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Shaolin Chi Sao

Author: Suikee Wan
Date Posted: July 10, 2007

'Chi Sau' which translated means 'Sticking Hands' has had much exposure throughout the world through the Wing Chun System . However besides the Poon Sau or Lok Sau ( Rolling hands) platform used in most Wing Chun Systems, there also exist a less well known and obscure platform called 'Teng Sau' which translated mean 'Listening Hands'. This system of Chi Sau until now has not been widely exposed to the general public, it roots coming from the Shaolin Ancestors system. Its original conception designed to control and subdue rather than to strike and maim. Though more modern versions have been modified to include more strikes.

As the name suggest the hands are trained in Listening sensitivity, though that is only half of the picture. Unless one is only defending the objective of the hands is to confront the opponents energies. If one can imagine the strength of opponent's arms as being a current flow of energy, then the objective is to confront the engaging energy flow by reactional linking. And once linked one can choose to either Follow, Neutralise or Disrupt. Once proficient this allows us the ability to neutralise power on contact. The skill off course lies in being able to maintain this level of skill throughout the whole period of contact and within an environment of changing energies. Then the next stage involves Chin Na (locking) and Ying Yang (Opposing forces) and only then can Gor Sau (strikes) be executed without a trade off.

The Teng Sau platform starts from Kiu Sau (Bridge Arm) range and thus is engaged immediately when and if contact is made during fighting and as such is not just a training tool or exercise to train sensitivity and reactional speed. Superficially the arms may appear to be uncoordinated and unstructured with elbow positions flowing both in and out, and just as in actual fighting nothing is confined to positional parameters. As long as there is contact through a bridge then Teng sau can be engaged.

The main listening points or points of contact are usually from the palms of the hand as this position allows for simultaneous offence and defence. And also helping us to achieve maximum flexibility and sensitivity as the palms of the hands being the most receptive and mobile tool of the body. Though if contact starts from the forearms then one just simply adjusts the listening point. Elbows positions can be rooted inside or outside of the shoulder lines depending on the opponents positional configuration. The energy state focuses on Soft power, that is the degree of ability to dissipate incoming energy or force whilst being in a state of relaxation so as to increase our own reaction time. And inorder to maintain control one has to be able to use and align all of the arm structures so that if the other person exerts pressure regardless what what angle they press then it should feel like they are pressing against an solid wall.

In total there's 3 main progressions in Teng Sau training and i will briefly cover the 2nd. Training begins in the traditional Shoalin Horse Stance and the objective of early training is making sure one is comfortably rooted in the Ma (stance) whilst supporting the arms. Basic Chi Sau starts in this position and involves random pulling and pushing of each others arms aiming to upset balance and position. A good variation in this training would be to Chi Sau whilst sitting on chairs facing each other and once more proficient, then one can practice standing on the chairs. This fixed positional Chi Sau trains us to confront and engage the energies rather than run from it. And it is only through confrontational learning can we understand the true nature of energy. And in my opinion a practitioner can only be 'Soft' in Chi Sau if he truly understands all the structures and controlling energies.{mospagebreak}

Soft is not just about yielding or being relax but having the flexible ability to control energy. For example it may feel and appear to your opponent like your are using heavy force in order to neutralise when in actual fact you are only using a fraction of your potential strength.

Another good training drill would be to take turns pinning your training partner against a wall using the hands arms and body in a freestyle fashion. And the person against the wall however will be resisting by pushing his partner away. Once proficient in taking and absorbing energy, one should then be able push untrained people off with ease. And it is this type of esoteric energy we see so often demonstrated on stage when the smaller person challenge's a larger volunteer to push him of his Ma (stance).

Traditionally Chi Sau is best trained without looking directly at your opponent as this gets your body used to engaging the energies through touch rather than sight and it also isolates the senses for you so that you can deal with energies in their pure form. Once one is able to engage successfully the energetics of the opponent then the next stage is to Chi Sau using Ma Bo (Footwork) and that's when the positional footwork is learnt. So at this stage the hands will have developed the skills to Control, Absorb and Neutralise without the need to yield and step back, which means footwork direction is either to the side or forward during this stage of the training. Off course in practice we will always find ourselves taking the odd step backwards, but the focus should always be to engage rather than to yield. Which is why its always good to allocate practice sessions when our backs is against a wall.

In order for Chi Sau to be effective it must be trained to the final freestyle progression. And only then can the tools be used effectively in San Sau( free style sparring). From Chi Sau practice the hands develop the necessary listening and karma to detect weakness in the persons armoury whether they present themselves in the form of 'Holes' or just weak energy structures. The skills developed prepares us with the awareness to deal with Khum Na (locks and stand-up grappling). And during contact against strikes we develop the skills to allow us more control and dissipation of power. Thus the tools used during Chi Sau must be identical for the ones used in San Sau otherwise the Chi Sau progression will not be an effective one and becomes nothing more than a Dynamic stand alone exercise. Each tool in order to be effective must be trained with the correct energetics and executed at the correct range.

This means in the case for striking the footwork must be fast and mobile and married to the arm positions if the tools are to be effective as Chi Sau is a short range system. To aid mobility and speed, 80% of the body weight is distributed evenly onto the soles of the feet as this allows for quick change of direction with minimal adjustments to the feet.

To learn the moves and techniques may for most take a year or so, but to master and understand the true Yi (Essence) of Chi Sau for some may become a life's journey.

About The Author

Suikee Wan is a Shaolin Ancestors sifu which can be found here Shaolin Ancestors. To learn Southern Kung fu or read more articles on Southern Kung Fu go to the London Kung Fu Academy website London Weng Chun Kung Fu Academy where Bruce Valentine is an instructor

Article Source: JKD Street Combat - online collection of Shaolin Kung Fu articles.

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