From what I understand, chi sau is the movement – usually of hands – once a bridge – connection, contact – with the opponent has been created. This process is usually used to 1) improve sensitivity 2) improve reaction 3) allow for focus upon multiple variables – in cases of “drawn-out” battles.
I have seen that there are generally two conditions to fighting: 1) making contact [from a distance] & 2) action after contact has been made. Chi sau deals with the latter of these two conditions. Later, the former becomes introduced through chi sau. If one understands what to do, one will most likely understand how to get to that stage.
Chi sau is also used to test the internal wing chun state. You may be able to stay centered on the spine, rise, and/or activate the Nim-Tao state during SNT or in static poses. But are you able to bring it out in movement? If you cannot, then how will you do so [eventually] under pressure? The following are some of my thoughts concerning chi sau.
There are three stages to chi sau: singles (don chi sau), look sau (rolling hands) and chi sau. Single hand chi sau is used for improving sensitivity, keeping shapes and maintaining attention on the spine. Look sau – rolling hands – is used for testing the integrity of shapes, maintaining attention on the spine and seeing how relaxed the body is (in making and maintaining these shapes). Chi sau is maintaining your shapes, using forward intention, attempting to use the “rise or sing” state, keeping your opponent outside your bubble (circle) and not reacting to your opponent.
Where to keep focus
Where to keep focus
- Focus on the back of the body, especially the spine. If that’s a bit difficult, focus on a small point in the middle of the back, along the spine. Then try focusing on the lowest (or most tense) part of your back. Don’t focus on the hands to control the opponent. Keep the focus on the spine. Focus on rising.
- Focus on making the back flat. Think of a triangle – this usually helps. The back is the base. What you are doing is actually pushing (and resting) the shoulders on top of the [shoulder] blades.
- Attempt to feel the opponent’s spine or centerline and try to “grab” or control it. This means to try and get a feel from where everything is connected. If there is tension, it will be linked to the spine – if the spine isn’t “hidden.” Think of it akin to pushing a long, foldable stick. The foldable portions are where the joints – wrist, elbow, shoulder, spine – align. If the portions are open and rigid, you will be able to use it – push it – with ease. If they are “floppy” then you will be unable to control it.
- Maintain the centerline. Protect it extensively. If this is compromised, you will be attacked no matter how relaxed or focused you are.
- Keep the shoulder resting on the blades. If you don’t, you’ll burnout – plain and simple. Also, don’t overextend your arms. You don’t want them to be “locked.”
Shapes
- Keep your opponent outside of your circle.
- Maintain your shapes – these shapes are used to channel the rising feeling from the spine to the arms or legs.
- Fook sau and bong sau must feel as if they are lying on the table. This is their relaxed state.
- Keep the bong and fook one fist’s length away from body. If they touche the body then your shapes aren’t solid and you can be broken into. You will collapse. If I can maintain my shapes, I will automatically be able to keep opponent on the outside of my circle.
- Make a small ball or bowl or circle. This keeps your structure. This is important for keeping your space and interrupting your opponent’s.
- Use torque to accelerate movements and thus overcome your opponent. Think of turning a ball or bowl or circle quickly. If your opponent is stiff then you can move them immensely by using torque.
- Thing of moving your shape. Not your opponent.
- Arms should be controlled from the spine. They should feel light.
- Get the feeling of channeling energy from your spine to your shoulder.
- Keep the angles, keep the shapes. Don’t allow yourself to be compressed or collapse. Don’t allow yourself to push either. Find your ball or bowl or circle and use them. Do not push or compress (last day’s teaching by Tom).
- Relax but keep shape. Drop yourself down through relaxation. Keep your shape. Keep the ball – according to Nima.
- Be limp – like when you lift your hand up to shoulder and let it fall naturally; it “feels” dead and falls naturally, absent any resistance. But have structure and point forwards (towards your opponent’s spine).
Attacking & Intention
- Keep “intending” from the start. Where do your fingers want to aim at, point? Focus on your opponent’s spine. That’s what you want to grab. If you can disrupt the base (think of a triangle) then the whole building will collapse on itself.
- Intention will occur naturally. It requires constant and consistent attention on the spine. Also, when you are relaxed enough, you can use your intention to stop the other person from moving or to “break” into them.
- Pointing. Point with fingers when rotating from tan to bong sau and vice versa. Also, wrist is pointing with the fook sau.
- Use forward intention. You want to go forward. Not stay stagnate. Chi sau is the practical use of the spinal state. This will occur naturally. There is no need to rush this. Enter and disrupt opponent’s centerline through intention.
- Remain relaxed even when broken into. At the very least, maintain your balance.
- Attempt to flow the mental state through the limbs. Feed into the shoulder (via the spine). Then the elbow. Then the wrist. And then the fingers. Everything is one connection.
- Do not use techniques in the beginning. If one can “shut you down” then what use will the techniques be? Later on, the techniques can be used. They are more devastating when initiated from the spine or a mental state of rising as opposed to simply moving the hands and feet hither and tither.
- The opponent must be covered. He cannot have even an opportunity (through a opening) to strike you. If you can strike him yet he is able to do the same, then you have failed. We are not seeking a “double car collision” where both parties are injured. You must cover your opponent before you attack.
- Strikes need to be penetrative. They cannot simply “push” the opponent. They must penetrate into and through the opponent.
- Try this drill: do chi sau on a single leg. See how you can adjust your balance. Try (lightly) kicking while chi sauing. Observe the changes in your body and mind.