So hopefully you'll use some of this advice to help with chi sao... I actually have some video to go along with the tips, but i've just been to lazy to put it
together....
Anyway here goes, and these are tips to help improve your chi sao, along with tips and corrections that are commonly made during your
training.
#1) Practice the roll - All to often, people negelct chi sao roll,
and I mean the details to doing a good roll are key. Most of the
time, people roll for about 1 to 2 minutes and next thing you know
hands are flying and attacking back and forth. But, I'll tell you
this from experience, all good attacks all good blocks, originate
from having a good roll. Invest your time in doing the roll
correctly, more so,than in just attacking and defending.
Why?
The roll encompasses the main ideas that you need to work on in
order to improve your blocking and attacking.
a) Cutting edge
b) send back
c) equalize/neutralize
While there is more to this, i'll generalize stuff otherwise I'll be
writting on these topics forever. For those new to the list i 'll
give general explanations to each one and how it relates to the roll.
a) cutting edge - Simple explanation is dealing with the structure.
Think of it in this way, cutting edge is the proper way to hold your
knife in order for objects to cut into it. Imagine a steak, you
want to cut it right, you have to hold the blade the correct way,
same thing with your tan, bong and fok. Knowing the right angle or
structure is essential. Making the correct adjustments with
different people is what you do with the roll, each time you roll,
your working on making the cutting edge graze your opponents roll as
well
b) send back - Simply deals with the power. When you properly roll,
each time, regardless of whether your doing inside gate, outside
gate or regular chi sao, the final motion of each roll, should give
you a sense of security. Almost as if your forming a wall. The
wall is created by you, in which incoming force is sent back to the
opponent who you are rolling with. The key is to understand how
much your wall can handle. Since everyone's wall has different
structures, some which can handle more then others. But, when you
pracitce your roll, you are working on creating a wall and at the
same time making sure your not fighting against the force. In other
words, when your wall is pushed beyond your structural limitations,
you must make adjustments in dealing with the oncoming force.
c) equalize/neutralize - General and simple explanation, catch and
control. In other words, regardless of the force that comes in
whether its as soft as a butterfly or as strong as a rhino, you need
to know how to meet the oncoming force and then be able to control
it. Frankly, e/n is probably the most difficult of the 3, but
obviously others will have varying opinoins.
Now all 3 are important in dealing with the concept of sticky hands,
and all 3 ideas are found witin the roll.
I've always stressed to my students, spend more time with your
roll. If your roll isn't good, i guarantee you your attacks and
blocks will be reflective of your sticky hand roll.
Common mistakes to look out for
#1) uneven arms - this is most common, but also most difficult to
catch. Stick hands functions as a drilling motion, in order for
that drill to hit the point correctly both sides should be even.
While simple in concept, diffcult to do.
#2) lousy ygkym - its difficult to keep track of evenrything when
you roll, but your hands are based off your foundation. All to
often the stance is neglected and is quite sloppy. If you roll for
a coulpe of minutes double check to see if your comfortable in your
ygkym
#3) Improper motions of tan, bong, fok - Most commmon mistake i see
with fok sau, is having a tight wrist, thus its like chocking up on
the top of the bat instead of the bottom of the handle. For bong
sau, the motion should cut at an angle instead of coming forward
towards the opponent. If you do the cutting motion correctly on the
bong sau, you'll go forward at and angle, instead of going forward
by pushing straight. As for the tan, most common problem is see, is
instead of coming from the bong to tan stragiht, most people have
the tan sau coming to the opponent rising up. Thus, the force is
going in the wrong direction.
Tips to dealing with commomn mistakes.
#1) uneven arms - Well, best thing to do is roll with your
teacher. If your teacher knows what he's doing, you'll start to get
a sense of what even is. Sorta like riding wtih training wheels.
After rolling with him, roll with someone else ... make adjustments,
and then once again get back on the training wheels to get the right
feeling. This process is long and tedious but if your teacher is
cool, he'll spend the time trying to help you learn what even is.
Also, you can practice, inside, outside and regular chi sao, without
a partner. You can work on the motions and use the mirror to help
you get a sense of eveness.
#2)There are allot of drills in order to check your stance, but in
the beginning it might be difficult to keep track of everything.
Best thing is if you roll for about 2 to 3 minutes, take the time to
readjust your stance and see if your solid. Other things like
pracitng the form are helpful as well. But, think of it like
driving the car, you always have to adjust your steering wheel
otherwise the car won't travel perfectly straight. Just like when
you roll your contastnaly adjusting
#3) Motions can be improved by single man techinque, form and no
partner chi sao motion... its key that you practice the motions by
yourself correctly and then use your partner to deal with the
adjustments. Practicing without the partner does in fact help you,
i don't suggest you use any kind of rings for chi sao practice since
they help you develop the wrong sticky hand motions.
Okay, that's it for now, I'll be adding more tips to this and other
things in the future.. Any questions just ask
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