The Huen Sao movements

[stonecrusher69]

short video on Wing Chun Huen sao motions. The Huen sao motions are the most common and practiced movement in Wing Chun. Why? I will give a simple answer to this question...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r7Vi4hv0NI

[Alan Armstrong]

short video on Wing Chun Huen sao motions. The Huen sao motions are the most common and practiced movement in Wing Chun. Why? I will give a simple answer to this question...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r7Vi4hv0NI

Thanks for sharing.

Making the full rotation of the huen Sao can be forgotten very easily due to the escaping flick of the tuet Sao idea from the fook sao to the man Sao, as the last movement from the first set (sil Lum tao) is a proper huen Sao.

When I practice the huen Saos in the first Wing Chun form, I add a twist with the wrist inwards as if punching in to the opponent's chin.

Another (visual) good point from the video is how the huen Sao with an extra twist helps to form the bong Sao shape.

[stonecrusher69]

short video on Wing Chun Huen sao motions. The Huen sao motions are the most common and practiced movement in Wing Chun. Why? I will give a simple answer to this question...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r7Vi4hv0NI

Thanks for sharing.

Making the full rotation of the huen Sao can be forgotten very easily due to the escaping flick of the tuet Sao idea from the fook sao to the man Sao, as the last movement from the first set (sil Lum tao) is a proper huen Sao.

When I practice the huen Saos in the first Wing Chun form, I add a twist with the wrist inwards as if punching in to the opponent's chin.

Another (visual) good point from the video is how the huen Sao with an extra twist helps to form the bong Sao shape.

Thanks Alan, glad you liked the video..

[Alan Armstrong]

I regard the Huen Sao movement as a way to strengthen the wrists. As we don't wrap the wrist or wear protective gloves.

How important is the Huen Sao? Very!

How many transitional hand movements and shapes are generated from the Huen Sao movement? Many!

Jum sao, Jut sao, Kau sao, Fook sao, Woo sao, Mun sao, Biu sao, Bong sao, Kuen sao, Tan sao, Gum sao, Gang sao, Kuan sao, Tut sao, Pak sao, Tok sao, Lan sao, Lap sao, Fut sao, Jip sao, Got sao, Chune sao, Man geng sao, Tie Sao, Cha jee sao, Chang sao, charp sau, Chum sao, Dai bong sao, Ding sao, Fak sau, Faan sao, Fuun sao, Kiu sao, kwak sao, Luk sao, Lut sao, Ngou sao, Poon sau, San sao ...

Sao meaning hand or arm; in between is the wrist with a turning circular movement the 'Huen sao'

All of these terms relate to the movements of "Wing Chun" Bruce Lee's use of techniques in the movies; back in the 70s. He was moving incredibly fast, just can't imagine anyone stopping to asking him "Hey Bruce! What is the name of that thing you do when it is impossible to see what you are doing?"

BL answer: Intercepting fist!

[Alan Armstrong]

It was Confucius that said "If I show you a corner of a table then you will understand the other three legs" or something similar.

"Huen" its meaning is circle, then as learned in the Sil Lim Tau, circular movement or circle has a great significance in Wing Chun.

Circling fingers, wrist, elbows, shoulders, ankles, knees, hips, waist and head.

Circling the opponent, pivoting, circling stepping, hock punch or upper cut, knee and elbow strikes (as in movements that are part of a circle) chain punching... are huen punches...

Therefore to "Huen Sao" the wrist has a far more profound meaning than just circling the wrist, than it appears, as Wing Chun is a conceptual martial art, in which we are just scratching the Huen aspect surface of it here.

As the late great Bruce Lee would probably explain it like this "Don't concentrate on pointing and drawing with your finger a circle around the moon or you will miss all the heavenly glory"

[Alan Armstrong]

"Huen" literally means "To roll something up inside something"

Starting from the Tai Chi Chuan form/kata, for example, it is used in self defence from a wrist grab.

Namely "picking up a needle from the bottom of the sea" as illustrated from this video link.

Advancing to Aikido it is called "Nikyo" wrist control, a variation there of.

Therefore Huen Sao is also about wrist control against the opponent to get the upper hand or position and also involves counter joint locking techniques, not just wrist exercises and navigating the hand from one position to another.

Combined with striking, Karate basic lock flow

As we have advanced with the lock flow idea standing up, now on the ground.

https://youtu.be/eSzbyJZDqEU

Principles that are done standing should also be considered when on the ground.

Huen and the rolling principle, how clearer can it get other than with jujitsu?

I do like to say that Wing Chun is profound and deep, here is something of an understatement right here regarding the Huen Sao.

As all of the movements in the Sil lum Tao; kata/form "The little idea" are seeds to something that will grow with time patience, practice and most importantly, with a little imagination and understanding.

Wing Chun locks perspective.

Wing Chun, Huen Sao two man drill.

Wing Chun, chanel your Huen Sao

Wing Chun, sensitivity, touch, sticking, slipping, speed, pressure, also striking with the Huen Sao.

Wing Chun, single, double and triple Huen Sao/s and the importance of changing.

Huen Sao from Master Wong, use it high use it low, or any way you want.

Figure eight Huen Sao two man drill.

How to bridge with Huen Sao in Wing Chun.

https://youtu.be/lmNh0DiuuUs

Huen Sao swimming from Wing Chun, used in standing grappling; which also illustrates Wing Chun techniques commonly used in MMA.

https://youtu.be/ZOkmEskejww

Using the Huen Sao to change gates and strike/hit.

https://youtu.be/WSDoQqU2fD0

Bruce Lee JKD Huen Sao two man sensitivity drill.

https://youtu.be/k83_0d3cHjs

Wing Chun small Huen Sao platform two man drill.

https://youtu.be/2Y0JNdz2GFU

Small circle Huen Sao is a very important ingredient in Vietnam Wing Chun training, which is taken to the extreme there!

https://youtu.be/G7U17Nbkm-s

[Alan Armstrong]

The Heun Sao has it's very own weapon and is also used as a special exercise equipment, namely the Jook Wan Huen; AKA Wing Chun Ring or Ratten Ring, that comes in a variety of colours, sizes and material's and names; Som Bo Gin and Jook Dji Huen.

Rings made of metal are particularly useful as a weapon.

(A cousin to the ratten ring is the "Butterfly Rings" which are two small rings that look similar to hand cuffs)

Personally what I use most often is strips of material rings that are easily made from cutting off 4" wide lengths, from old training pants, similar looking to a head sweat/band; which are light and convenient for taking out about training sessions.

The beauty of using the rings, no matter the material, is that many techniques can be practiced with them whilst helping to maintain forward pressure and space ratios.

Using the ring for simultaneous deflecting and striking and rolling hands practice, including speed punching.

The ring is perfect for practicing the inside to outside Taun and the opposite Bong rolling technique, also double guan and double kwun

https://youtu.be/kMLWfoWY2hI

The ring is also helpful in coordinating movements with both hands and also for promoting dexterity and amibidexros qualities.

The usual size of ring that is fitting for each individual is one tha is the length between the wrist and opposite side of the elbow, as anything bigger has the possibility of hitting one's self in the chin during transitions.

https://youtu.be/EwIavE67gU0

Now for outside to inside pressure a Wing Chun ball is all that is required

Ball exercises for improving Chi Sao Sticky Hands

(An idea that I have developed, is to use the "ball" in conjunction with the material "ring" silmutaniosly) sorry no video for that, please use imagination

Ball and weights to improve your wrist and forearm strength idea.

Some Wing Chun conditioning tips worthwhile seeing.