Chi Sau (黐手)
Chi Sau / 黐手(lit. “sticky hands”) are the core exercises in Leung Sheung Wing Chun used for the development of contact sensitivity, coordination of the limbs, forward energy, timing and the ability to "stick" to the opponent. It also provides the Wing Chun practitioner an opportunity to test the movements from the forms against pressure. During Chi Sau, the proper stance, five points and other principles are kept in mind.
Chi Sau is central to the Yip Man Wing Chun system. As grandmaster Yip Man said, “No Chi Sau, No Wing Chun.”
The Leung Sheung method of Chi Sau develops skill in “Mo Zhang Dai” or “Touching the base of the elbow”, which allows the practitioner to contain the opponent’s energy by touching their elbows. Chi Sau teaches how to react appropriately to the opponents energy while maintaining the proper structure and relaxation. Training under pressure, the student should neither be afraid of getting hit, nor be overly eager to hit their opponent. Chi Sau ingrains into the neuro-muscular system the mindset of accepting and sticking with the opponent’s energy. After a short time, trained sensitivity allows one to act without conscious thought or the necessity of seeing the opponent’s hands.
- Dan Chi Sau （單黐手） - Single sticky hands; this drill trains basic movements on one arm.
- Seung Chi Sau （双黐手） - Double sticky hands; this drill trains both arms to move independently of each other.
Besides the two Chi Sau exercises, other hand drills in the Leung Sheung method include Lop Kuen, Pak Sau, Poon Sau and others. Rather than fighting, Chi Sau is a learning process that gives two practitioners the opportunity to test and explore each other's strengths and weaknesses. Once the practitioner has become well trained in Chi Sau, they can use the skills gained to freestyle "spar" outside of the Chi Sau format.
During sticking hands practice it is important to remember the Wing Chun maxim: "Greet what arrives, escort what leaves and rush upon loss of contact," or in Chinese: ”來留去送，甩手值沖“
Besides sticking hands, there is also a sticky legs exercise or “Chi Gerk” （黐腳）. In this drill, the ankle functions as the wrist, the knee as the elbow, and the hip as the shoulder.
Chi Gerk enables the practitioner to develop the sensitivity in the legs for sweeps, redirections and counter kicks. In Wing Chun, arms deal with arms, legs deal with legs (腳打腳).
