Wing Chun Blocks Breakdown & Applications

Explanation & Understanding of the Wing Chun Blocks

Definitions in Chinese & roughly translated to English
The blocks are named after the position(s) that they represent.

The blocks are deflections and therefore use the indirect blocking theory. In wing Chun the hand positions are like tools in a tool box, used correctly for the correct application and there should be no problem, i.e. no position is left too long as this enables your opponent to gain an advantage. All the positions are used for different circumstances and are there for a reason, although some are similar. Some deal with high strikes, some deal with low strikes and some deal with high and low strikes simultaneously.

Bong Sau - Wing Arm / Hand

Strengths	Bong Sau is used for defences against straight punches, high & low. It is very easy to manoeuvre into the next position. Bong Sau can be used as a feeler of the opponent's intent/energy	Bong Sau, and Dai Bong Sau
Weaknesses	Very easy to show too much of your shoulder, the opponent then can use this to their advantage. Can be seen as weak, you cannot strike and defend at the same time. Very weak at the elbow – See Tan Sau.	Bong Sau, and Dai Bong Sau

Bong Sau is a deflection against a straight punch high or low, Bong Sau is applied when the pressure of the strike is met at the wrist, Bong Sau is strong in this position, as the Wing Chun practitioner is taught to collapse the Bong and move in to your opponent. If the on coming strike is met closer to the elbow of the Wing Chun practitioner bong position then you need to drop the elbow into a Tan Sau position which also changing gates – See Tan Sau.

When defending against a high straight punch, the Bong Sau should be applied relaxed and not tense. If you apply a Bong Sau that is tense and you are defending against a high straight punch you will be forced of balance, this is because you are taking all the force in to the Bong Sau arm and into the top half of the body. When relaxed you are able to absorb the opponents energy/force, therefore enable you to move in to your opponent and envelope the attack thus closing your opponent down.

When Defending against a low straight punch, the Bong Sau should be applied tense and not relaxed and is referred to as Dai Bong Sau (Low Bong Sau) If you apply a Bong Sau that is relaxed and you are defending against a low Straight punch you will be forced of balance, this is because the arm that is in Bong Sau will collapse and the whole body then takes the force/energy of the opponent and you may also get hit as the body is a greater area to defend. When tense you are able to deflect the opponents arm away form the body. – See Tan Sau. Bong Sau can be used on both inner and outer gates.

Bong Sau is very easily rotated round to gain the position to strike, maintaining contact with the elbow.

Biu Sau - Thrusting Hand / Fingers

Strengths	Biu Sau is an advanced position, it is used for adapting the angle of attack or correcting the centre line. It can also be used as a finger jab to the eyes.	Bui Sau
Weaknesses	You need to be quick when applying Biu Sau it is easy to get trapped up especially if the opponent is very aggressive. Cannot be used against low punches	Bui Sau

This position is used against a straight punch to the head. If applied as a deflection then it is very easy to swap gates and also to manoeuvre into other positions. If you stand with one arm in a Bui Sau position the elbow of the arm should point outwards. This shows that you that you have control of your centre line as high straight punches should be deflected away from your head.

Biu Sau can be used on both inner and outer gates.

Fak Sau - Whisking Hand / Arm

Strengths	Fak Sau is not really a deflection but an attack which is used for chopping to the throat or side of the neck. Fak Sau is also applied to change direction and correct the centre line in a new direction as Fak Sau covers a large area when changing direction.	Fak Sau
Weaknesses	You have to have good awareness and peripheral vision to apply this for a defence against a side attack or changing direction.	Fak Sau

Fak Sau is applied mainly at close quarters as an attack to the throat or side of the neck. It is not really a block but more of an attack. If the strike is blocked you can easily turn this into a trap. Is very effective and can be devastating when used correctly.

Fak Sau can also be used to change direction whilst maintaining control of your centre line or deflect an attack.

Fook Sau - Subduing Hand / Arm

Strengths	Fook Sau does not tie your hand up and can be very easily changed to a counter attack as it is more of a bridging tool.	Fook Sau
Weaknesses	Normally taught as a deflection early on in a students development	Fook Sau

Fook Sau is not really a block or a defence against a specific strike. Fook Sau is more of a bridging tool that can be used initially (basic) or a moved into from another position (advanced). I.e. you can move into Fook Sau from another position arm and hand rotates round, Therefore Fook Sau can also be used as a leverage tool. Fook Sau is not a block more of a position that maintains contact with your opponent whilst you move or strike with the other hand.

