The main objective is to hit the opponent in the head ,
hard multiple times so that we are controlling the centreline and guarding our own centreline at the same time.
To attack us the opponent has to deviate from the centerline and try and go around our strikes which leaves him unguarded.
Depending on how the opponent attacks there isn't always going to be a lot of forearm contact , for example say someone takes a pretty wide swing at me .
If I pick up his initial movement quickly then I just move in and hit him with my other arm raised just in case , but the chances are the only contact he is going to feel from me is the punches in his face. This is because he is wide open and it is not necessary for me to do anything else.
On the other hand if I'm trying to punch him in the head and he is obstructing my strikes or throwing his own strikes down the centreline then I am going to have to use my forearms (bridge) to deflect or control.
There is no need to wait for him to have a gap in his defence before you can hit through ,
you have to make your own gap in his defence.
When you punch and it is obstructed , usually it is the opponent raising his arm up in a feeble attempt to stop the punches.
This means your forearms should be on top of his arms , what you do is which ever of your punches has been stopped , use that arm to rip his arm down .
You do this by bringing your failed strike back into its proper angle , changing it to a Fook Sau and curve your fingers over like a hook dropping your arm straight down over his resisting arm like a brick was hanging from your elbow.
This will clear the path for striking from the other hand , and it can be done in a continuous fashion. It is best done right arm to right arm or left arm to left arm.
If your other arm is in contact , say left arm to his right or your right to his left then instead of doing wrist latching as I described above you can just change your punch to a cut down , as the name says just bring your arm back into the proper angle and keep the angle in your arm as you drop it down on his arm to clear the path.
You can add a little bit more oomph to the cut down if you like by doing it with a pivot. If you find any resistance to your cut down or latch , don't waste time just go around his resistance by Pak Sauing the resisting arm to the side and punch or palm strike down low with your other hand. note (keep hand open when you cut down)
If there guard is about the same height as your guard always try to get your arms on top of theirs as you try and strike through so that you are immediately in a controlling position and can bring leverage to bear.
In the event that they are obstructing or guarding and the position of their hands is higher than your guard then it is more efficient for you to come underneath their arms and try to stick while aggressively moving forward and endeavouring to pierce through their arms with your Tan Sau or off balance them with your Bong Sau and then strike.
This sort of covers the most common positions you will find yourself in.
One way you can practice all the myriad of arm positions that you will find yourself in is to have your partner act a bit like a wooden dummy.
Have your partner hold both his arms out as strong as he can , with a bend in them , at about head height with his fists about six inches apart.
You are now going to start working various techniques from the outside of his first arm .
Then to the inside of both his arms .
Then to the outside of his second arm.
Then work your back to the out side of the first arm again then repeat
Its even better if you can get a second guy to stand next to the first guy with his arms out so that you have four arms to negotiate.
Start off slowly the first couple of times as you work your techniques on the arms , moving from arm to arm , keeping contact as you stick , flow and strike.
Then you should manouver around each arm as fast as you can , controlling and striking with out conscious thought , just keep moving and flowing getting their arms out of the way so that you can strike through.
We are trying to cultivate a reflex of the arms knowing exactly what to do no matter what type of contact we are making with the opponent whether it be our arms on the outside of his or inside or any mix of the two.
The same thing we pretty much are doing in Chi Sau , but this is out of contact range.
I don't know what particular techniques you use in your school , but in any case you should be controlling while you are striking , if he can hit you at the same time you hit him then you are doing it wrong.
Here are some things to get you started.
First Arm Outside
- use Pak Sau and punch , latch and punch to head
- or alternatively punch and latch then pivot and palm strike to kidneys
- Tan Sau and punch then Pak Sau and palm/ punch ribcage.
- Counter punch then latch etc
- Or using left arm to his right arm , pierce with Tan Sau on out side of his arm to throat or change it to punch then cut down , pivot and strike with your other hand
Inside Both Arms
- Raise guard and strike through with Tan Sau / Bong Sau then double latch , then double palm strike.
- Or alternatively use a double hook punch to the head , doesn't matter really as long as both his arms are controlled as you strike.
Second Arm Outside
- Same as the first arm but just using your arms the other way around.
- When your on the out side of his arms make sure you dont just use your right to his right, or your left to his left, use every configuration
These are just a few that you can use there are many , many more and you can even start adding your kicks into the equation at the same time you are using your hands.
Just make sure what ever your doing is direct and efficient , free flowing and that you are controlling the opponents arms as you strike.
Also don't just do one strike per arm as you negotiate through the arms try to do multiple shots with out going overboard and playing around with the arms too much , two or three should suffice , of course this will depend on how fast you are.
Thanks
