Originally Posted by
KPM
In TWC there is a "pre-contact" phase. This is the "reading the opponent" part or even the "setting up the opponent" part. I agree with what you are saying as applying in a self-defense situation where you are surprised by an attack. But if you are "squared off" with someone and an exchange is inevitable, I think there is room to read what the opponent is doing and respond before any contact is made. Boxers and kickboxers do this all the time. For instance, you have time to see a wide loopy blow coming and so you respond with a Biu before any contact is made. Or you see a very straight punch coming up the center and you respond with a Pak before any contact is made. And in both cases you might already be using specific footwork as part of the response. So IMHO, I think one can be sensing and reading the energy from an opponent prior to any contact.
I think this idea of Chi Sau teaching everything, and not responding until contact is made, is one of the reasons that Wing Chun is sometimes criticized as having no "long-range or outside game."