Fut Sau - Flicking Hand / Fingers

Strengths	Good bridging tool used to flick around an opponents guard
Weaknesses	Can be in-effective against an aggressive opponent due to their intent

Fut Sau can be used as an initial bridging tool which could be seen similar to Fook Sau but used with the other hand. Foot Sau can be used as a flick around an incoming strike or an opponent's guard position towards the opponent's eyes (eye rake). If you catch the opponent then it can put them off or cause discomfort buying you extra time to strike them. The problem is that if your opponent comes at you hard then the likely-hood of you catching them is greatly reduced. As wing Chun hand movements are easily changeable then it would be easy for you to move into another position to strike them. Fut Sau is used on the outer gate.

Gum Sau - Pressing / Pinning Hand / Arm

Strengths	Gum Sau is a good tool that is used to pin an opponents limb for trapping.	Gum Sau
Weaknesses	You need to use this at close quarters because if used at distance you may find your position compromised. Not a block against a kick.	Gum Sau

Although Gum Sau is shown in the Wing Chun forms as a downward movement, the actual application of Gum Sau can be used as a pin that is used against an opponent's limb to cover or pin at a close quarters. If Gum Sau is used at distance it will be ineffective. When used at close quarters Gum Sau is very closely linked to Lan Sau as Lan Sau can also be used as a pin. Gum Sau can then fold into a Lan Sau to pin an opponents arm.

Gum Sau can also be used in conjunction with a shoulder barge.

If somebody was to grab your wrist you can apply a Gum Sau to the side of you body and shoulder barge them to create distance before moving in to close them down. This is shown in the second section of Sil Lim Tao.

Gum Sau is best used from an outer gate position as you can pin an opponents arm to their body whilst striking them at the same time.

Guan Sau - Splitting Hand / Arm

Strengths	Guan Sau can be used in conjunction with a punch / palm strike. You can also use Guan Sau against high and low strikes and can be used as a cover against kicks.	Guan Sau
Weaknesses	If used as a defence against a kick it can be quite weak. Practitioners tend to try and use Guan Sau as a strike against an opponent. This therefore goes against Wing Chun theory as you need to be relaxed and not use force against force.	Guan Sau

Guan Sau is used against various strikes, high and low and even can be used as a cover against kicks. When combined with a punch you can defend and attack at the same time.

You can very easily change gates by either combining the first Guan Sau with another Guan Sau with the other arm, or just simply dropping you elbow of the original Guan Sau into Jum Sau Position – See Jum Sau.

Advanced use of Guan Sau can be used to open up your opponent. Guan Sau can be used on both inner and outer gates.

Huen Sau - Circling Hand / Arm

Strengths	Huen Sau is a circling movement from Inner to Outer Gate and vice versa. It can be combined with other movements very easily therefore making it a fast and versatile tool to have in your armoury.
Weaknesses	Huen Sau is a relatively weak as it is a fast movement, if you have been training for a long period then it may be easy to detect and defend against.
Huen Sau

Huen Sau is designed so that you are able to maintain contact with your opponent whilst moving from inner to outer gate or vice versa. This enables you to feel whether your opponent is moving and adapt your attack at lightening speed. As you are maintaining contact your opponent will find it hard to detect.

Huen Sau is used when pressure is felt on the wrist, depending on where the pressure is felt, depends on how it is applied.

Jum Sau - Sinking Hand / Arm

Strengths	Jum Sau is very similar to a punch and you can move into various different positions from Jum Sau with great speed.	Jum Sau
Weaknesses	Although Jum Sau is a strong position you do not actually strike your opponent	Jum Sau

Jum Su is very similar to Tan Sau but it is applied with the opposite arm. Jum Sau is designed to cut across your opponents striking limb, this is not a strike to your opponent but more of a guide, as you use your opponents force to guide their own arm.

The Jum Sau position is very similar to awing Chun punch and therefore can be easily changed in to a strike. As you guide the opponents arm down and away from you, Jum Sau can be moved very quickly in to Lan Sau to pin the opponents arm - see Lan Sau.

Jum Sau can also be used to move from inner to outer gate and vice versa when combined with other Wing Chun positions.

Jum Sau can be used on both inner and outer gates.

Jut Sau - Jerking Hand / Arm

Strengths	Jut Sau is used as advanced strike. This is an effective way to generate short range power.	Jut Sau
Weaknesses	You have to practice Jut Sau to make it effective and this is why it is an advanced movement.	Jut Sau

Any form of martial art uses some form of acceleration in the limbs of the human body to generate maximum force. Like Karate when punching the practitioner rotates the hand, to accelerate the force being applied through the striking limb. Jut Sau is Wing Chun’s version of this theory and is applied to generate that extra power at very short range. Jut Sau can be applied to any sort of movement where you may be striking your opponent, either from a palm strike or Fak Sau to the throat. If you were to apply Jut Sau from a punch there is a danger of injuring your wrist, however when applied correctly a Jut Sau Punch can be devastating.

