Differences in Chi Sau

If you’re curious about the different variations of Wing Chun, check out Complete Wing Chun by Robert Chu, Rene Ritchie, & Y. Wu. It’s an excellent guide to Wing Chun’s history and traditions.

I borrowed a copy of that book from a friend and it has a great collection of the non-Ip Man lineages. I’m re-reading and taking notes this time around.

i also have a copy of Complete Wing Chun by Robert Chu, Rene Ritchie, Y. Wu. so far is the best literature on the diferent lineages of WC. Also, it can probably be agreed that the two most common ways of Chi Sau are the Hong Kong (Ip Man) way and the Guandong way from Guangzhou(Yuen Kay-San). the former of course being the familiar bong sau/taan sau, fook sau, and the latter being the circular way, with the fook sau snakes and slips around the partners’. Still, ive heard different instructors tell their students that the way is not important, as long as your body structure is correct, the forward intent is there, and the end result is the ability of touch reflex (rather than sight reflex),and to take the opponents’ balance and overcome his technique.

Thanks for your comparison between the two most common forms of chi sau structure.

I’d like to add one more distinction with the Hong Kong style as you label it (bong, tan, fook).

One of its important benefits is it pretty much closes off the centerline.

That’s what you train in this form of chi sau more than anything – closing your centerline while opening your opponents center.

Some say that it is very defensive for this reason, and I’d say that’s true. Nothing wrong with keeping your guard up.