Ving Tsun Training Tips — Solo Drills — Wu Sao / Man Sao

Ving Tsun Training Tips — Solo Drills — Wu Sao / Man Sao #

Wu Sao and Man Sao are Ving Tsun's rear and forward guarding hands, respectively. Together, they form a dynamic guard, employed to protect the body from incoming forces. To be effective, both arms must at all times keep up constant forward pressure, as well as their distance from the body.

Crucial to understanding both Wu Sao and Man Sao is the fact that “Sao”, meaning “arm” or “hand” is a verb, not a noun. Thus, both Wu Sao and Man Sao are motions, not static positions.

The Wu Sao is thrown forwards to intercept and knock aside incoming energy. It can also be used to redirect energy while shortening the arm. Both application are made more effective by a rotation of the body. Man Sao works much like Wu Sao, but ends up in the forward, instead of the rear position.

Wu Sao has two end positions: on the center, and on the outside. Which one is used depends on the context: where is the opponent in relation to my own position? Likewise, Man Sao has two starting positions: it can come from the outside, as well as from the center.

Normally, there is a flowing interchange from Wu Sao to Man Sao and vice versa. Wu Sao and Man Sao can also flow into many other techniques: Wu Sao usually covers the other arm's motion, be it a punch, palm strike, Jam Sao, or Bong Sao. Man Sao often flows into a quick punch after having replaced the opponents arm.

In this video, we'll go over a number of basic drills to learn and understand the Wu Sao and Man Sao motions:

1. Wu Sao from a stationary position. Observe the end position of Wu Sao, as well as the rotation of the arm.

2. Wu Sao while shifting the body. Make sure your end position stays the same. This is the same Wu Sao you normally train with your Bong Sao.

3. Wu Sao alternating with Bong Sao. Make sure to first have your Wu in place before you perform the Bong. Observe how the change from Bong to Wu shortens the arm and how the Wu starts at distance.

4. Wu Sao with a low strike. Make sure the Wu actively pushes forwards to guard against an attack coming over your strike. Observe how the Wu-strike can flow into a Bong-punch.

5. Wu Sao's alternative end position. Take a look at the Lap Sao drill to understand the outside Wu Sao position.

6. Wu Sao with a horizontal palm strike. Observe how the Wu's end position anticipates and guards against the opponent's next move.

7. Wu Sao supporting the Jum Sao. Using the outside Wu position, as Jum always goes over the opponent's attack. Train it with shifting and stepping.

8. Man Sao from a stationary position. Comes from the outside and takes the center.

9. Man Sao with shifting. Observe how both arms alternate between Wu Sao and Man Sao — like on the wooden dummy. Practice the Man Sao with shifting and stepping. Let the Man Sao flow into the punch.