You can also apply a Jut Sau to jerk someone’s hand or limb out of the way to manoeuvre into another position. Jut Sau is a short range Strike and can be used on both inner and outer gates.

Lan Sau - Bar / Obstruction Hand / Arm

Strengths	Lan Sau is a Distance provider which shows the minimum distance that Wing Chun will work effectively. Lan Sau is also used as a pin and can be applied either to a limb or even to the throat.
Weaknesses	Lan Sau is not really a block but a controlling technique. There is always a danger of moving from a Lan Sau into a grapple.

Lan Sau is Wing Chun's Distance Provider. Any closer than Lan Sau distance will more than likely end up with you grappling your opponent. Lan Sau shows the smallest distance which you can continue to use the Wing Chun hand positions and optimum striking distance.

Lan Sau can be used as a controlling technique, Bong Sau is very closely linked and folds very easily into Lan Sau to pin an opponents arm to their body therefore closing them down and being able then to apply various different strikes from this position.

Lan Sau can also be used in a grappling scenario as an Arm Bar against either arms or legs or throat of an opponent or to hold an opponent at distance from you but still enabling you to move effectively. Lan Sau tends to follow other hand positions as you are closing down an opponent, the arm may fold into Lan Sau.

Lan Sau can be used on the inner gate to pin the throat or the outer gate to pin an opponents arm.

Lap Sau - Deflecting Arm

Strengths	Lap Sau is used to deflect the arm of an opponent by pulling at the wrist pulling them off balance and gaining an advantage. Also used to maximise power as you can apply Lap Sau and strike simultaneously increasing power at short range – two way energy.
Weaknesses	Lap Sau is not really a block but a deflecting technique. Not very useful if the opponent is bigger than you as you will have to commit more strength to apply a Lap Sau therefore putting yourself at a disadvantage.

Lap Sau is applied only after initial contact has been made with you opponent with another hand position, and Lap Sau is a short sharp pull of an opponents attacking arm which is used to force them off balance for a split second enabling you to gain an advantage.

Lap Sau is exceptional for maximising short range punches, where most Martial arts use a lot of rotation to generate power Wing Chun is famous for its quick straight line punches. Lap Sau is therefore used to pull the opponent whilst striking simultaneously and this is called two-way energy. Lap Sau is applied from the outer Gate only; this is because when you apply Lap Sau on the inner gate the opponent tends to be pulled onto you, which obviously compromises your position & structure.

Mun Sau - Inquisitive / Asking Hand

Strengths	Mun Sau is not a strike but part of the Wing Chun guard. Mun Sau is normally the first line of contact used on an opponent either moving to intercept an incoming strike or used to change shape into one of the many Wing Chun Blocks to defend against an incoming strike.	Man Sau
Weaknesses	Not a strike, at an advanced level of training an opponent may work off you Mun Sau and look to draw out your Wu Sau in Chi Sau, Gor Sau or even in techniques, this then gives the opponent the chance to trap you arms up.	Man Sau

This is part of the Wing Chun Guard. Mun Sau is always in front of the guard hand Wu Sau. Your leading hand Mun Sau is used to either gain contact with an opponent or change shape into one of the many Wing Chun hand positions. As you have your hand out in front this give you a great advantage as this reducer’s the distance that you hands have to travel to hit an opponent - See Wu Sau - See Wu Sau

Pak Sau - Slapping Hand / Arm

Strengths	Pak Sau can be used to gain entry to an opponent. Very easy to manoeuvre into other techniques from Pak Sau as it can be used at great speed, Pak Sau is very useful at close quarters i.e. Chi Sau or Gor Sau.
Weaknesses	If an opponent tries to punch you Pak Sau is very difficult to land on the opponents arm as they may be too quick.

As Seen in the Dummy Form Pak Sau is used in conjunction with a Fak Sau therefore Pak Sau can be used as a cover whilst attacking at the same time. You can use a Pak Sau to parry opponent's strikes and gain distance. You can use Pak Sau and move into Gum Sau to pin an opponent's arm(s), as they are closely linked together – see Gum Sau

Pak Sau is hard to use on an incoming strikes as there is a chance that you may miss the incoming strike and then you have over committed yourself are at a disadvantage. Best used on a grab or and close quarters i.e. Chi Sau or Gor Sau, where you can use a Pak Sau to work into other techniques. You can use Pak Sau to parry away incoming strikes therefore gaining distance, or to move the striking limb so that you can manoeuvre into a better position to deliver a technique.

