Chu Shong Tin - 1998 Seminar DVD: Chi Sao

Note: The description below is copied in part from the 3 DVD set of the 1998 Seminars (Sil Lum Tao, Chum Kiu, and Chi Sao). If you are interested in these DVDs we HIGHLY recommend you get the set.

Yip Man's 3rd Hong Kong Disciple, Chu Shong Tin, teaches you Chi Sao the same way Yip Man taught him for over 3 hours straight!

Dear Wing Chun Student,

I don't know if you have noticed but there is a real lack of quality instruction on the art of Wing Chun in video format. I'm not saying there are not some good DVDs out there, because they are, but most are just glossing over the surface of things you most likely already know. You may pick up a point or two, but for the most part they are just reference tools, not learning tools.

I couldn't watch it with out taking notes!

The first time I started to watch Chu Shong Tin's (Tsui Sheung Tin's) seminar, I knew what I was seeing was different. I stopped about 30 minutes into it, got up and closed my door, got a pen and paper, took the phone off the hook and started over. After the first hour I had over 10 pages of notes! I wasn't even 1/10th of the way done! I don't know about you, but I had never taken notes from a video before (with, perhaps, the exception of videos from my personal lineage), but with Master Chu I just couldn't help it! I knew I had to write it down so it would stay with me and I wouldn't forget.

Since I come from a different lineage I usually just watch videos with a passing interest to see how other people train, mainly just to be knowledgeable about the art in general. I never take notes on anything. Since Wing Chun is based mainly on theory, it can be interpreted and used many different ways. This can make it hard for you to learn from another lineage. What may be true for one lineage is not true for another. Take weight distribution for example. It ranges from 50-50 to almost 90-10. If the lineages that keep their weight balanced try to fight like the ones that keep their weight on the back leg all the time, it won't work right and vice versa. Most of what Master Chu teaches transcends lineages. No matter who teaches you Wing Chun, you can learn something from Master Chu!

I had never seen things explained the way Master Chu explained them. Things that I had heard before, but did not understand started making sense. I didn't even know I didn't understand them until he explained them. The way Wing Chun uses circles and triangles started clicking and I was soon able to diagram many techniques and positions in a new light! I can't begin to describe how much I actually learned from these DVDs! There is too much to list!

I wanted to list here some of the things you will learn on this DVD, but I honestly haven't had the time. This DVD is so packed with information it would take me a good 3 hours to just list out the highlights. You honestly cannot go wrong!

Master Chu lived with Yip Man for about 5 years when he first started training and was the first student of Yip Man's to teach privately. During the first five years, he got to the point of starting to learn the long pole. This means his foundations of Wing Chun were learned while living with Yip Man. One of the first sentences on the Chi Sao DVD is Master Chu saying he will show Chi Sao the way Yip Man taught him! No wonder these DVDs are some of the best material on Wing Chun today!

Sample of Information Covered within just the first third of the Chi Sao DVD:

• You will hear Master Chu's own thinking on Sticking Hands and he'll explain and teach Chi Sao the way Yip Man taught him.
• How Chi Sao helps you find a way to apply force to the opponent and maintain your power and structure.
• How Chi Sao increases your chances of winning in a fight.
• He covers single Chi Sao, Double Chi Sao, and Free Sparring.
• Finding your strongest point and your opponent's weakest.
• Watch Master Chu keep his Taun Sao structure and upset the balance of guys twice his size trying to pull and tear his arm down.
• How to find the strongest point in your structure.
• How to fight bigger opponents without your structure breaking.
• Details on the Tan, Fook, and Bong hands for Single Chi Sao.
• How to make the opponent feel your body mass at all times.
• How to use structure with the Tan Sao to dissolve the force it meets, so your arm doesn't get tired or forced downward when opponent's Fook Sao is applied.
• What to do when the other person is moving your hands away from the center and gaining the advantage.
• How to use Bong correctly and why it doesn't need any force. How to use the Bong in application vs. in Chi Sao.
• How to use body mass to move the opponent and upset his balance so you don't have to use as much force.
• Watch how Master Chu finds his opponents weakest point upon contact and uses body mass and structure to upset the balance and clear an opening for attack.
• Watch Master Chu toss about guys three times his size!
• Learn to use your body mass, not your hands, to attack the other person.
• How to try to upset your opponent's balance all the time so you can get in.
• Gain a fuller understanding of Chi Sao through Master Chu's demonstrations on multiple students and as he answers their questions.
• This is just some of things covered in the first hour of a 3 hour DVD!

Get them Today!

If you are interested in these DVDs we HIGHLY recommend you get the set.

