What is Bong Sau / Wing arm?
Bong Sau translates as Wing arm because of its shape when applied, think of a Crane (bird) using its wing to protect the chest area from being attacked by the snake, as discussed in the history of Wing Chun.
When applied, Bong Sau can be used as a feeler of the opponent’s intent or energy and may even be used from another Wing Chun position, Tan Sau.
For example, if you feel the energy of the opponent pushing across you from a Tan Sau position then, not fighting this energy but “going with it”, turning the Tan Sau in to a Bong Sau position will allow the Wing Chun student to stick to the attacking arm and allow a flow of techniques to develop, thus improving the understanding of the transition from one technique to another and in application or a self-defence situation, not losing contact with an attackers arm and allowing for another technique to flow from Tan Sau to Bong Sau / Bong Lap Sau.
The Bong Sau technique in Wing Chun when used in self-defence can be used against straight punches, high or low, or as a transition from one technique to another.
When first learning Bong Sau, the Wing Chun student may feel that this particular technique is very cumbersome and difficult to understand. The reasons behind this can vary but when looking at the Bong Sau technique in isolation it is easy to understand why there is a lot of confusion and misunderstanding when used in application.
The focus or purpose of the Bong Sau is to cover the centre line, stick to the attacking arm, be flexible and bend like bamboo, but always with control so that if there is too much forwarding energy a controlled collapse of the Bong Sau on to the Wu Sau (guard hand) or a dropping of the elbow to form a Tan Sau can happen with ease.
In application
When the hands are coming from a low position, say, by the side of the thigh as when walking or your hands are in your pockets for example, then if Bong Sau is use as an emergency technique then the covering of the centre line must be fast and done with a relaxed wrist, finishing with the elbow higher than the elbow and the elbow higher than the shoulder.
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The position of the wrist if looking straight on at someone showing a Bong Sau should be in line with their opposite shoulder, a turned stance, a guard hand or Wu sau should be guarding the neck area, but not too close to the Bong Sau arm, being to close may leave the Wing Chun practitioner vulnerable to having both hands trapped. On the flip side of this, the Wu Sau should not be too close to the body or neck, if the Bong Sau were / needed to collapse there would not be surfactant room for the Bong Sau to collapse under the Wu Sau. Bong Sau is a great Wing Chun technique when truly understood and applied. As with any martial skill, a good understanding of, when, how why, when not, how not and why not is required to maximise this technique. Sifu Alan: Wing Chun Halesowen’s Instructor, Sifu Alan has been involved in martial arts since 1992. Sifu Alan holds a Level 2 Coaches Certificate through the BCCMA, and has a passion and dedication for the passing on of the martial art of Wing Chun. Sifu Alan offers a unique approach to learning, utilising aspects of both physical and psychological aspects of training to help the student fully understand the reasons behind their training. Sifu Alan does not want the "copy as I do" approach, he wants his students to know, feel and understand what they can do within the Wing Chun System. MIDLANDS WING CHUN KUEN – Director: Grandmaster Ip Chun, Chief Instructor: Si-Fu S. Rawcliffe All Midlands Wing Chun Kuen Instructors are Registered Members of: British Council for Chinese Martial Arts (BCCMA), Sports Coach UK ~ The National Coaching Foundation and Ving Tsun Athletic Association in Hong Kong. |