Inside Pak Sau with Pak Sau Recovery followed by Jut Sau Drill
Sifu Doug Clark in black T Shirt teaching his student Craig Clark how to recover from the Inside Pak Sau drill using a Pak Sau recovery. Also teaching Craig Clark how to time the Jut Sau drill.
Rolling Concepts
Heavy "rolling" in Chi Sau with power from the elbow to Horse, to improve one's elbow to waist connection and to work the whole body structure. Note one does not "roll" with this amount of force all the time. It is simply a drill to teach the elbow to waist connection and to make sure that the "roll" has forward energy and that there are no gaps within one's structure.
Then showing how to look for "holes" or "gaps" in the other person's structure and to hit through. Next looking at how the Bong Sau and also Gaun Sau and Biu Sau should find the line and clear the path prior to hitting. One must have a clear line to hit from, so that the other person's arms are clear from one's own Centre. This is referred to getting his "guns" off line whilst having our own "guns" lined to hit.
Then showing how to look for "holes" or "gaps" in the other person's structure and to hit through. Next looking at how the Bong Sau and also Gaun Sau and Biu Sau should find the line and clear the path prior to hitting. One must have a clear line to hit from, so that the other person's arms are clear from one's own Centre. This is referred to getting his "guns" off line whilst having our own "guns" lined to hit.
Getting his guns off target and lining one's own guns on line. Finding the hitting line and then firing and keep hitting.
In this clip I am showing how to find the line to hit by opening up lines from the guard of Chi Sau (Lok Sau). I am also showing how to search (hit) and if the hit is parried or blocked how to replace by hitting through again using the forward horse stepping. Once I have found a hitting line I do not change lines unless forced to. It is a simple concept. I am also co-ordinating the Horse and the punching.
Lap Sau Initiation which includes pinning with the Fook Sau whilst using the Bong Sau to cut across the line of the opponent and then use the Lap Sau motion in one timing, whilst moving the Horse (Stance) into the opponent
Lap Sau: Here I am showing some of the Lap Sau drill. Including some of the theory behind it. This clip is not meant to be totally prescriptive. Ving Tsun is concept based and there is much more to Lap Sau than this including more Drills within it for example drills to train the Wu Sau to be responsive and drills to cover against low palm strikes. However, this basic clip is good:
Yi Bong Sau to Lan Sau
Showing the correct positions for Yi Bong Sau and Lan Sau from Chum Kiu. Showing how to train the absorption of force and re-directing force. Explaining how both Training Partners are doing their work. Looking at the channeling of force to the Centre.
At the end showing how the principle can be applied to combat. Using the concept and adapting it whilst still using the elbow alignment and structure correctly.
At the end showing how the principle can be applied to combat. Using the concept and adapting it whilst still using the elbow alignment and structure correctly.
Push and Pull Drills
This drill is simply to teach attributes of creating a very strong elbow to waist connection. It also improves the power in the Horse. It also improves the ability of the waist to offset his force as he is "pulled" in by the elbow to waist connection. The training partner must ride the force in and use Kwan Sau to deflect. After this the person that has used the elbow to waist to pull him in, then sends him off with the elbow to waist connection. This drill when done with power is very cardiovascular. It really works the fitness level of the partners.
Punching Drill
A punching drill to show how to punch from the Bong Sau with the same arm that has completed the Bong Sau action This drill teaches us to drop our elbow and to connect to the hip and waist as we punch. This drill also teaches us to have an active Wu Sau that converts into a punch. The punch in many respects has the same structure as Tan Sau. All moves within a series must be strong and have structure. Also one can see the intensity of the training here. We are training to fight. All strikes on Centre. Teaching him how to target. No weak or flicky punches, all punching has structure, line and power. Power comes from the legs up through the waist into the elbow and is expressed out.
Jon Ma Gaun Sau, Thoi Ma Faar Kuen
This drill is used to teach the Gaun sau with the Forward Stepping of the Horse to deflect any incoming punches. Of course one can strike through but one is teaching attributes of the Gaun Sau. Note the use of the waist to drive the Gaun Sau in and across covering the Centre. The other part of this drill is to teach the ability to punch whilst using a retreating Horse. In general we do not want to be retreating but under heavy fire one can and does retreat whilst punching out as insurance. It is much harder to maintain stability and power when punching on the retreat and that is one reason we train it that way. If both partners train this drill continously with one moving backwards and punching as the other drives in and cuts the punch with the Gaun Sau and then reverse the drill so that the one doing the Gaun Sau retreats and punches as the other drives in and uses the Gaun Sau this is a very demanding drill that really works the heart and lungs. The Gaun Sau must be strong, so must the punches coming in.
