Lat-Sao

Lat-Sao (Nuk-Sao) or Free Fighting is a term that describes many varied fighting application exercises, drills, tactics and strategies (Training, Applications and Free Lat-sao Sparring) within the concepts and techniques of the Wing Tzun self-defense system.

In Lat-Sao training, the student learns to apply the Wing Tzun principles to a variety of self-defense situations. Lat-Sao begins as a two-person drill that perfects the students' abilities to deal with the various simple set of movements (such as punches and steps), then add more elements like kick, punch, knee, elbow, head, and grappling attacks of a single opponent.
the Lat-Sao drills develops range awareness, co-ordination between hands & feet and all the key principles of the system. The students then learn to apply the attributes they have acquired through the Chi-Sao & Chi Gerk training to the realistic fighting situations encountered in Lat-Sao. This is the development of "sensitivity, muscle memory and reflex self-defense."

The first level within Lat-Sao training is the longest distances which are kicks & punches. This consists of structured free-fighting drills which are taught progressively from
the 1st Student Grade up to and including the 5th Student Grade. Students begin by learning a simple set of movements, then add more & more elements to the exercise as the grades progress. The Lat-Sao student Programs develops range awareness, co-ordination between hands & feet and all the key principles of the system. A basic level student is straight away able to practice the limited number of techniques at their disposal from within a live, moving framework.

Lat-Sao is also a way to train Applications or free-fighting applications taken from the Forms or the Chi-Sao sections. Essentially, how these abstract movements can be used in real fighting.
Students begin from a non-contact position and either attack or defend using a short series of techniques. The exercise is then reset & repeated again & again. Each student, technician & master grade has its own set of Lat-Sao applications which are relevant to the concept of that program. For example the Lat-Sao applications for 1SG are all concerned with straight punches to the face and Kicks, whilst those for 10SG are all concerned with your strategy when faced with multiple opponents.

Lat Sao Sparring is that of sparring with a fellow student with the intention of testing the skills & reactions learnt within
Chi-Sao &
Chi-Gerk and the previous Lat-Sao applications. This type of Lat-Sao can also be structured to a greater or lesser extent, for instance you may both agree to limit
yourselves to arm techniques only. If both parties are free to do whatever they like, then this is the true meaning of the term Lat-Sao. The use of a modifier indicates an exercise or learning tool.

The Lat-Sao program progresses to include drilling against armed and multiple attackers, and the use of Soft techniques to subdue less threatening attackers without injuring them. The Lat-Sao program allows the student to practice applying his/her Wing Tzun skills in a realistic manner without the risk of injury.

Lat-Sao training begins right away at 1SG, and at this stage it would be counter-productive to expose new students to the pressure of sparring. Lat-Sao programs starts people moving & builds understanding of their techniques in a relaxed, friendly way, yet still contains enough pressure and mental stress to require effort & skill. As confidence & competence increase, so students learn to work together to improve each other, and more pressure can then be introduced
within the Lat-Sao Applications as the students become more skilled in there
levels.

Once our student really understands what they are doing, Lat-Sao Sparring becomes a useful tool to highlight personal errors at the Advanced Level & beyond. If you are struck, your defense was obviously flawed in some way and your partner has just shown you where you could improve. As long as everyone understands that sparring is just a higher-pressure learning environment, then grudge-matches and ego-wars are avoided. Nobody can learn & grow when on the receiving end of aggressive
behavior!

The Lat-Sao program progresses to include drilling against armed and multiple attackers, and the use of "soft" techniques to subdue less threatening attackers without injuring them. The Lat-Sao program allows the student to practice applying his/her Wing Tzun skills in a realistic manner without the risk of injury.