H. Sandan, Step 1-6, Ude Guruma Ushiro, Chi Sao

[HanshiClayton]

Reference: "Chi Sao," William Cheung, Finer Points of Chi Sao DVD.
Also "Chi Sao," page 126-131 of Jonathan Maybury, Ultimate Sparring: Principles & Practices], Strider Nolan Publishing, 2003.
Also "Ude Guruma Ushiro," Iain Abernethy, Bunkai Jutsu, Pinan Sandan (first cluster), Summersdale, 2006.
Also "Ude Guruma Ushiro," George Kirby, Black Belt Budoshin Jujitsu, Volume 1, Panther Productions, 1992.
Also "Defense Against Grabs," scene 7 of Wing Chun Kung Fu, Vol. 1, Fighting Principles and Concepts, Pacific Rim Productions, TC Media, Sifu Todd Shawn Tei, 2006.

Step 1-6 of H. Sandan included the two "double blocking" clusters. Except for some variations in stance, and Seito Shorin Ryu's substitution of a hammer strike for the initial inside block, everyone who studies H. Sandan (P. Sandan) performs this sequence the same way.

We are usually told that the opponent has suddenly begun doing double-punches, and we have to double-block as a result. This is a Dinglehopper. The consensus among most experienced teachers is that it is very hard to block two punches at the same time unless the attack is pre-arranged. Therefore, we need to find applications that deal with one attack at a time, or perhaps individual attacks in sequence.

Jujutsu Interpretation

On page 76 of Karate's Grappling Methods, Iain Abernethy presented his interpretation of this cluster, showing that it can be used to teach the Ude Guruma Ushiro shoulder lock and throw.

I think this is entirely appropriate for beginners. The initial inside block is used to catch the opponent's right wrist. As you step in for the "double block," grasp the sleeve of his right elbow with your right hand. Rotate his arm back into the Ude Guruma shoulder lock (elbow straight up). Continue the rotation to drop him on his back. If you want to see how to pin him on the floor as a continuation of this same technique, see George Kirby's technique 1-11 on his video set.

This interpretation uses multiple "blocks" and both hands to deal with a single incoming punch.

Chi Sao Interpretation 1

If you want to look a little deeper, however, you should investigate the Chi Sao drills of Wing Chun (and similar Southern Chinese flavors of Chuan Fa). Chi Sao is the legendary "sticky hands" infighting of kung fu, in which the fighters exchange simultaneous blocks and strikes at lightning speed. Many two-armed "blocking" techniques in the Shotokan katas look like frozen snapshots taken from high-speed Chi Sao training films.

My opinion is that the Wing Chun "soft" punches and blocks aren't as powerful as those in linear karate (not even close), but they are about ten times faster. When you spar with a Chi Sao trained individual, you feel like you have stuck your nose in an electric fan.

One characteristic of Chi Sao is an emphasis on simultaneous blocking and punching. There is also an emphasis on crossing the opponent's arms and holding them down while striking.

For instance, let's assume that the initial inside block of H. Sandan deflects a right-hand strike to the head. What will happen next? Almost certainly the opponent will try a left-hand punch.

As the left punch comes in toward your face, use your left hand to slap it away and down, and keep it pressed down at waist level. At the same time, bring your right hand up in a ura tsuki (uppercut) or uraken uchi (backfist strike) to the face.

Now he's going to try the right fist again. Continue to hold his left hand down. Use your right hand (bouncing off his face at this point) to block his right punch, slapping it out and down to cross wrists with his other hand at the waist. Keep your right hand there, pressing both hands against his belly, as you bring your left hand up to strike his face again. The exchange of hands, where your right hand takes over for your left, is blindingly fast.

In this application, the "double blocks" are really two hands dealing with a single incoming attack. This would be a very simple expression of Chi Sao technique. This is a beginner kata, after all.

This interpretation differs from the kata in one important respect: The "sticky hands" approach generally uses open hands instead of fists, and the blocking arm (the "downblock" arm) must be out in front of the punching arm (the "inside block" arm). This will annoy some Shotokan sticklers who don't understand the Shadow Principle.

No matter. There's another Chi Sao interpretation that sticks closer to the kata.

Chi Sao Interpretation 2

There is another Wing Chun technique that looks a lot like the double-block cluster. It appears in their form Biu Tze and also in their Butterfly-Knife form, Bart Cham Dao.

Seeing an incoming punch from your left, respond by doing an outside block (soto ude uke) with your right arm, and a downblock (gedan barai) with your left arm. Hold the elbows close to each other and turn the body slightly to the left. This forms one continuous deflecting surface from head to hip.

Seeing a second punch coming in from your right, do exactly what the kata does. The upper hand snaps down and the lower hand snaps up, and then turn slightly to the right. Now you have a continuous shield on the right.

The attraction of this application is that is uses two hands to block one attack, which bypasses the improbable idea that we are blocking two attacks at the same time.

Wing Chun Wrist-Grab Interpretation

Let your partner grab both wrists. Turn your right hand in and up, bring it up to shoulder level. Now strike down with your right hand against his right inner wrist, as you bring your left hand up in a palm-heel strike to his chin.

Trivial application. And they told us it must be a double block...