As a concept-driven style, Wing Chun Kung Fu can be articulated through virtually infinite combinations of movements and techniques. In order to help a student understand these underlying ideas, and express them according to their own body type and mental set, many teachers adopt varying sensitivity, precision, and fighting drills. Through this form of training and regular chi sao (or, sticky hands) practice, a student learns to react to an attack immediately and automatically with fine-tuned, effective techniques.

THE CENTERLINE - WING CHUN'S OBSESSION

One such precision and sensitivity drill introduced in this article focuses on the concept of the centerline -- the first and foremost principle of the Wing Chun system. To a Wing Chun practitioner, the centerline represents both a prime target on an opponent, and a vulnerable area to be defended on oneself. This is because the plane between two antagonists' centerlines is considered the shortest line of attack. In addition, hitting an opponent's centerline eliminates any rotational "bleeding off" of an attacker's power, thereby both increasing striking effectiveness and also pushing back and unbalancing an enemy. Some practitioners also follow the Chinese medical point of view that the vitally important Ren (conception), Du (governing), and Chong (penetrating) meridians, as well as several vital Mu (alarm) and Jiao Hui (crossing) acupoints, all fall along this line. While chi sao training constantly emphasizes the protecting and taking of the centerline, the practitioner may sometimes become too concerned with chasing or trapping hands, and lose site of Wing Chun's intrinsic regard for simplicity and efficiency. Others may be unresponsive due to the use of too much muscle and the lack of contact reflexes.

The crossed chuan sao (shoveling hands) motion at the beginning of Wing Chun's three hand forms. Many schools teach that this movement helps a student measure the centerline. The starting position for this drill originates from this opening.

Starting Position: The arms rotate so that the blades of the hands and forearms face forward. Elbows drop in medially toward the centerline slightly.

ISOLATION - A DECONSTRUCTIONALIST'S APPROACH

In order to ameliorate these problems, we attempt to isolate certain aspects of chi sao movements through various sensitivity, precision, and relaxation drills. Once such method, the Hands-Crossed Punching Drill specifically focuses on awareness of the centerline, while embracing the Wing Chun reliance on directness, relaxation, and sensitivity. In this drill, one student feeds off-center punches while another, whose hands are crossed, counters with an excluding (contacting to the outside surface of an opponent's arm) or including (contacting the inside surface) punch toward his feeder's centerline. Through repeated practice, the student will develop a perception of subtle changes in both his and his partner's hand positioning, as well as in the direction of force.
	1. With the trainee's hands in the aforementioned starting position, the feeder places his own two fists so that they occupy the center. The feeder will either punch toward his partner's facing shoulder or opposite shoulder, being certain to exaggerate the motion off of the central plane. 2a. If the feeder's punch comes in on the same side, the trainee counters with a rising including punch (contact along the inside of the feeder's forearm). The unengaged hand should return to the wu sao guard position. Note that the punch must rise slightly in order to deflect the feeder's attack. 2b. If the feeder punches toward the opposite shoulder, the receiver should use a dropping excluding punch (contact along the outside of the feeder's forearm). The other hand should return to the wu sao guard position. Note that the punch must drop slightly or else both parties' vectors will neutralize each other. NOTE: In total, a feeder has four options: right punches to the right and left, and left punches to the right and left. In all cases, the receiver should counter with the motion that meets the least resistance. Any increased pressure between the partners' arms (e.g, if the trainee attempts an including punch against a feed to his opposite shoulder)is a sign that the trainee's motion was incorrect. As students get more experienced at sensing the feeds, the feeder should reduce his attacks' deviation from centerline.

INTEGRATION - THE ROLE OF CHI SAO

Of course, taken as a singular movement, the Hands-Crossed Drill resembles the fixed, "if A, then B"-like attack-counterattack techniques prevalent in many other martial systems, and therefore becomes a "dead" drill that lacks adaptability and flexibility. Therefore, it is virtually meaningless unless integrated back into the rapidly and unpredictably changing conditions of chi sao practice so as to make the skills developed "live."	From poon sao, Will's high fook sao crosses the centerline	Sensing that Will's hands have crossed center, Angela converts her fook sao into a straight punch toward his centerline.
From Poon Sao, Angela executes an indoor pak sao with punch	Will puts up an wu sao to protect himself from the punch; however, it strays too far laterally off-center.	Sensing the wu sao is off-center, Angela turns her pak sao into an including straight punch while her other hand covers Will's other hand.

APPLICATION - WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Further, chi sao is not an end, but a means of putting Wing Chun fighting theory into motion. Just because something works in chi sao practice does not mean it will work in an actual physical exchange. Therefore, the contact reflexes and all techniques developed in chi sao should be combat-applicable lest they become a waste of training time and violate the system's adherence to economy.

	1. Starting position: Angela stands in a ready position, facing off against Will who has assumed a conventional lead stance. Note she is just outside the maximum reach of his back kick. 2. Following the Wing Chun maxim, "No hands, ask hands," Angela angles forward to her right while using a chuan sao motion to induce Will to put his hand and create a bridge.
3a. If Will's hand crosses the central plane, Angela angles to her left and changes bridges with an including punch. 3b. If Will's hand does not cross the central plane, Angela steps forward with an excluding punch.

VARIATION - ANOTHER VIEW

The Crossed-Hands Drill can be modified to include stepping, or adapted to sharpen other Wing Chun motions as well, including bong sao, tan sao, lap sao, and kuan sao. Each drill, including its integration into chi sao and adaptation toward combat would take an article in itself. However, following our style's theme of "making Wing Chun your own," the authors will leave it to you to experiment, tweak, and event variant drills of your own.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

A student of Sifu Lo Man Kam (the nephew of Grandmaster Yip Man) of Taiwan, John Kang teaches Wing Chun in the San Francisco Bay Area. He can be reached through his website at http://www.wingchun-sf.com.