'An Open Mind'

''By opening your mind you open your potential'' - Sifu Paul Blissett

You will often see various Martial Art groups describe themselves as having an open minded approach to their practice...but have you ever thought what this entails?

After many years of study, teaching and research into the skills of 'Wing Chun' and seeing or experiencing first hand seven distinct and different sets of methods to the practice of 'Wing Chun Kung Fu' and with knowledge of several other branches, I feel I have 'an open mind'  towards my perception of the art.

Since the worldwide explosion of MMA (mixed martial arts) encouraging students of combat systems to pick up a core of four or more martial disciplines to be successful, the knock on effect in many martial art schools is to attempt to prepare and provide for the ripple effect of this requirement - but are you planning to fight in a cage???...maybe...maybe not...

I believe Wing Chun is a complete system in its own right and perhaps following one path will answer all our questions - but rather than profess to have all the answers myself I actively encourage my students to maintain an open mind and search as I do for what works for them - even if it means they follow a different path to get there, either by cross-training in other arts or researching other Wing Chun schools of thought.

An open minded person is someone who is willing to consider ideas, opinions and arguments based on their merit.

With Wing Chun being conceptual in nature there are many and varied ways of applying these concepts and these can be explored as Wing Chun is, or should be, a lifelong quest for knowledge and progress.

So as a final note, remember on your journey on the path of Wing Chun beware of anyone who claims to offer the 'best' or 'only' way to practice...there is more than one way to cook your potato!!!

Chi Sau - the skill of 'Sticking Hands'

'Wing Chun' is renowned for its close range fighting methods and a key area to the full development of this is working on and more importantly, understanding the Chi Sau (sticking hands) drills.
What separates Chi Sau from other areas of Wing Chun such as the forms is the endless nature of the practice, there is always room for improvement, the subtle skill development never ceases, meaning you can continue to practice into old age.

Beginning students begin this process by learning 'Daan Chi Sau' (single sticking hands) which puts some practical use to the actions and concepts being learnt in the Siu Nim Tau (little/young idea) form.
This drill also introduces the correct use of energy when both attacking and absorbing incoming strikes and strengthens the basic stance to allow the hands to relax and 'feel' when and how to respond through a set sequence of continuous flowing actions training the seeds of the Wing Chun system - Bong Sau (upper arm deflection) - Taan Sau (spreading/dispersing hand) - and Fook Sau (subduing hand).

(Pictured: Grandmaster Ip Man playing 'Chi Sau' with a young Bruce Lee)

Students soon move on to the main Wing Chun Chi Sau exercise using a double handed approach, this is sometimes compared to a laboratory stage where a student can experiment with relative safety and control the more subtle aspects of the skills of Wing Chun and how the concepts learnt relate to close quarter contact with a partner, who is most likely  trying to find a gap in your defence in which to strike.

After a basic understanding has been achieved in this exercise it is important to always have in mind the maintainance of a direct, no-nonsense approach, drilling your reflex responses to adapt quickly and efficiently to the situation at hand in a positive, assertive manner.

By following the main Wing Chun concept/rhyme of 'Loi Lau, Hoi Sung, Lat Sau, Jik Chung' (meet what comes, follow what goes, lost hand, spring forward) a student learns to automatically find gaps in his opponents defence and exploit any mistakes in position or overuse of energy without thought.

Many Wing Chun practitioners still view Chi Sau as a method to tie up the arms of your opponent and/or to endlessly stick to their arms and nullify any attacks on their person with some kind of secret magic skill....to train with this as a goal only leads to poor, non direct Wing Chun and the often talked about habit of 'Jui Sau' (chasing the hands) rather than the centre.

Wing Chun Kung Fu is a simple, direct and sophisticated weapon and although health benefits and longevity can be gained from regular practice, the goal should always be to follow the core concepts and find an attacking line with minimum effort, maximum effectiveness.

In my class on every last Sunday of the month from November 2009, practice will be centered around the Chi Sau exercises for the entire lesson, in this way the skills have a better chance to be bedded in and understood and concepts can be expanded upon to increase your development and skill base.

Sifu Paul Blissett