Literally one of the first things you learn when you start your Wing Chun Training is the Wu Sao. The word Wu Sau literally means “Guarding Hand.”
Funny Story, Err… Okay maybe it’s not really funny.
Many moons ago I use to train in my basement with a group of friends. All martial artist all different disciplines. We use to just throw gear on and beat the living crap out of each other.
I learned a lot back in those days and I also learned why sparring if not done under a controlled environment and with a specific purpose is meaningless. (That’s for another day though!)
One day one of my buddies came over and he decided he was going to try and kick me in the face. I know great friend right? Anyhow, my Wu Sao saved me from a black eye almost a dozen times that day. Sifu Phu is a stickler for training your technique correctly. And he has no problem not advancing you if you don’t have a technique down.
Every time he threw a kick at me or an attack really my Wu was their to save my butt. It was that day that I really appreciated the Wu Sao. During my lessons with Sifu he was always telling me keep my Wu up, cycle my hands etc.. Like literally every lesson for months. The lesson sunk in and for the past 2 decades my Wu has been saving my butt.
Check Out This Short Video On The Wing Chun Wu Sao
So this video is 10 mins long. We filmed it on a random YT/FB live we did. The full video is 20 or so minutes long. The full version of this video is over at our youtube premium side, or if you are family member of Enter Shaolin you will be able to find the full video in your training vault.
…However
There is enough in this video to get you going in the right direction.
As always we would love to hear your feedback. What did you think of the video? What style video do you like better. The video lessons that are directly aim towards teaching you online. Or these types of videos where we record Sifu Phu giving an actual lesson to a person?
Let us know what you think in the comment section!
This was an excellent detailed Wu Sau training video.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Fantastic demonstration of the Wu!! Many thanks once again Sifu for your demonstrations, guidance, wisdom and overall philosophy in developing the proper techniques in such an amazing martial arts style! And as always, thanks to Hector for his efforts to bring these videos to all of us.
Cheers,
Thanks for watching!! 🙂
It always amazes me the amount of knowledge Sifu has and how he explains things and makes it easy to understand. If only I could consistently apply his explanation into practicality. I am like the person in the video, I go off vertical without realizing I’m doing it. Consistency is not my middle name.
Just take it one day at a time. It’s marathon not a sprint 🙂
this video is very good, most popular mistakes are shown and corrected here….
…and for the joke you say that “for the past 2 decades my Wu has been saving my butt” …yeah, and Wu for me, was saving my face.. 🙂
That’s no joke! 🙂
Getting a good idea about how it doesn’t work and should would from student lessons are great, useful and fun to watch. But can’t beat the membership videos of detailed training exercises and concepts.
Agreed
Very good video! Very good foundation. Thank you, Brian
Again, excellent breakdown of the mechanics of the Wu Sau as the default hand. It makes absolute sense. If someone wants to attack you in the street, just by putting your hands up in a defensive posture,….and when do we defend in the NDN System,….never, hey I don’t want any trouble, I’ve been there. You have an instant double Wu, without telegraphing your intent. No Wu, no you, right. Once you understand the movement and the energy behind it, it becomes easier to transition from the Wu Sau to a Tan, Biu, Jut, Fuk or a Pak with the intention to strike without having to reset, because you’re not over committing by chasing the hands. I never chase the hands, too distracting, too fast and too dangerous. Like Internal and External, Ying and Yang, I like the balance of both the video lessons that are aimed specifically at teaching you directly online and possibly pre/ live recordings of Sifu Phu giving someone lessons. Both will help to reinforce ones understanding. by the way. I too, along with a couple of my friends, use to train in the basement of our local church, with the permission of our preacher of course, they were also training in the Martial Arts and one of them, was the preacher’s son. Happy days.
I feel ya man, thanks commenting…