STICKING HANDS
Chu Shong Tin

Sticking hands is the necessary step in learning the fighting principles of Wing Chun. The purpose is to train the application of the movements and the ingenious responses in fighting so one can foster the natural reflexes of the movements.

In order to develop the superior, natural and habitual reflexes, one needs to have a rigorous basis in sticking hands training. Because of this reason, the practise of sticking hands is divided into the following stages: single sticking hand, rolling hands, practising the defencing and attacking techniques and free sparring and requires to be learnt step by step.

When some of the people discuss the sticking hands of Wing Chun, they consider that the techniques in sticking hands are effective only when there is arm(s) contact with the opponent. The Wing Chun practitioner can then feel what the opponents are doing and respond to the action and fight back. In fighting, if the opponents can avoid arm(s) contact with the Wing Chun practitioner then they think the function of sticking hands cannot be used. This idea is due to the lack of their understanding of Wing Chun.

Sticking hands does not need to have arm(s) contact in its reponses to the action of the opponent. The purpose of sticking hands are diverse and need to be coordinated together in order to achieve the best fighting result.

The procedures and purposes of sticking hands, generally, can be divided as follow:

(1)		Single sticking hands;
(2)		Rolling arms or also called rotating arms;
(3)		Practising defencing and attacking techniques or called the double sticking hands;
(4)		Application of force (No actual force is required but it is difficult to find a proper phrase to replace it.);
(5)		Establish and utilise the natural reflexes of "Loy Lau Hoi Shun, Lut Sau Ja Chung" (Means: when a person strikes in, one should neutralise his incoming force. When his force is withdrawing, one should move in. When he removes his hand(s) away, one should strike in.);
(6)		Seek the profound techniques of facing one's shadow, chasing one's shadow and pointing towards the centre line.

(1) Single Sticking Hands: It is the first step in learning the sticking hands of Wing Chun by practising the usage of the defencing and attacking techniques of Tan, Bong and Fook Sau. Generally, beginners will find it difficult in using Tan and Bong Sau when they receive a downward pressing force from the opponent. They will feel that the application of force in Fook Sau has a dominant advantage over the other movements. However, if one can understand the rotational skill of Tan Sau and Bong Sau, not only can he intimidate the one using the Fook Sau but he can also tire out that person very easily. In contrast, if the person can utilitse the Fook Sau properly, he can also make the user of Tan or Bong Sau feels very difficult to withstand his force. This is a contradicting matter but however, the one who can apply the movements the best will win.

(2) Rolling arms: Both sides try to practise with theTan, Bong and Fook Sau to form a circular rotating movement resulting in redirecting force, applying pressure on the opponent, finding the way to withstand the pressure from the opponent, feeling how to upset the balance of the opponent by using a proper technique and developing a complete relaxed shoulder-joints even when one is under pressure. If one can relax his shoulder-joints more, the force developed from the initial sliding movement of the joint(s) will increase which will lead to the acceleration of the rotation movements and thus creating the best result of tractive and striking forces.

To be continued...