Every Wing Chun student learns three hand techniques early on that stay with them for the rest of their training: tan sau, bong sau and pak sau. They appear in the forms, in chi sau and in almost every partner drill. Understanding them well is one of the keys to understanding Wing Chun itself. This article explains what each one does, how they connect and how to get them right.
A quick note on “sau”
“Sau” simply means hand or arm in Cantonese. So tan sau, bong sau and pak sau are all types of hand. You’ll hear the word a lot.
Tan sau: the dispersing hand
What it looks like
Tan sau is performed with the palm facing upwards, the arm extended forward from the centre of the body and the elbow kept down and in. The fingers point forward.
What it does
Tan sau deflects an incoming attack, typically a punch, away from the centreline. It doesn’t block force head-on; it redirects it, using angle and structure. It can also be used at the same time as a strike from the other hand.
Common mistakes
- Letting the elbow drift out to the side.
- Bending the wrist upwards.
- Reaching too far and leaning forward.
Bong sau: the wing arm
What it looks like
Bong sau is performed with the elbow raised higher than the wrist and the forearm angled across the body, a bit like a wing. The wrist stays roughly on the centreline.
What it does
Bong sau is used when pressure comes in towards you. Rather than resisting, it rolls and redirects the force, often as part of a turn. It’s typically a transitional technique: you use it briefly and then change to something else.
Common mistakes
- Holding bong sau too long instead of changing.
- Tensing the shoulder.
- Collapsing the angle so the elbow drops.
Pak sau: the slapping hand
What it looks like
Pak sau is a short, sharp slap with the palm, usually against a partner’s arm, moving towards the centreline.
What it does
Pak sau redirects an incoming strike or clears an arm out of the way to create an opening. It’s often combined with a punch from the other hand, so that defence and attack happen together.
Common mistakes
- Slapping too wide, which opens your own guard.
- Using the whole arm instead of a short, crisp movement.
- Forgetting to strike with the other hand.
How the three link together
These three hands rarely work in isolation. In chi sau and applications, you’ll constantly flow between them. A bong sau might turn into a tan sau as pressure changes. A pak sau might clear the way for a punch, then turn into a guarding hand. Learning to change smoothly between them is one of the core skills of Wing Chun.
Many of these combinations also involve other hands such as fook sau, lap sau and gum sau. For one example of how they combine in practice, see our post on gum sau, low bong sau and tan da.
Where they appear in training
- Siu Nim Tao: all three appear in the first form, where their shapes are refined.
- Chum Kiu: bong sau in particular is combined with turning.
- Chi sau: tan sau, bong sau and fook sau form the basic rolling pattern.
- Applications: adults practise using each technique against a partner’s attack, in a controlled way, with pressure increasing gradually.
Practising at home
- Stand in the stance and perform each hand slowly, checking your elbow position.
- Use a mirror to make sure your wrist is on the centreline.
- Practise changing from one to another: tan sau to bong sau, bong sau to tan sau.
- Keep your shoulders relaxed throughout.
Study them in depth
I’ve written a short eBook on each of these techniques, covering their shape, purpose, common mistakes and drills:
- Tan Sau: the Wing Chun deflection technique
- Bong Sau: the adaptive Wing Chun defence
- Pak Sau: the practical Wing Chun defence
They’re designed to support your training, not replace it. The best way to learn these hands is with an instructor and a partner.
Learn them in class
You’ll meet all three of these hands in your first few weeks. Adult classes run Monday to Thursday, 7:15 pm to 8:15 pm, and Friday, 7:05 pm to 8:05 pm. Book your free trial class, or read more on our Wing Chun classes in Halesowen page.
Sifu Alan Bagley, Wing Chun Halesowen
From our Etsy shop. The centreline runs through all of these hand positions. The club has made a Wing Chun Centreline poster, an ink-brush print, on our Etsy shop if you would like one for your training space.
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