Wing Chun (notes on importance of relaxation)

This week Sifu reiterated the importance of relaxation and of maintaining the correct structure. When practicing fook sau or tan sau, and when your partner is pressing into you, concentrate on maintaining the angle of the shape (by using your triceps); if you try to counter by tensing your biceps and using strength you will fail if you are weaker, and even if you are stronger you will tire yourself.

To paraphrase Sifu:

Tension slows you down – tension in the muscles decreases speed.
Tension shows intention (your opponent can see or feel what you will do next).

Unfortunately, Monday night I yet again got bruises on my arms through not applying the tan sau structure correctly. Tonight one of the instructors took me through it slowly and it was interesting to feel how tan sau should be when applied properly. There should be no clashing, but friction, as your opponents arm travels down yours as the blow is deflected rather than blocked. Wrist must be kept straight in line with the forearm and fingers extended. The clash seemed to occur perhaps because I wasn’t turning enough in my stance or wasn’t turning the arm fully into the tan sau position (the arm should “corkscrew” up into position). I was perhaps also pushing outwards with the forearm rather than concentrating on the centre line.