Pak Sau can be used on both inner and outer gates.

Tan Sau - Open / Spread - Hand / Arm

Strengths	One of the three seeds of Wing Chun (Bong, Tan & Fook) Very strong down the line of the arm, using the elbow to control your opponent Can defend and attack simultaneously. Opposite to Bong
Weaknesses	Tan Sau is very weak when pressure is felt nearer the wrist, i.e. weak from side to side - See Bong Sau

Tan Sau is applied when an on coming attack is felt towards your elbow, as the position is very strong from the front, if the pressure moves across the Tan Sau position then you lift your elbow in to Bong Sau position thus deflecting the strike. This Tan Sau to Bong Sau movement also can be use to change gates.

When in the Tan Sau position you are able to attack with the other hand thus attacking and defending at the same time. Both the position of the striking arm and the Tan Sau protect your centre line as both elbows are facing the floor.

The position of Tan Sau on the outer gate of the opponent attacking arm is on or above their elbow; the position of Tan Sau on the inner gate of the opponent attacking arm is below their elbow. Both of which stops the opponent bending their elbow and being able to strike.

Tan Sau is used on both inner and outer gates.

Tok Sau - Elbow Lifting Hand / Arm

Strengths	Tok Sau is used to manipulate the arm of an opponent by lifting at the elbow. Can be used in conjunction with Jut Sau to break the elbow joint (Jip Sau)
Weaknesses	Tok Sau is not a deflection but more to manipulate limbs so it cannot be used against incoming Strike as it would be very difficult to get your poisoning correct.

Tok Sau is used to lift an opponents arm at the elbow, as Wing Chun is concentrates a lot on controlling your opponent through the arms the elbow is the key for controlling the arm of an opponent. Is someone is applying force with their arms the best way to prevent them from pushing you back or even over is to use Tok Sau. It is applied to lift an opponents arm at the elbow thus pushing their forwarding force up an over your head and down, increasing your body weight and making you harder to move.

Tok Sau can also be used to uproot an opponent, by this I mean that by lifting up an opponents arm at the elbow you can make their structure weak and therefore force them off balance. Tok Sau can be used in one of 2 ways:

From a grab, apply the Tok Sau pushing up the elbow while the other hand pushes down on the for arm creating leverage and eventually braking the arm this movement is taken directly from the first section in Chum Kiu and the movement of Tok Sau with Jut Sau is called Jip Sau.
Tok Sau can be applied from a technique. A straight punch is applied and if you apply a deflection of your choice and then the Tok Sau from a side on position. Place the Tok Sau underneath the elbow but instead of using your hand, use the inside of your elbow, The other hand then pulls down on the wrist, this will create more leverage than that applied in the first exercise and it is also easier to get the positioning right causing maximum damage to your opponent.

Tok Sau is used on the outer gate

Wu Sau - Guard / Protective Hand

Strengths	Wu Sau is not a strike but part of the Wing Chun guard. Useful when trying to protect you from being trapped up, gives a second chance	Wu Sau
Weaknesses	Not a strike, at an advanced level of training an opponent may work off your Man Sau and look to draw out your Wu Sau in Chi Sau, Gor Sau or even in techniques, this then gives the opponent the chance to trap your arms.	Wu Sau

This is part of the Wing Chun guard. The Guard Hand (Wu Sau) is always behind the leading hand (Man Sau).

This is because if your leading hand gets trapped up by an opponent the guard hand gives you that second chance of not being hit. - See Man Sau

Kwan Sau - Reverse Rotating Arms

Strengths	Kwan Sau uses rotation to free up your position and re-gain control of your centre line.
Weaknesses	Kwan Sau can be seen that you used two hands to one strike.

Kwun Sau is performed in the Bil Tze and Dummy Forms; this is because it is an advanced technique and should only be used by experienced practitioners.

The hand positions are rotated round so that both your arms swap gates, i.e. if both your left and right hands are on the inner gate and you rotate your arms, both hands will have moved to the outer gate, which frees up position enabling you to strike.

This movement tends to be used from a double Guan Sau (high and low) so you are able. If a strike comes in high then Jum Sau deals with the strike where as the low Guan Sau is free to move and therefore can strike your opponent.

If a strike comes in low then Low Guan Sau deals with the strike where as the Jum Sau is free to move and therefore can strike your opponent.

From the double Guan Sau position you have also opened up various entry techniques, either off the Jum Sau or off of the Low Guan Sau.

Kwan Sau can be used on both inner and outer gates.