Essentially it is a game, a game that gives you the ability to deal instinctively with forces applied to your body and also use these forces to create opportunities for striking techniques. Chi - Sao is basically a means to an end, that end being efficient practical combat sensitivity. Unfortunately many people get lost in the game, never moving past it. Many try to become masters of the game. Many try to defeat the game. Few learn the lessons the game is meant to teach and then move on.

The Skills developed in chi sao are useful in the initial clash of combat if there is arm to arm contact.

1. You try to hit me and I block or intercept it.

2. I try to hit you and you block or intercept it.

3. In the clutches, you have grabbed one or both of my arms or vice versa

As you can see this is a very limited set of scenarios?

Your training should not end with chi sao?

How do you deal with a long range fighter?

How do you deal with someone who has a stick/club?

How do you deal with someone who has a knife?

How do deal with a gun? (if the person is within arms reach)

What if you are knocked to the ground?

The Ving Tsun system contains the answers to these questions

In some cases, very directly, the answer is given to you.

In others the answers may not be part of the standard Ving Tsun canon

but using a Ving Tsun way of thinking will get you to the answer.

It cant be just an intellectual exercise,

you have to experiment, find someone to work with

and discover what the system wants you to know.

B.