Grandmaster Tse’s Wing Chun Note 407

Pushing the Hands Forwards for Gūng Lihk 功力

When I was studying Wing Chun in the 1980’s with my Sīfú 師父, Great Grandmaster Ip Chun 葉準, he taught us an exercise in Chī Sáu 黐手 – Sticking Hands where we would push forwards whilst on contact with each other’s hands. For example, if one hand was in Taan Sáu and the other was on Bong Sáu, we would push forwards against our partners Fuhk Sáus. This means that our hands were using force, more than this, our partner was also doing the same. In this exercise we were developing Gūng Lihk 功力 – Internal Strength of the hands. Of course, we need to develop the weaker hands as well, so we can use Bong Sáu and Fuhk Sáu against their Bong Sáu and Fuhk Sáu. This training can help build Gūng Lihk, however, if our legs are weak, our hands will also be weak. There is the downside, we can have strong and powerful hands, but our sensitivity will be less. So, we need strong hands and legs and also sensitivity. The best way to develop this is Síu Lihm Tào 小念頭 – Reducing Thought  – Wing Chun’s first form. The longer we can stand when doing Síu Lihm Tào the more Gūng Lihk we will develop, and this power will be inside and so the outside skin will still be sensitive. Actually, standing exercise can help to develop this, like Máh Bouh 馬步 – Horse Stance