Shaolin Ancestors Kung Fu Self Defence Martial Arts Guildford Surrey

'Chi Sao' which translated means 'Sticking Hands' has had much exposure throughout the world through the Wing Chun System . However besides the Poon Soa or Lok Sao ( Rolling hands) platform used in most Wing Chun Systems, there also exist a less well known and obscure platform called 'Teng Sao' which translated mean 'Listening Hands'. This system of Chi Sao until now has not been widely exposed to the general public, it roots coming from the Shaolin Ancestors system. Its original conception designed to control and subdue rather than to strike and maim. Though more modern versions have been  modified to include more strikes.

As the name suggest the hands are trained in Listening sensitivity, though that is only half of the picture. Unless one is only defending the objective of the hands is to confront the opponents energies. If one can imagine  the strength of opponent's arms as being a current flow of energy, then the objective is to confront the engaging energy flow by reactional linking. And once linked one can choose to either Follow, Neutralise or Disrupt. Once proficient this allows us the ability to neutralise power on contact. The skill off course lies in being able to maintain this level of skill throughout the whole period of contact and within an environment of changing energies. Then the next stage involves Chin Na (locking) and Ying Yang (Opposing forces) and only then can Gor Sao (strikes) be executed without a trade off.

The Teng Sao platform starts from Kiu Sao (Bridge Arm) range and thus is engaged immediately when and if contact is made during fighting and as such is not just a training tool or exercise to train sensitivity and reactional speed. Superficially the arms may appear to be uncoordinated and unstructured with elbow positions flowing both in and out, and just as in actual fighting nothing is confined to positional parameters. As long as there is contact through a bridge then Teng sao can be engaged.

The main listening points or points of contact are usually from the palms of the hand as this position allows for simultaneous offence and defence. And also helping us to achieve maximum flexibility and
sensitivity as the palms of the hands being the most receptive and mobile tool of the body. Though if contact starts from the forearms then one just simply adjusts the listening point. Elbows positions can be rooted inside or outside of the shoulder lines depending on the opponents positional configuration. The energy state focuses on Soft power, that is the degree of ability to dissipate incoming energy or force whilst being in a state of relaxation so as to increase our own reaction time. And inorder to maintain control one has to be able to use and align all of the arm structures so that if the other person exerts pressure regardless what what angle they press then it should feel like they are pressing against an solid wall.

In total there's 3 main progressions in Teng Sao training and i will briefly cover the 2nd. Training begins in the traditional Shoalin Horse Stance and the objective of early training is making sure one is comfortably rooted in the Ma (stance) whilst supporting the arms. Basic Chi Sao starts in this position and involves random pulling and pushing of each others arms aiming to upset balance and position. A good variation in this training would be to Chi Sao whilst sitting on chairs facing each other and once more proficient, then one can practice standing on the chairs. This fixed positional Chi Sao trains us to confront and engage the energies rather than run from it. And it is only through confrontational learning can we understand the true nature of energy. And in my opinion a practitioner can only be 'Soft' in Chi Sao if he truly understands all the structures and controlling energies.