STICKING HANDS (Part 2)
Chu Shong Tin

(3) Practising defencing and attacking techniques (Double sticking hands): During the training of the double sticking hands, one can use the defencing and attacking techniques freely. The defencing and attacking techniques are divided into three learning stages: (A) Siu Nim Tau; (B) Chum Kiu; (C) Bill Gee. As for the Wooden Dummy techniques, the movements are derived from the combination of the three forms and uses the dummy as a partner to practise on.

(A) Siu Nim Tau stage: Each side will practise the defencing and attacking techniques in a nearly stabilised position (a slight forward or backward movement is allowed). Both sides will use the Tau, Bong and Fook Sau to sense the attack and respond with a proper defencing and attacking movement, e.g. "Tan Da" - rotates from Bong Sau to Tau Sau together with a strike; "Jut Da" - a quick strike-in movement; "Pak Da"- one hand controls the opponent's contact hand and removes his remaining hand by using the Pak Sau to allow the free hand to strike in; "On Da" - affects one of the opponent's contact hands with one hand and strikes in with the other hand; "Yat Fook Yee" - controlling both hands of the opponent by using Lap Sau and uses the free hand to strike; etc.

(B) Chum Kiu stage: When practising sticking hands with the Chum Kiu movements, firstly, one should understand the purpose of the Chum Kiu form. The purpose of Chum Kiuis to transfer the power generated from the movement of the body mass to the techniques. Although the techniques used are nearly the same as in the Siu Nim Tau, the application of each movement, no matter defencing and attacking, will be supported by the body mass, e.g. moving forward or backward, pivoting, etc., in order to increase the power of the techniques.

(C) Bill Gee stage: Bill Gee is the form which concentrates an enormous destructive power in attacking. For training purposes, in order to prevent the chance of hurting each other, Bill Gee is seldom used in sticking hands because the techniques of this form can accelerate the power of the body mass to the striking point. Even a slight contact between the hands can produce damage to the opponent. Therefore, explanation and demonstration under proper control will be used to show the way of practising Bill Gee techniques in sticking hands.

(4) Application of force: When practising sticking hands, the direction of a force from the opponent wil be changing constantly then one should alter his force to counter the changes by using techniques such as facing one's shadow, chasing one's shadow, rotations, forward and backward movements, etc. and develops the feeling of how to use the right technique at the right time to upset the balance of the opponent and then stores the most effective ways in his mind to thus become subconscious reflexes and enable people to apply the best technique from these natural responses.

(5) Establish and utilise the natural reflexes of "Loy Lau Hoi Shun, Lut Sau Ja Chung": It is not easy to develop the skill from this mottto of Wing Chun. "Loy Lau Hoi Shun, Lut Sau Ja Chung". If one uses the sense of sight to feel the direction of the force of the opponent and then responding by neutralising the incoming force or attacking the withdrawing force then this has not being perceived as the true skill of "Loy Lau Hoi Shun, Lut Sau Ja Chung" because the responses to the sense of sight are very slow and most of them could not achieve the desired result. By not using the sense of sight but the subconscious reflexes to response then one should concentrate on the training of the sense of brain which is the same "Mind Force " (Nim Tau) as used in the Siu Nim Tau to maintain the elasticity of the joints of the arms. By coordinating the springy arms and the mind force together in focusing at the weakest point of the opponent's structure then one will develop the direct reflexes of the subconscious mind and reaches the original aims of "Loy Lau Hoi Shun, Lut Sau Ja Chung".

(6) Seek the profound techniques of facing one's shadow, chasing one's shadow and pointing towards the centre line: The purposes of facing one's shadow, chasing one's shadow and pointing towards the centre line have already been explained (see previous notes). Therefore, in practising sticking hands, one should concentrate on its feeling and try to comprehend its practical value and skill in order to understand its real purpose and worth.