wu sau
Wu sau or "protecting hand" is a basic defensive technique and hand position. The purpose of the wu sau is to be a secondary form of defense when your first arm is unable to defend you from your opponent's strike. The wu sau is always positioned behind the aggressive hand but with enough distance away from the body so the user does not become trapped. The wu sau actually blocks the majority of a strike's force with the wrist and absorbs the force with the elbow. The open hand is a contingency if the user cannot block with the wrist.
The key points to the proper execution of the wu sau are:
The key points to the proper execution of the wu sau are:
- Elbow is tucked close to the body but not cramped
- The wrist and hand are positioned at the center line of the body
- The wrist is engaged, cocking the hand into the vertical position
- The hand is open with all fingers straight but relaxed
- The thumb is folded and tucked into the palm of the hand
- Shoulder is relaxed and not engaged
- Requires no energy; should not feel strained or forced
At a basic level, the wu sau is a defensive measure from being hit. After obtaining a greater understanding and more practice, the wu sau is actually a great tool for scouting and obtaining information. Because the wu sau requires no energy, it is sensitive to energy from any direction, instantly tell the user where the force is coming from and where it is heading. Additionally, the wu sau can detect changes in intensity and direction of a force. For example, a Wing Chun practitioner can feel the direction and amount of force a punch has when blocking it with a wu sau. Additionally, the user will also feel when the puncher decides to draw their fist back. This information can give the user a window of opportunity to strike back.