Master Tse’s Wing Chun Notes #70

Bong Sau 膀手 and Wu Sau護手

There are many ways to play, or use the Bong Sau 膀手. However before this we must use the basic Bong Sau first. With this Bong Sau, the forearm is soft, the elbow is higher than the wrist and the energy is in the upper arm. You should contact your opponent’s hand about two fingers with away from the wrist, as this is the best point of contact. In terms of our footwork and body position, when we are in contact with only one hand we should turn 45 degree. At the same time the Wu Sau護手 must guard the centre. When we have turned 45 degrees the Wu Sau will not be in the middle of the chest, it will be over towards the Bong Sau side. This means if our right hand is a Bong Sau, our Wu Sau must be on the right side of the chest. Our Wu Sau must be two fists away from the centre of the body and the chest and in this way it will guard the centre. Once we contact our opponent’s hand with a Bong Sau, our Wu Sau must be prepared to change to a Laap Sau, to grasp our opponent’s hand. Should our opponent push forwards our Bong Sau must follow their energy and our Wu Sau will change to Laap Sau to grasp and pull the opponent’s hand. This allows our Bong Sau to change from the inside and become a chop to the throat. Chopping from this position is faster than punching. I prefer to use a chop as it will go directly to my opponent’s throat and so the confrontation will be over straight away. The harder they punch the more strength will come back to them.

Remember Bong Sau must be soft when we make contact and with this basic Bong Sau we must never step forward when using it.

Michael Tse