"Wing Chun Sam Do Tan Bong Fok." This Wing Chun saying states that the most important techniques in Wing Chun are the Tan Sao, Bong Sao, and Fok Sao. These three techniques form the basis of all Wing Chun blocking. Tan Sao, Bong Sao, and Fok Sao are found in both Sil Lum Tao and Chi Sao or sticky hands. Each technique forms a "family" of blocks that are related and used in different situations. When applied individually, all three techniques come from the center of the Vertical and horizontal mother line.

(Three illustrations showing each) From this position the three techniques can touch an opponent’s incoming force and dissolve it like a drill action.

Tan Sao is the "mother" of all positive (or attacking) techniques that are executed with the thumb side of the hand. Tan Sao is an active or "yang" technique. Tan Sao family techniques can be used to attack. Tan Sao follows the immovable elbow line. Some confuse this to mean that the elbow is rigid and does not move. However, the elbow is not stationary. It can move back and forth from the body following the line formed by the shoulder, elbow, and wrist.(illustration)

The term "immovable elbow line" refers to the fact that the elbow does not swing from side to side, laterally in front of the body.(illustration)

When Tan Sao is held in the proper position, an opponent standing directly in front of the Wing Chun practitioner will be able to see his palm. (Illustration)

The palm is straight and flat, the fingers are held together, and the thumb is cocked in and held against the top side of the hand. The thumb position is very important to proper execution of Tan Sao, which can control the tension of the palm. By holding the thumb in, a natural tension helps build a solid foundation (also called "solid ground") to catch an opponent’s incoming power. Holding the fingers (as well as the thumb) together helps maintain the proper structure and allows the Wing Chun practitioner to control an opponent’s force. Holding the thumb and/or fingers open or in a relaxed position is incorrect.

(Two Illustrations)

If the thumb and fingers are open, there will not be the natural tension to catch the incoming force. If one is lucky enough to actually block the technique, more strength is needed. If the thumb and fingers are relaxed, the tension will be in the wrist and not the palm. This position will also have little power to execute the technique.

Bong Sao is the "mother" of all negative (or blocking) motions. It is a passive or "yin" motion. All passive motions are in the Bong Sao family. Because it is a passive motion, Bong Sao cannot stop in that position when it is executed. It must immediately move back to Tan Sao or some other position. Wing Chun does not stop in a passive position; only when in an active or attacking position can the motion be stopped.

The Bong Sao family motions use the little finger side of the hand to execute the techniques. In Bong Sao itself, the palm faces the opponent and the fingers are held loose and relaxed (the opposite of Tan Sao). The elbow forms a 135 degree angle with the wrist lower than the elbow and the elbow higher than the shoulder.(illustration)

The wrist is in the center of the body. The palm must face the opponent in Bong Sao. Even if everything else is in the correct position, without the proper palm position, the technique is not Bong Sao.(illustration)

In this position, the proper natural tension to deflect an opponent’s incoming force is not there. Plus, the executor of the Bong Sao could be hit with its own hand.

It is also important that the thumb hang loose in Bong Sao and not be cocked in. (Illustration of improper position)

With the thumb loose, the natural tension and power will be on the little finger side of the hand in the direction of the opponent’s incoming force. If the thumb is cocked in, the power will be on the thumb side, away from the opponent’s force and towards the practitioner.

Fok Sao is the "mother" of all blocking techniques that use the palm. This would include controlling, pushing, grabbing, etc.(illustration)

Fok Sao is between Bong Sao and Tan Sao in that it is neither active nor passive. Fok Sao is always in motion and this makes Fok Sao very important. Fok Sao, Tan Sao, and Bong Sao when used together, form the Wing Chun triangle structure. This triangle structure can best be seen when two partners are practicing Chi Sao.(illustration)

In sticky hands, Tan Sao forms a forward vertical motion, Bong Sao a forward horizontal motion, and Fok Sao a drilling motion. The combination of the three techniques along with the rolling motion of the hands forms a cone in drilling action, (Diagram) Which is the basic foundation of Wing Chun hands techniques for fighting.This cone, in turn, drills forward toward the other person. Without Fok Sao there would be no drilling motion and no structure to carry the drilling motion. Fok Sao, being between Tan Sao and Bong Sao, allows for the transition from one motion to the next. In other words, to go from Tan Sao to Bong Sao in sticky hands, the hand must first pass through Fok Sao. The same is true for the return from Bong Sao to Tan Sao.

Finally, Tan, Bong, and Fok are the three mother motions of all the Wing Chun hand techniques. They all started at the center of the intersection of the vertical and horizontal mother lines, which separates the body into four gates. All the Wing Chun hand techniques will be based on the direction of the motion and the part of the hand used. That will fall on which category of Tan, Bong, or Fok and name differently.

This lecture has touched upon the main or "mother" techniques of the three groups or "families" of techniques found in the Wing Chun system. Future lecture will explore each family in greater detail. Specific techniques and their application will be covered.