Chi-Sao

The student begins the Poon-Sao (double-arm Chi-Sao) exercise, then progresses to learn and practice the First Section (basic techniques) of Chi-Sao. Emphasis is placed on maintaining good position and constant forward pressure into the partner, while staying relaxed and flexible.
Chi Sao is a training method and not a fighting system.

Chi-Sao, known as "The Soul of Wing Tzun," is a partner exercise unique to Wing Tzun that helps the practitioner develop forward pressure, tactile sensitivity, quick reflexes, body coordination, relaxation, balance, power, economy of motion, and other core elements necessary for good Wing Tzun self-defense. Chi-Sao is, in essence, the bridge between learning the movements of Wing Tzun individually in the forms training and learning to apply them fluently and automatically (i.e. without thought) in combat.
During the Chi-Sao training, the student learns to divorce his/her conscious mind from the details of fighting. The body is trained to act spontaneously on the inputs provided by the opponent's pressure. The Wing Tzun movements are integrated into the student's natural reflexes so that the student can react instantly, appropriately, and automatically to the actions of the opponent.

When training Chi-Sao the Wing Tzun practitioners don't try to chase or stick to arms. Instead Chi Sao gives a heightened sense of awareness which makes contact reflexes better and sharper than those of people unfamiliar with such practice. The idea in Wing Tzun is to maneuver of view they often miss the purpose of the exercise. Just having two arms in contact with a partner, and to stick no matter where their arms go, is not a good idea. This loose kind of hand play does not lead to correct results. The purpose is rather to sense the opponents energy when he attacks you for centerline mistakes which are then met with short abrupt shocking counters into close range and handle whatever, once there, might come. Wing Tzun nicely fills the gap between hit and run and grappling tactics. Other arts try to incorporate a sort of Chi Sao into their training.

However, from a Wing Tzun point Chi Sao is a specialized method of training which develops touch or contact reflexes and coordination of the limbs, while improving balance. Chi Sao's side benefits include improvement of footwork for close range mobility, accuracy for striking and the ability to control an opponent's balance from the point of contact. Although Chi Sao does not resemble fighting, the understanding of the application of force and technique gained through Chi Sao practice is invaluable and directly applicable to fighting. A contact reflex (Muscle Memory) is a conditioned response to a specific stimuli. Through this point, any movement is transmitted as a vibration. The Wing Tzun practitioner, through Chi Sao Training, can interpret this vibration instantly.

Chi-Sao is a training exercise that is unique to the Wing Tzun Kung-Fu style. Through the correct study of Chi-Sao one learns to recognize & react to changing positions & pressures of an opponent, enabling an instantaneous defense and an automatic counterattack.
Wing Tzun is characterized by an extremely developed Chi-Sao program.

An overview of our current unarmed Chi-Sao training programs is as follows;

Dan-Chi-Sao 1
Single-arm exercises trained from within the IRAS without stepping or turning. Taught at the 3SG stage of the Basic Level. Dedicated practice at this stage will reap dividends later on.

Dan-Chi-Sao 2
Single-arm exercises with steps, shifts & turns, which when mastered is combined with Dan-Chi 1. Taught at the 4SG stage of the Basic Level.

Poon-Sao & Simple Attacks
Double-arm exercises trained from the IRAS with shifting footwork are taught at the 5SG stage of the Intermediate Level. Different arm combinations are explored & the student learns to fluidly react to independently changing arm positions. Simple linear & circular attacks are also introduced, and when mastered the student is ready to begin more complex attacking methods via the Chi-Sao Sections.

Siu-Nim-Tao Chi-Sao Chum-Kiu Chi-Sao Sections 1-7
Seven sections which explore & train all the techniques within the Siu-Nim-Tao & Chum-Kiu forms. Each section has it's own set of concepts, focus points, variations and applications. These are taught sequentially from the 6th Student Grade up to the 2nd Technician level, then continually practiced & mastered.

Biu-Tze Chi-Sao Sections 1-5
Five sections (plus variations) which explore & train all the techniques within the Biu-Tze form.
Biu-Tze Chi-Sao is difficult at first, as the underlying concepts are different and for a long time it feels as if you are working against your training partner. Only with much practice and development of the elastic force do these sections become fluid & relaxed, yet whip-like & powerful.

Wooden Dummy Chi-Sao Sections 1-8
Eight sections which explore & train all the techniques within the final unarmed form. As with Biu-Tze these sections can feel extremely alien at first due again to a shift in underlying concept, but with time & practice they become the norm.

Chi-Gerk 1-2
Wing Tzun Chi-Gerk, or sticky leg, develops the same sensitivity in the leg that chi-sao does in the hand. With Chi-Gerk training the students learns to apply the attributes they have acquired through the tactile sensitivity training in the legs to any realistic fighting situations encountered. This is the development of sensitivity to force or pressure, muscle memory and reflex self-defense as well.