AWCA Notebook

Bong-sau, or “Wing-arm,” is an action whereby an opponent’s arm making contact with the top of your arm will “roll” the arm over. Upon completion, it resembles a bird’s wing, hence the term “wing” arm.

The easiest way to ensure that Bong-sau is in the correct position is to first assume a Tan-sau (Palm-Up arm) position with the wrist on the centerline. Using the other hand, grasp Tan-sau’s wrist lightly and then roll Tan-sau over until the palm is facing the front.

During this roll, keep the shoulder down vs. “hunched” since hunching the shoulder changes the angle of the forearm to a more downward angle. If that happens, then Bong-sau loses a great deal of its effectiveness.

When complete, Bong-sau’s elbow will be level with or just below the shoulder, the shoulder will be down and relaxed, and the entire body remains in place vs. raising. I mention that because some practitioners are seen to raise their body while working Bong-sau. Not sure why, really, but naturally we never want to raise our body since this moves your center of gravity from a position that is below the waist back up into the chest.

Bong-sau is a “passive” action that is only enacted as a result of the opponent’s attack gliding over the arm rather than us assuming Bong-sau on our own. In other words, “we” would never move the arm to the Bong-sau position; instead, the opponent’s attack is what is “pushing” or “rolling” the arm to Bong-sau.

Because it is passive, however, that is not to mean that it lacks any kind of power; on the contrary, forward pressure is always present, and we would not want to remain in Bong-sau longer than necessary. It dissipates and redirects an attack, and then immediately transitions to an attack or other defense (depending on the opponent’s actions).

Bong-sau’s pressure stems from a “connection” between the wrist, elbow, shoulder and body. It is not “just” the forearm that is involved; instead, the entire body plays a role for pressing slightly inward so that the arm knows what to do and when to do it.

Bong-sau is also not a karate-type block, either. Those that assume a Bong-sau position in this manner, particularly when they lift Bong-sau upward, almost always see it being defeated. Why? Because Bong-sau was not meant to be executed in that manner.

Karate blocks require a physical action far different than Bong-sau, so “lifting” it or driving it outward without the opponent first making contact with it (and being the reason “of” Bong-sau rolling over in the first place) will always see it defeated. It is too easy to come over the top when executed in this manner, which is why Bong-sau’s pressure requires not only the correct application for its use, but also the correct energy and pressure during its use.

By training Bong-sau to be used when appropriate and combined with “how” this pressure is applied, a renewed look at this Wing Chun “seed” technique will happen.