SIFU Lee 李 德 銘

There is a distinct difference between showcasing the hand technique itself or the application in an altercation. But first you have to understand how the hand technique works frontally so that you can apply it sideways or in all possible angles. That’s why - people who do not practice wing chun - don’t even understand why siu lim tao is a frontal form

For instance here the hand technique is « Tsut Sao ». In the Siu Lim Tao (and thus in a demo) it is practiced and shown frontally.

However, in a more application setting it is exercised sideways for obvious reasons.

A lot of people cannot make the distinction between both and think the frontal hand technique and frontal stance, would also be the application stance. The application stance (i.e. side ways) comes prior to hitting the wall because you need to avoid going into the wall with your back. You need to pick a side. That’s where the sideways application of the hand technique comes in.



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Don’t make it too complicated. There are simple hand techniques which can be of use 😉



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Personally, I think that Wing Chun comes to its fullest expression when you can start using your elbows in your attacks. If not, it would be like imagining Muay Thai without elbow strikes. But before that: (hand) techniques, relaxation and the preparedness to use articulations which may inflict the biggest damage.

Therefore you need to master your elbow strikes when you train with your partner and be able to stop on time (before the hit, which does not mean you cannot hit 😏😉) BUT at the same time, you also need to make sure your opponent feels the hit is there.

Your hands need to be placed such, that either one of them can initiate a strike or a lock. Here the opponent has the choice between being hit by the elbow or his other arm to be locked.



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And suddenly with a little force it went…crack!
I asked my student: was is you?
He first didn’t realise it.
Then it dawned on him that it was his arm
I told him: ok you go rest, I take another student 😂



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An extract of the teaching session on Saturday. Hand techniques are there to be mastered. Then you can increase force. And then you can increase speed by relaxation. Once you get the hand techniques, then you can combine with angled positions and with advancing and retreating and finally…kicks



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Stretching and prepping for the private class of today. Yesterday taught for 7 hours in a row. Today another 1,5 hour.



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What’s fun with teaching, is that you get to do chi sao with people of different sizes and weights. I have students who are more than a head taller than me. Likewise I have students who weigh more than me. You therefore have to have a sufficient structure to cope with these differences.

The idea of this starting experience with chisao, is that you first « feel » what is required in terms of force and to mobilise your body mechanics to cope with it. This way you can reinforce your structure, stance and sensitivity.

The ultimate goal is to put your opponent out of balance by pure structure and the right dose of power. It will work with taller or shorter people, and people who are heavier or lighter.



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Every tuesday I do classic boxing whilst I teach Wing Chun. The reason is because I want to cross-check what works and what doesn’t work.

I see a lot of people teaching to apply Tan Sao on roundhook or sharp hooks. It will not work. The reason being that - with a Tan Sao - you have no strong edge of the bone to support your movement.

We don’t teach tan sao against hooks but gum sao or tiu sao

A Gum Sao doesn’t need one because you have your shoulder blades to act as support.

With a Tiu Sao you have the edge of your arm bone to support.

The difference is that a Gum Sao doesn’t necessarily need a pivot whilst the Tiu Sao requires a pivot of the body

The ones who teach or are adamant the Tan Sao works wit boxing hooks, need to go on regular classic boxing sessions.



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It is important to understand the movements behind the form. Very few practictioners genuinely understand or teach the « Zhun Bei Sok Sao » section of the Siu Lim Tao.

There are movements you have to execute simultaneously and there those that you have to execute separately. Mostly 99% execute it with straight arms whilst the real leverage lies in the elbow and that’s where the energy should be concentrated. This would be impossible with straight arms

Also the edge of the bone should be oriented downwards, not the soft part of the arm.

When you combine the technique with the long pole exercice, you will understand the technique and the power behind it



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