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Written by siukee wan
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Kung Fu Insight – Chi Sau / Kiu Sau Bridging Tools
In this series of video clips, I would like to share my personal experiences and understanding of the Internal and External mechanics of the various bridging tools used in Chi/Kiu Sau.
This is an area of expertise that is specific and unique to many of the Southern kung fu styles and was conceived and developed in an era when hand-to-hand weapons was the main area of focus and challenge.
It is generally accepted that the development of the function and mechanics surrounding Chi/Kiu Sau was designed for the purpose of controlling the opponent’s Bridge (arms) and Centre (spine). In light of the gravity of the threat and dangers when dealing with traditional hand weapons, it is understandable why Chi/Kiu Sau evolved and flourished the way it did in Ancient China.
When we use the term ‘bridging tools’ we are actually referring to various actions and motions of the hands and arms. Over time some styles have named these actions by associating them with various shapes and structures with the Tang, Bong and Fuk from the Wing Chun style being classic examples. As a result some Southern systems share similar moves, but may have a different way of expressing and referencing them.
A common mistake for beginners is building an attachment to the shapes, not realising that the shape is actually the end result of an action rather than the beginning. Thus defining function by expressions of shapes can at times be confusing and slightly misleading especially if they are not associated to any concrete examples of application or techniques.
As many of the today’s kung fu forms are many centuries old, their blueprint will always be open to interpretation as it’s near impossible to know what all the original meanings were. But if given an ancient form, bearing in mind that we all share the same biomechanical make up, and with the advent exposure to more information, it should be possible to re-discover much of the lost meanings.
We also have to accept the reality that some forms no matter how old or revered, maybe be conceptually flawed or obsolete in today’s environment. For that reason, unless our objective is to preserve history then our focus should be to improve on what we have already been given.
One hand can perform a multitude of tasks, each requiring a specific tool. When training, our goal should always be focussed on achieving a flow of seamless techniques, leading to the ever elusive, ‘Formless Form’.
New Videos coming soon
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