Master Tse’s Wing Chun Note #124

Tsum Kiu part 4 – Wan Lan (Waanhng Laahn) Kuen 橫欄拳

 

In Tsum Kiu尋橋 see many Bong Sau 膀手 and Wu Sau護手. This means that Bong Sau and Wu Sau are very important in Wing Chun. I have already mentioned that Taan Sau攤手, Bong Sau, Fuk Sau伏手 and Wu Sau are the for major, most important and basic Wing Chun techniques.

In Tsum Kiu there are two unusual Kuen Fa拳法 (Fist Techniques) that require the use of the Kiu Sau橋手. One is Wan Lan Kuen横欗拳, which looks a bit like a Wan Lan Sau横欗手, and the other is Mai Jan Kuen埋㬹拳, which looks a bit like a Taan Sau. However in both these movements we use the Kuen (fist) which makes then stronger. In Wan Lan Sau and Taan Sau the hand is an open palm, however in these techniques the hand is a fist and because of this the energy is different. All these techniques require us to use the stance, which is Jyun Ma轉馬 (Turning Stance), waist power, the elbow and then the Kiu Sau (forearm).

The Tsum Kiu form is about how to use the Kiu. Wan Lan Kuen is used before we do the first kick, Chaan Tui鏟腿. We use it when we are building the fist by the side of the chest. It then flicks out from the body to form the Wan Lan Kuen. The movement needs to come from the inside out, with the arm twisting. This means it is like pushing our hitting with the Kiu Sau while holding a fist. When you use it to hit it can be quite painful and even make your opponent lose his balance.