Sticking Hands.

Sticking hands is the necessary step in learning the fighting principles of Wing Chun. The purpose is to train the application of the movements and the ingenious responses in fighting, so one can foster the natural reflexes of the movements.

In order to develop superior, natural and habitual reflexes, one needs a rigorous basis in sticking hands training. For this reason, the practice of sticking hands is divided into stages — single sticking hand, rolling hands, practising the defending and attacking techniques, and free sparring — and must be learnt step by step.

Some people consider that the techniques in sticking hands are effective only when there is arm contact with the opponent — that if the opponent avoids arm contact, the function of sticking hands cannot be used. This idea is due to a lack of understanding of Wing Chun. Sticking hands does not need arm contact in its responses to the action of the opponent.

The procedures and purposes of sticking hands can generally be divided as follows:

1. Single sticking hands;
2. Rolling arms (also called rotating arms);
3. Practising defending and attacking techniques (double sticking hands);
4. Application of force (no actual force is required, but it is difficult to find a proper phrase to replace it);
5. Establishing and utilising the natural reflexes of Loy Lau Hoi Sung, Lut Sau Jik Chung — when a person strikes in, neutralise his incoming force; when his force withdraws, move in; when he removes his hand, strike in;
6. Seeking the profound techniques of facing one's shadow, chasing one's shadow, and pointing towards the centre line.

1 · Single sticking hands

The first step in learning sticking hands — practising the defending and attacking techniques of Tan, Bong and Fook Sau. Beginners often find it difficult to use Tan and Bong Sau when they receive a downward pressing force, and feel that Fook Sau has the advantage. But if one understands the rotational skill of Tan Sau and Bong Sau, he can not only intimidate the one using Fook Sau but also tire that person out very easily. The one who applies the movements best will win.

2 · Rolling arms

Both sides practise with Tan, Bong and Fook Sau to form a circular rotating movement — redirecting force, applying pressure, finding the way to withstand the opponent's pressure, and developing completely relaxed shoulder joints even when under pressure. The more one can relax the shoulder joints, the more the force developed from the initial sliding movement of the joints increases, leading to acceleration of the rotation and the best result of tractive and striking forces.

3 · Practising defending and attacking (double sticking hands)

During double sticking hands one can use the defending and attacking techniques freely. They are divided into three learning stages — Siu Nim Tau, Chum Kiu and Biu Jee — while the Wooden Dummy techniques are derived from the combination of the three forms.

Siu Nim Tau stage: each side practises in a nearly stabilised position, using Tan, Bong and Fook Sau to sense the attack and respond with a proper movement — for example Tan Da, Jut Da, Pak Da, On Da, and Lap Da.

Chum Kiu stage: firstly understand the purpose of the Chum Kiu form — to transfer the power generated from the movement of the body mass to the techniques. Although the techniques are nearly the same as in Siu Nim Tau, each movement, whether defending or attacking, is now supported by the body mass — moving forward or backward, pivoting — in order to increase the power.

Biu Jee stage: Biu Jee concentrates an enormous destructive power in attacking. To prevent the chance of hurting each other, it is seldom used in sticking hands; even a slight contact can produce damage. Therefore explanation and demonstration under proper control are used to show the way of practising Biu Jee techniques.

4 · Application of force

The direction of the opponent's force changes constantly, so one alters his own force to counter the changes — using facing one's shadow, chasing one's shadow, rotations, and forward and backward movements — developing the feeling of how to use the right technique at the right time to upset the opponent's balance, until these become subconscious reflexes.

5 · The natural reflexes of "Loy Lau Hoi Sung"

It is not easy to develop this skill. If one uses the sense of sight to feel the direction of the opponent's force, the responses are too slow. By not using sight but the subconscious reflexes — concentrating on the mind force (Nim Tau), the same as in Siu Nim Tau, to maintain the elasticity of the joints of the arms — and by coordinating the springy arms and the mind force together, focusing on the weakest point of the opponent's structure, one develops the direct reflexes of the subconscious mind.

6 · Facing the shadow, chasing the shadow, the centre line

The purposes of facing one's shadow, chasing one's shadow and pointing towards the centre line have already been explained. In practising sticking hands, one should concentrate on the feeling, and try to comprehend its practical value and skill, in order to understand its real purpose and worth.