Language:		Cantonese with English Translator
Length:		178 Min
Format:		NTSC
DVD Type:		DVD-R / Quality is that of VCD, as this was the original format.
DVD Region:		Region 0: Region Free

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Reviewer: George Hernandez
Date: February 15, 2011
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Technical Specifications:

Title: Chu Shong Tin – 1998 Wing Chun Seminar Part 3. Chi Sao
Language: English
Region: All
Format: DVD-R
Number of Disk: 3
Length: approximately three hours (This presentation was converted from VHS for DVD access, the menu will refer to each section of the DVD, as Disk 1, 2,and 3, respectfully). Please note, there is only one disk and that the conversion process from one media type to another, presents the same quality as the original production.
Part one – Chi Sao, Q/A, 0:59:26
Part two – Double Chi Sao, Q/A 0:59:04
Part three – Focusing, Rolling Hands, Q/A, 0:58:39

Video Quality: Average
Audio Quality: Poor, 2 out of 5

What It’s About:

Chi Sao is perhaps one of the most advance methods to train for very close fighting situations. Instruction starts off with basic first form hand techniques and advances to more complex applications which include the legs. Master Chu provides a thorough explanation and demonstration of Chi Sao principles in single and double hand training. And shows how applications are done within the context of movement with persons different in size and strength.

Comments:

Master Chu points out that in real fighting you do not want to stick with the hand and that maintaining one’s focus and structure will allow your hand to get to where it needs to go…that is to its target. Chi Sao practice will provide you with the training to develop this skill. He further states, that Chi Sao is designed to help you discover your strongest point and use it against the other person’s weakest point.

The practice of Chi Sao provides the experience of developing strength in your stance and where to place your hands at the best contact point of the other person. Applying the “mind force” is crucial in this practice and how to counter incoming movements. “Mind Force”, does not mean applying muscle! He demonstrates the principle of the “mind force” in showing how muscular force alone from someone using a strong fook Sao hand can be easily overcome by changing the Tan Sao hand to a Bong Sao position in a circular fashion using the body mass while the Bong Sao hand moves toward the person’s center.

It you attempt to do this by using shoulder strength, alone, it just won’t work! The key to success in this technique is to relax, he said, which is to use one’s natural movement which is quite capable in moving the person off balance and away from their centerline. Remember, in Chi Sao practice the focus is always forward and during training with a partner you want to find each other’s weakest point.

Master Chu stresses, that one should be able to use the Chi Sao without any muscular strength! Again to do so, you’re working against the principles of the Wing Chun system. Using just muscle will essentially allow you to attack in only one direction; this is such a beautiful statement he makes in describing the power of natural movement.

There is so much good information and demonstrations on this DVD; where you’re shown how to train properly in the Chi Sao…it’s filled with real gems throughout. I’ve only touched on a few salient points to show the immense depth of the concepts and principles Master Chu provides in this excellent DVD series.

Content Overview, Chi Sao, 1998 Seminar, Disc 3

• Introduction – Chi Sao Basics.
• Sticky hands or Chi Sao, how to maintain focus and structure.
• Know the weakest points through observation and feel.
• Attacking at the weakest points.
• Using chi Sao to find the best contact point of the other person.
• Using Chi Sao to find your strongest point in relationship to your stance.
• Use the Chi Sao practice to learn finding each other’s weak points.
• Chi Sao is not you hit me, I hit you exercise. Don’t fight each other.
• Learn how to relax and feel the other person.
• f. The application of force is always forward.
• Using the proper stance and focus of the “Mind Force.”
• The purpose of the Single Chi Sao is in finding the weak and strong points.
• Using the4 body to be at the contact point at all times.
• Chi Sao and the Tan Sao and Huen Sao hand
• The circle and how it’s connected to the shoulder.
• Changing from Tan Sao to a Bong Sao hand…rolling toward the center.
• When moving to a Bong Sao hand use no muscular force, but roll the circle outward.
• Controlling the person’s center from the Tan Sao hand while moving to the side for a punch.
• The concept of chasing the center.
• Demonstration of Double Rolling or Double Chi Sao Basics
• Keeping the circular structure, which is maintained constantly through
• The body mass is always in contact don’t attempt to use forearm force or muscle.
• One hand moves downward while rotating and the other hand attacks the center.
• The Bong Sao Hand in Chi Sao
• Its forward /downward movements and maintaining focus.
• Using the “Mind Force” depends on the movement of the other person.
• In preparing for attack, any movement can be used.
• All movements can be used for defense and attack.
• Relax! Remember that muscle force only allows the person to attack in one direction.
• Crucial Chi Sao objectives
• Concentrate on the practice of rolling, rather than sparring.
• Learning to control your center.
• Learning how to use rotation to redirect the person’s force.
• Chasing the circle.
• Master Chu demonstrates various Wing Chun hands in Chi Sao
  • The Kuen Sao hand
  • The Bong Sao Hand
  • The Gum Sao Hand
  • The bil Jee Hand
  • Bending the elbow to create relaxed force.