Wing Chun Training Methods

There are numerous training methods in the Wing Chun System. This training can be categorized into forms training, chi sao training, and lat sao training.

Wing Chun Forms
There are 3 empty hand forms, a wooden dummy form, and two weapons forms.

Sil Lim Tao Form
Literally translated Sil Lim Tao means “little idea”. This is the style’s foundational form. There are no steps in the form. It is used as an encyclopedia of the concepts and techniques and also trains power in the legs known as the “abduction force” or “linkage force”, and also relaxation in the arm movements and in the upper body. Sil Lim Tao can be trained reasonably fast or exceedingly slow, and an advanced version is practiced standing on one leg. The Leung Ting version has also added something called “reverse breathing” into the form. There is a saying that the quality of your practice is a function of the quality of your Sil Lim Tao. In the “olden days” a beginner might spend the first 6 months of his training just learning and practicing this form.

Chum Kiu Form
Literally translated, Chum Kiu means “searching for the bridge”. It is also known as the “footwork form”. This form includes stepping, turning, and kicking. It also emphasizes defensive movements. The Wing Chun fighter will typically create a “bridge” by linking one of his arms to one of his opponent’s arms. This “bridge” allows the Wing Chun fighter to feel the opponent’s movements and also to control his arms. The most frequent movement in the form is the “Bong Wu”, which is a combination of the Bong Sao Movement and the Wu Sao movement. When you have mastered this form you are generally considered to be an intermediate level student. Some schools teach chum kiu after the student has begun double arm chi sao, while others teach it just before the student learns chi sao.

Biu Jee Form
Literally translated, Biu Jee means “flying fingers”. This is the most advanced empty hand form, taught to black belt level students, usually after at least three to five years of training. This form emphasizes deadly attacking movements using open hand strikes, finger jabs, and elbow strikes. In ancient times Biu Jee was a “secret” form taught only to trusted successor students, in part because of the extreme deadliness of some of the techniques, but also because the Biu Jee techniques can be used to counter other Wing Chun techniques, in particular the chain punch.

Wooden Dummy Form
Among other things, the wooden dummy is used to refine and perfect positioning and footwork. In most lineages this form is only learned after the student has mastered all of the basic techniques and is quite proficient in chi sao sparring. The wooden dummy form also allows a new instructor who has just opened his own school and is training only beginners to have a “training partner” to maintain his skills.

Wallbag Training
The wallbag is a canvas bag filled with sand, rice, or the like, which is mounted on the wall and used as a target for punching, open hand strikes, and kicking. It is usually not used for training elbows or knee attacks. Because the wall behind the bag has no “give” at all, wallbag training develops a strong stance, which adds to punching power. It can also be be used for conditioning the hands, arms, and wrists.

Long Pole Training
The Long pole is a training implement about 9 feet long, shaped like a large tapering pool cue, and weighing between 5 to 8 pounds. While it is not practical as an actual weapon in modern society, it can be used to train strength in the arms, forearms, and wrists, and helps to further develop “short bridge” punching power, also known as Fa Jing.

Chi Sao Training
While often translated as “sticking hands”, its literal (and more accurate) translation is “clinging arms”. It has been said that “there is no Wing Chun without Chi Sao”, however it is unclear at what stage in Wing Chun’s 300 year history that Chi Sao was developed. There are several types of Chi Sao, including single arm chi sao, rolling hands, and the double arm version. Chi Sao allows learning and training to proceed safely and at a greatly accelerated rate. Chi sao also allows the expert to defend hand techniques reliably even at close range and to use trapping techniques to dominate the opponent in close range fighting.

Lat Sao
Literally translated as “free hand”. Lat sao is sparring which begins before the fighter’s arms stick to the opponent’s arms. In some lineages lat sao is taught after Chi Sao, while in others, it is taught before. Lat sao relies on visual reflexes since hand to hand contact has not yet been accomplished and is somewhat similar to sparring in karate and other martial arts.

The video below shows chain punches and elbows being trained (at a high level) on the bag. The chaining of elbows and punches together creates a daunting and effective attack.