In this drill I break it down at first teaching the structures in isolation i.e. in the air but then at the end one can see the drill being carried out. Note the speed of the forward and backward footwork.
In this drill I break it down at first teaching the structures in isolation i.e. in the air but then at the end one can see the drill being carried out. Note the speed of the forward and backward footwork.
Showing how the structures and footwork as well as elbow positioning can be used to neutralise strikes
Range control, striking line and distance as well as elbow positioning on the main deflection of Ving Tsun and also showing how the elbow positioning is important when punching and striking.
How to use the Tan Sau by whipping it in (Lau Cheung) control of elbow on Centre!
The Tan Sau does not have to be placed, it is thrown into the opponent's hook or arcing punches. The Lau Cheung concept means that even if the punch is a feint on his part our elbow positioning can still fire forward to hit. Lau Cheung is control of the elbow on Centre, covering space. I am not looking to actively engage his hook, he is coming into my space and my energy (Tan Sau) is hurting him on first contact. I also simultaneously hit into this core. Of course I can target select the head as the main commander but equally I can fire big shots into the chest and disrupt his heart and nervous system prior to striking the head and neck. The way I treat my student may appear a little brutal but we are learning to fight and are training a combat system. Rugby players take hits as do many other contact sports so too in Martial Arts we must learn to deal with pain and discomfort. I take the pain too!
Making sure the elbow down power (Jang Dae Lik) is used on all Ving Tsun Deflections. Elbow down power and making sure the elbow to the waist connection (Yiu Lik) is correct and strong is essential in Ving Tsun. Here I show how to connect the elbow to the waist. First I look at how to adapt one's fixed shapes to cope with a tight arcing hook punch. Then I look at how to connect the elbow to the waist on the Chum Kiu Lan Sau.
The heavy hitting power developed through correct Ving Tsun alignment of the Horse, elbow and waist connection.
Demonstrating how the Horse (Stance), elbow to waist connection (Yiu Lik) and the two directional force of Yiu Ma Hap Yaat (Waist and Horse combined) power can be applied into punching and also into the Pai Jarn (Chum Kiu elbow strikes). I am deliberatley taking it easy on my student. In essence I can deliver about three to four times this amount of power.
Lap Sau movements with speed and power. Here are shown some movements that arose naturally at the end of a two and a half hour training session between Sifu Doug Clark and Todai Craig Clark. We had been training at this intensity or near it for the whole time.
Breaking Structure
If a Ving Tsun Technician can break the structure of the opponent or training partner by collapsing their guard arms or taking the person off line or compromising the opponent's balance etc then the techniques become secondary. Chi Sau teaches, positioning, reflex (sensitivity to forces), angle of delivery (including distancing and timing) and lastly technique. In other words technique comes last. In Wong Shun Leung lineage Ving Tsun one of the most important factors is Lut Sau Jik Chung loosely translated as when the hands are freed from obstructions attack instinctively. This is a pure reflex action which has been hard wired into the neurology of the VT Technician through countless hours of training. My Sifu states that only the very first action when the hands are freed is Lut Sau Jik Chung, all follow ups do not conform to that motto. However, even with Lut Sau Jik Chung if the VT Technician's attacking weapons have been taken off line and if their structure has been compromised or broken they will not be able to find the line to hit back. Breaking structure is called Por Jung and literally it means breaking the Centreline of the opponent.
Working the Waist Control and Elbow to Waist Power and Alignment
In this clip I am showing how to use a fast initiation for Lap Sau sing the Fak Sau to the throat but I place it to my partner's chest for safety. Next I am showing how even when crowded or closed in by my partner I do not have to step back because I can use the flexibility of the waist and hips via the Horse (Stance) to turn him off my line i.e. away from my Centre. I am then showing how to generate power from the elbow to hip to send him off. This power can then be transferred into punching: You will also note there is a Lut Sau Jik Chung action where I hit through, however such is my sensitivity I can control it but send him off for safety:
Putting it together, the waist, the elbow the Horse in Chi Sau and Lap Sau
This clip is self explanatory I am combining elements of training into a fluid drill where nothing is pre arranged. I am also looking for Inside and Outside Lines. I am analysing whether one can realistically use the Pak Sau from Lap Sau. To be fair to my Sigung Wong Shun Leung, he could make it work wonderfully in one beat and one timing. I am showing a possible danger from it. However, I fully recognise that if one is well skilled and explosive the Pak sau from Lap Sau becomes a viable technique:
Chi Sau with feeling and sensitivity to force.
