LAT SAO &
FALLING TECHNIQUES
Form training and Chi Sao practice are essential components of Wing Chun training.
The forms serve as a kind of library of the various hand techniques, footwork, and kicking techniques within Wing Chun. As solo forms, they teach fundamental concepts, principles, and much more. One could liken this to learning the letters of an alphabet, where the student first learns all the letters before combining them into words. Similarly, in the forms, the student learns basic Wing Chun hand techniques—both as positions and as movements transitioning between two positions.
These form components are then shaped into practical applications during Chi Sao practice with a partner. Here, the hand techniques, footwork, and kicking techniques are refined and drilled into continuous movement sequences. Continuing the analogy of learning letters, Chi Sao could be compared to forming simple sentences, eventually progressing to more complex conversations with a partner. An attack might resemble a question posed to the partner, with their reaction, such as a counter, serving as an answer or counter-question.
Lat Sao is the logical progression of Chi Sao training. In Chi Sao, one aims to maintain arm contact with the opponent to intuitively gauge the strength and direction of their attacks, thereby establishing movement patterns. Lat Sao, however, reduces this continuous arm contact to train in a way that is closer to real-life scenarios.
In Lat Sao, the partner confronts us with short attacks, which we must counter effectively using the skills acquired in Chi Sao to eventually take the opponent to the ground and neutralize the attack—a challenging task!
In the articles on this site, I delve into the indispensable art of falling, takedown techniques, Lat Sao fundamentals, the transition from Chi Sao to Lat Sao, Hong Kong Lat Sao, and knife applications.
Enjoy,
Cord
01
FALLING TECHNIQUES (UKEMI)
Wing Chun is not Judo. However, when viewed as a complete system, Wing Chun includes numerous takedown techniques. These include stop kicks, stomping kicks, sweeping kicks, and control techniques targeting the lower body (legs) to first immobilize the opponent and then bring them to the ground in a controlled manner. To train such techniques with power, it is crucial to be able to fall safely or descend to the ground in a controlled way. This is taught in falling practice—commonly referred to as Ukemi in Judo—which is standard training in many Asian martial arts.
Knowledge of falling techniques is essential when training Chi Sao or performing Lat Sao exercises, where the partner is typically taken to the ground. Please register or log in to read the article on types of falling techniques and instructional content for free.
02
TAKEDOWN FUNDAMENTALS
Once falling techniques have been learned, allowing safe and injury-free falls, the question arises: how can one effectively and controllably bring the partner or opponent to the ground? Whether using circular sweeps, stomping, stopping, or sweeping kicks, every confrontation should ideally end with the opponent on the ground. Only then is a sufficient level of control achieved.
There are countless takedown techniques, and this article explains where they occur, which forms they originate from, and how they function. It also elaborates on how takedowns can be executed from Chi Sao or Lat Sao. Please register or log in to read the article on takedown fundamentals for free.
03
LAT SAO FUNDAMENTALS
Lat Sao is often translated or interpreted as "free sparring," which is not entirely accurate. In Lat Sao, the movements practiced in Chi Sao—characterized by continuous arm contact—are adapted into freer exercises. Thus, in Lat Sao, one practices reestablishing contact with the partner each time and successfully utilizing the brief moment of initial contact (the collision) to apply Chi Sao-like sequences or chain techniques. The ultimate goal is to take the partner to the ground via a takedown.
Lat Sao fundamentals include training chain punching, Pak Sao-punch combinations, side switching, footwork, and much more. Please register or log in to read the article on Lat Sao fundamentals for free.
04
GRIP AND CHOKE ESCAPES & KAM NA
Common self-defense scenarios often involve grabbing or holding. Arm grabs, clothing grabs, throat chokes, and embraces are the most frequent attacks one must counter effectively. Allowing the opponent to get close enough to grab or embrace typically indicates that something has already gone wrong, as the opponent should have been stopped earlier. However, such considerations become irrelevant in the heat of the moment when one must defend oneself.
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05
TRANSITION FROM CHI SAO TO LAT SAO
In sectional Wing Chun, Chi Sao training content is organized into sections or partner forms. There are a total of 19 Chi Sao sections and an additional block of Chi Gerk exercises. The movement sequences practiced in these sections must now be transferred from Chi Sao to Lat Sao. In other words, there are corresponding Lat Sao exercises for each Chi Sao section, facilitating the transition from Chi Sao to Lat Sao.
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06
HONG KONG LAT SAO
In Chi Sao, specific movement sequences or chain techniques are drilled into the body’s motor memory while maintaining arm contact with the partner. This practice is colloquially known as "sticky hands." However, this continuous contact does not occur in real-life self-defense situations, which is why Chi Sao exercises are adapted into Lat Sao.
In Lat Sao, continuous punching creates a type of "firestorm," offering repeated opportunities to apply techniques. In Hong Kong Lat Sao, the distance to the partner is increased, and a single attack is executed. The practitioner must defend against and counter this direct attack, making it significantly more realistic than Lat Sao. This is referred to as Hong Kong Lat Sao.
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07
KNIFE APPLICATIONS
Wing Chun is a knife-based system, meaning its movements can be executed both unarmed and with a knife in each hand, with minimal differences in arm motion. There are strong similarities between unarmed Wing Chun techniques and those performed with two knives. However, this does not refer to the large butterfly swords, which resemble sabers and are impractical for everyday use. Instead, the focus is on two short knives, applied analogously to unarmed movements.
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