Sticking hands

(Doan Chee Sao)

Written by Sifu Ian Garbett

Demonstrated by Sifu Ian Garbett, Alan Newitt and Steven Radeck

In the sparring set, unique in the practice of Wudang Weng Shun Kuen "sticking hands" is to maximise dynamic speed through sensitive reflexes of the bridges.

To quote a maxim from TaiJi Master Wang Chung-Yueh "Hit your opponent the moment he hits you". The meaning of this is simply, the moment you feel his intention to attack, you strike first.

Acquisition of the constant "springing forward" of energy, driving the contact reflexes practiced in this drill will develop par excellence sensitivity so that any action of your opponent will be detected from his transmitted vibrations.

Doan Chee Sao is not an intended fighting drill, think only in terms of the drill as a nucleus to teach correct placement of the bridges and the realization of your opponents ever changing emptying and filling: when the flowing of the chi energy goes forwards and backwards, making you one with your opponent as you oscillate from one movement to the other; all the time honing your skills. Never fight to win, consider only how you might loose, "Eyes to focus on the triangle during practice.

Sticking hands is often referred to as "asking hands" in other words the bridges are inquisitive to your opponent’s response.

Included in the classic Wudang Weng Shun Kuen set is six movements of the arms, touching (lightly) with correct focusing of the attacks an important discipline.

  1. Open Hand Block
  2. Vertical Palm Attack
  3. Wing Arm Block
  4. Monkey Hand
  5. Drop Elbow Block
  6. Vertical Punch

One-man drill - Sticking Hands

(Doan Chee Sao)

1
 2
3
  1. Prepare the basic position
  2. Hand brought forward in open hand block
  3. Vertical palm attack
4
 5
  1. Wing Arm Block
  2. Return to open hand block
  3. Then repeat this through steps 2 to 5 two more times
7
 8
9
 10
  1. Open hand block changes to Monkey Hand 
  2. Exercise drop Elbow Block 
  3. Vertical Punch 
  4. Monkey Hand 
  5. Then repeat this through steps 7 to 10 two more times 
  6. Alternate Hands 

Two Man Drill - Sticking Hands

(Doan Chee Sao)
  1. ‘L’ and ‘R’ face each other in the basic position. ‘R’ extends right arm in open hand block, ‘L’ places his left arm over in a monkey fist hand position    (photo 1)
  2. ‘R’attempts right vertical palm  (photos 2-4)
  3. ‘L’ is "sensitive" to this move and parries with drop elbow block  (photos 2-4)
  4. ‘L’ attempts a vertical punch  (photos 5-6)
  5. ‘R’ is "sensitive" to the movement and counters with a right hand wing arm block.  (photos 5-6)
  6. ‘L’ and ‘R’ return to the basic position in step 1. Repeat two more times then alternate.  (photos 7-9) 

1
 2
 3
4
 5
 6
7
 8
 9

When this practice has been preformed many times the next stage is changing hands. That is in photo 1 ‘R’ s right open hand block circles anti-clockwise around ‘L’ wrist to become Monkey Hand. ‘L’ left Monkey Hand becomes a Wing Arm Block, the change completed enables the sequence to continue.

The arms are touching throughout the exercise.
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