Before Chi Sao

What To Learn Before The Sticky Hands

Yesterday, I taught Wing Chun for the first time. 
There was a newcomer and we were waiting for SiFu to come, so I grabbed the chance.

First, we all did the first form together (the little idea), and then I started explaining the principles of wing Chun, like the center line and economy of motion. 
We started doing punches in the air, first singles, then doubles, then triples, then four times. I explained how punches should come and go like pistons. 
We then proceeded to tan sao, the beggar hand, then pak sao, we did the pak sao cycle, then pak da, then tan da. 
When SiFu came, he also showed us the J step, did tan da again, and then did some drills I didn’t know. 
I felt such a beginner when he said we should always learn to do those three partner drills before moving on to our first chi sao (sticky hands) session. 
So what were the drills? 

– The opponent grabs and holds your hand with his opposite hand. So he holds your left hand with his right hand. 
Then he punches you and you block with tan sao. And then back. So far, so good. I knew that one. 
– The second drill: the opponent grabs and holds your hand, then takes a step and punches. Now normal tan sao doesn’t work. You have to turn as well. 
– The third drill: the opponent grabs and pulls your hand to their side. No matter where you end up, you have to turn and do the tan sao. 

Note: when you turn, tan sao doesn’t turn with you! It stays where it would be if you didn’t turn. You just turn your body to move your centerline away from the opponent’s punch. 

I’ve never done these three drills together before. Just the first and second one. 

But now I know these three have to be done before moving on to chi sao. 

Lesson of the day: there’s always something to learn, and by teaching it, you don’t forget it.