Kick"
Waang Geuk - "Horizontal (Side) Kick"
Chi Sau - "Sticky-hands" Exercise
Chi Geuk - "Sticky-legs" Exercise
Luk Sau/Poon Sau - "Rolling-hands" Exercise
Daan (Chi) Sau - "Single-hand" Chi Sau Exercise
Seung (Chi) Sau - "Double-hand" Chi Sau Exercise
Gwoh Sau - "Free-attack" Chi Sau Exercise
Laap Sau - "Warding-off/Deflecting-hands" Exercise
Lat Sau Jik Chung - "Constant Forward Springy-energy" Concept
Chiu Ying - "Square-on/Facing" Concept
Jui Ying - "Chasing" Concept
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Wing Chun is not about this technique, that stance or those combinations;
it's about applying logical concepts in a totally adaptable way to whatever situation confronts us.