Wing Chun Kuen's approach to its purely martial application is most likely best expressed and understood through the system's maxims. They show in a very clear and unmistakeable way how to deal with a physical threat:
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If there is no obstruction in our line of attack, then we strike immediately according to the saying of ‘Lat Sao Jik Chung’ (1) which roughly translates as ‘Free hand strikes straight forward’ and this implies that ‘The shortest distance between point A and point B is a straight line’. Additionally, we use the equally important concept of ‘Strike the nearest target with the closest available weapon’. The main objective is to eliminate the opponent as fast as possible. In order to achieve this, it is best to take the initiative without hesitation in the sense of ‘pre-emptive striking’!
If our way is not free to attack according to ‘Lat Sao Jik Chung’ or we didn't succeed in taking the initiative, then the maxim of ‘Loi Lao Hoi Soong’ (2) comes into play, which means ‘Stay with what comes and accompany what goes’. It the case that we can't apply ‘Lat Sao Jik Chung’ or have failed to do so, then we obviously need a problem-solving and efficient strategy to overcome this. The solution lies in ‘Chi-Sao’ (‘sticky hands’). Chi-Sao is a sensitivity exercise.
Chi-Sao, based on the Wing Chun forms, teaches the student to react intuitively and spontaneously according to the circumstances without interference of the intellect which allows the response to be instantaneous. On the other hand, if the brain (intellect) were to be involved in the reaction process, then this would clearly take up too much time for a response to be effective in a combat situation. In Chi-Sao the student learns how to flow and blend with an attack instead of clashing with it. The Wing Chun trainee is taught to turn the incoming force back onto the aggressor himself through redirection. At the same rate as the redirection of the attack comes into effect, as much our own counterattack gets initiated and thus we have simultaneous defense and attack.
Please, understand that the subject Chi-Sao is too vast a topic to be covered in an explanatory text. And even if attempted, it would be a futile undertaking from the very beginning since Chi-Sao needs to be physically experienced in order to truly understand its sophistication.
There are 3 more maxims which are of utmost importance in this context:
‘Kuen Yao Sum Faat’ (3), ‘Dim Dim Chui Ying’ (4) and ‘Cham Jang Sao Jong’ (5). These are all supportive concepts of the first and second-one, but have equally deep meaning in their own right. All 5 maxims relate to each other and complement one another. Because of their simple wording, they might be underestimated and taken lightly. However, the beauty lies exactly in their simplicity! And this can only be understood and appreciated through actual practice. Therefore, in-depth explanation of these proverbs should be given in accordance to the individual's level in Wing Chun Kuen.
Chi-Sao shows us how to Read, Understand and Redirect an attack; the Redirection resulting in the Simultaneous Attack to render the opponent incapable of any further hostile action.
Moreover, by practising persistently, we strive to come to a state of mind where the distinction of ‘self’ and ‘other’ ceases to exist. - If we truly understand this process, it becomes clear, that in the end IT IS NOT US WHO DEFEATS THE OPPONENT, BUT IN ACTUAL FACT HE HIMSELF!
