When people research Wing Chun online, the first thing they probably see is two practitioners playing the game of chi sao. It might seem like an overcomplicated game of patty-cake, but what it is really simulating is the moment of clashing. Chi sao is the term used for a large series of sensitivity drills and a game that comes from the same starting position. By staying in this moment, we develop sensitivity in our arms and legs so that we can navigate past our opponent’s limbs to strike. We’re learning to feel what the eye fails to see.

In all striking arts, we have to deal with reaching our opponent and not getting hit. Wing Chun seeks to do so with the art of trapping: seizing an opponent’s limb to capitalize on an opening.

Chi sao is all about navigating and seizing limbs, creating openings and going for the kill. Chi sao, like all trapping, is grappling. It is generally grappling with the goal of striking.Wing Chun as a whole has a spectrum of lots of grappling to no grappling. Some schools grapple, some only seek to punch. Chi sao obviously has its uses in striking contexts, but what can it bring us in the broader context of fighting? I put it to you that chi sao is an excellent addition to any grappler’s hand fighting. 

Below are some techniques that can be employed in chi sao that benefit hand fighting. For the purposes of this article, I am using the terminology of Wing Chun. This is not to complicate, but rather to give grapplers an avenue into understanding a bit of gung fu, as well as give some practitioners of Wing Chun a more expanded view of their toolbox.

Sheung Lop Sau

(Double Pulling Hand)

Wing Chun’s method of arm drag might feel a little bit stiff compared to Folkstyle or BJJ, but that’s because Wing Chun focuses on losing as little balance or opportunity as possible. Nonetheless, I highly recommend taking a look, as it may improve your arm drag opportunities.

A standard entry for the dai lop sao comes from the nucleus of chi sao. When our opponent pushes our left limb, we sneak our right hand underneath, like a snake. Once this happens, we snatch their right arm with our right hand and add our left hand to the effort.

A more dynamic set-up for this can be drilled as a defense against a collar tie attempt. When your opponent reaches forward, shoot out your right hand like a spear to clash against it and bring your left hand to the tricep. With one hand to grip each section of the arm, turn and snatch that arm to the ground.

Huen Sao + Tok Sao and var. With Tan Sao + Jut Sao

(Circling Hand + Lifting Hand) (Dispersing Hand + Yanking Hand)

In Wing Chun, we have a tool called the huen sao (circling hand). This is a flick of the wrist that sends an outstretched hand flying. We often use it to take the inside line and hit. In this example for grappling, we will use the same concept.

We’ll take the huen sao to their lead hand and send it outward, as they look to recover space, we’ll shoot that hand under the armpit with a tok sao (lifting arm), thus giving us the underhook.

This basic concept can be improved by performing a defensive tan sao + jut sao with the other hand. A tan sao is a simple open hand wedging motion. Jut sao refers to pulling or yanking towards your core. Think of a tan sao like offering some candy to a friend, and the jut sao is you snatching it away. So while you navigate past their lead hand with your huen sao, you can shut down the back hand with the tan sao and even turn it into a wrist tie with the jut sao.

Pak Sao + Fuk Sao

(Slapping Hand + Bowing Hand)

This one comes in handy when defending against a wrist or elbow tie. For the sake of demonstration, let’s say your opponent reaches for your left hand with their right. This is where you apply a right pak sao (slapping hand) to the inside of their arm and shoot your left hand forward to latch a fuk sao (bowing/hooking hand) on their neck.

Sheung Jut Sao + Sheung Tok Sao

(Double Yanking Hand + Double Lifting Hand)

This is one is not reacting to your opponent, but rather just attacking an opening and moving into the clinch. Many grapplers keep their hands forward, but lower toward the chest/belly, in order to handle attacks to the head as well as shots to the legs. If you are facing an opponent who routinely keeps their hands low, you can capitalize by seizing their arms with two jut saos. Think about grabbing at the fat of the thumb, where it coincides with the palm. After this, shoot your hands underneath their armpits to get double underhooks.