In this small clip below I am utilising some of the latest knowledge, learning and understandings from my Sifu Anthony Kan. I am learning to use the Listening Energy (Ting Ging) and feeling within the Bridge Arms and whole body unit to both give energy and to receive it and off set the forces. The forces into my Training Partner here are not always direct from point A to B. Whilst the forces are still forwarding I am upsetting his structure, timing and balance and continually adapting in the moment.
Lap Sau Drills with Faster Series of Movements and Changes in Line and Angle of Delivery.
Here is some Lap Sau Movements with changes. One will notice the faster bursts of movement and the changes in timing and line and angle. My Training Partner Craig Clark is doing well here as the power and line and speed are high in these exchanges.
Training Lut Sau Jik Chung Drills with the Chest Protectors on:
I was shown these drills by my Sifu Anthony Kan. I did a lot of this training especially in the 1990’s. It is essential and I still return to these drills a lot. The preliminary stages involve one Training Partner deliberately taking off one Bridge Arm with a definite movement to allow the other Training Partner to step in with the Horse and co-ordinate the punch. I was informed by my Sifu that only the first action is a true Lut Sau Jik Chung action. In fact Lut Sau Jik Chung is not the normal reaction of a person when they feel their arm being freed, the normal action or reaction is in direction of the force that was being presented to the Bridge.
However in our lineage of Ving Tsun we train a constant force directed towards the opponent’s centre and as such on loss of contact, one can punch in direct to target. Once the Lut Sau Jik Chung has been well trained and embedded into the neurophysiology of the Ving Tsun Technician, it will come out as a “natural” reaction or action upon loss of contact or loss of the correct forward energy, which is forwarding energy from the Horse to elbow connection (Yiu Lik).
Later one Training Partner can relax their forwarding energy and when that is felt by the other Training Partner they use it by firing in with the Horse and co-ordinated stepping and punching direct to target.
Also both Training Partners can have free will to fire in at any time there is a “gap” within the structures. The Lut Sau Jik Chung Drills can be done from Lok Sau (Seung Chi Sau) or from Lap Sau positions.
The Chest Protectors allow for the delivery of heavier power into the Training Partner, however, one must always seek to respect one's fellow Training Partners as they are fundamental to the ongoing development of one's own abilities. Thus it is essential to control force in these drills especially on the second and third punches where one is not following the true Lut Sau action. It stands to reason that it is much harder to generate a heavy punch on the first action which is the true Lut Sau Jik Chung because this is a pure reflex based action to fire forward on the loss of contact. However, the second and third punches are follow ups and thus one is not following pure reflex and these punches can land very heavy so take care!
Of course the ideal training is to develop an excellent Lut Sau Jik Chung reaction or action which does land clean, direct and with lots of penetrating force.
However in our lineage of Ving Tsun we train a constant force directed towards the opponent’s centre and as such on loss of contact, one can punch in direct to target. Once the Lut Sau Jik Chung has been well trained and embedded into the neurophysiology of the Ving Tsun Technician, it will come out as a “natural” reaction or action upon loss of contact or loss of the correct forward energy, which is forwarding energy from the Horse to elbow connection (Yiu Lik).
Later one Training Partner can relax their forwarding energy and when that is felt by the other Training Partner they use it by firing in with the Horse and co-ordinated stepping and punching direct to target.
Also both Training Partners can have free will to fire in at any time there is a “gap” within the structures. The Lut Sau Jik Chung Drills can be done from Lok Sau (Seung Chi Sau) or from Lap Sau positions.
The Chest Protectors allow for the delivery of heavier power into the Training Partner, however, one must always seek to respect one's fellow Training Partners as they are fundamental to the ongoing development of one's own abilities. Thus it is essential to control force in these drills especially on the second and third punches where one is not following the true Lut Sau action. It stands to reason that it is much harder to generate a heavy punch on the first action which is the true Lut Sau Jik Chung because this is a pure reflex based action to fire forward on the loss of contact. However, the second and third punches are follow ups and thus one is not following pure reflex and these punches can land very heavy so take care!
Of course the ideal training is to develop an excellent Lut Sau Jik Chung reaction or action which does land clean, direct and with lots of penetrating force.