KerwinBenson.com Hidden Gems of Martial Arts

For those of you who like chi sao (sticky hands, from wing chun), I have a few more suggestions. In the past, I have written about practicing chi sao in a swimming pool, and also practicing while on your knees.

Do you think of sticky hands, or even push hands from tai chi, as being a form of sparring?

Or is it always laboratory work for you with a partner?

When you limit one aspect of your normal technique, I feel it makes you compensate with your other talents. Your body gets creative.

In the previous examples, if good footwork is one of your skills, then fighting from your knees eliminates your advantage. You are forced to rely on precise positioning and the limited movement of just body turns without the footwork.

Are you a fast mover? Do you rely on speed to make your techniques effective?

Try chi sao in a swimming pool. The drag of the water slows down all of the techniques. Being in a pool also has an interesting effect on your low center of gravity.

Chi Sao In a Box

How about standing in a box?

Get a cardboard box. You'll have to experiment with size. I'd start with a box to a computer monitor or a medium size TV.

You want to be far enough away from your partner, who is going to climb in the box with you, that you can both roll in the beginning chi sao or push hands movement.

Quarters may be a little cramped, but you can still make the hand game work.

If you can't find a big enough box -- no, a refrigerator box is too big on its side -- then you could get two smaller boxes, say the size that holds ten reams of paper.

Each of you stands in a box, at the normal chi sao distance.

Personally, I prefer the small mobility allowed by having both of you in one bigger box. But you use what you have.

Would you like some other limiting ideas?

Could you both fight in a large hula hoop?

Doing chi sao blindfolded or with your eyes closed is a natural -- it's really the main point of the exercise.

Hmmm. What else could we do?

How about trying chi sao on roller skates? Or with both of you on skateboards?

If you find yourselves pushing each other backwards, then you haven't yet developed your energy to a more 'sophisticated' level.

Not to brag, but not only have we done chi sao on skateboards, but we have fought while balancing on bowling balls.

Wow, I just got an interesting idea.

We'll touch hands for a game of chi sao. The difference is that the post will be between us.

It will be interesting to see what we gain gain from fighting with an obstruction right in a direct line to our targets.

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