Chi Sao Made Easy

Chi Sao (Chinese 黐手, Cantonese chi¹ sau², Mandarin chǐshǒu) or "sticking hands". Term for the principle, and drills used for the development of automatic reflexes upon contact and the idea of "sticking" to the opponent. In Wing Chun this is practiced through two practitioners maintaining contact with each other's forearms while executing techniques, thereby training each other to sense changes in body mechanics, pressure, momentum and "feel". This increased sensitivity gained from this drill helps a practitioner attack and counter an opponent's movements precisely, quickly and with the appropriate technique.

Chi Sao additionally refers to methods of rolling hands drills. Practitioners push and roll their forearms against each other in a single circle while trying to remain relaxed. The aim is to feel forces, test resistances and find defensive gaps.

In some lineages (such as the Ip Man Wing Chun), Chi Sao drills begin with one-armed sets called Dan Chi Sao (Single Hand Drills) which help the novice student to get the feel of the exercise, each practitioner uses one hand from the same side as they face each other. Chi Sao is a sensitivity drill to obtain specific responses, it should not be confused with sparring/fighting, though it can be practiced or expressed in a combat form.

It normally takes years to develop a skill in applied Chi Sao. But, if taught with a scientific structure and detailed in a simple format with practical drills, then Chi Sao can be learned in a much shorter period of time.

Types of Chi Sao - (soft, medium and heavy). The type of Chi Sao will depend on the amount of Spring Load, from light and fluid down to Heavy and aggressive. Light and Medium Chi Sao can be aggressive, but it is a more spontaneous and twitchy energy.

Malaysia Ip Man Wing Chun teaches a soft Chi Sao. The logic is that you can easily add energy and become firmer or hard, but it is very difficult to start out hard and reduce it to softness.

 

The more specific information, the easier it is to understand. Keep it direct and simple.