Wrist flexibility and Wing Chun

Bob Hubbard

Retired
MT Mentor
Founding Member
Lifetime Supporting Member
MTS Alumni
Joined
Aug 4, 2001
Messages
47,245
Reaction score
771
Location
Land of the Free
ok, I'm watching some video clips of the WC forms and have noticed alot of small circle wrist motions. I've got some issues with flexibility and am curious on if this will cause me a problem if I were to train in WC.

Watching the clip of Siu Lim Tao from http://www.wingchunkwoon.com/empty.asp I also wonder if it would in fact help me gain flexibility? Some of the motions seem similar to those I've done in Arnis, unfortunately with some difficulty.

Thanks!:)
 

Phil Elmore

Master of Arts
Joined
Mar 30, 2002
Messages
1,514
Reaction score
54
That tight circle with the wrist is called Huen Sao. While it's useful to be able to do one well, I don't think your wrist flexibility issues would preclude you from doing well with Wing Chun. And yes, practicing Huen Sao in the form is supposed to develop tendon strength and flexibility in your wrist.

yinHuen.gif
 
OP
Bob Hubbard

Bob Hubbard

Retired
MT Mentor
Founding Member
Lifetime Supporting Member
MTS Alumni
Joined
Aug 4, 2001
Messages
47,245
Reaction score
771
Location
Land of the Free
Cool. So its basically just a wrist roll?
 

Phil Elmore

Master of Arts
Joined
Mar 30, 2002
Messages
1,514
Reaction score
54
Essentially, yes. In Sil Lim Tao, for example, the vertical Wu Sao turns flat with the palm facing up, then rolls toward the body and up and out again (before, in the form, becoming a grab just prior to rechambering the hand by the side of the body). The elbow should remain locked in place -- the roll is with the wrist, not the arm.
 
OP
Bob Hubbard

Bob Hubbard

Retired
MT Mentor
Founding Member
Lifetime Supporting Member
MTS Alumni
Joined
Aug 4, 2001
Messages
47,245
Reaction score
771
Location
Land of the Free
Just making sure I've got the right mental image....

The entire range of motion is the rolling at teh wrist, with the rest of the arm immoble?
 
OP
Bob Hubbard

Bob Hubbard

Retired
MT Mentor
Founding Member
Lifetime Supporting Member
MTS Alumni
Joined
Aug 4, 2001
Messages
47,245
Reaction score
771
Location
Land of the Free
ok. Thats the problem without the hands on training...its hard to really 'feel' and see things.

:)
 

Latest Discussions

Top