What is bong sau?

[fightingfat]

Can you define bong sau? What is it? How does it work? What are its' characteristics and what makes it different? What are its' weaknesses? What do you like or dislike about this technique?

 

[jfarnsworth]

We're talking about the block right?

 

[fightingfat]

So you think it's a block then do you??

 

[Flying Crane]

So you think it's a block then do you??

a-ha! sounds like your initial question was really just a setup and no real question at all. Please, enlighten us.

 

[fightingfat]

Well spotted! I was trying to provoke a discussion So come on- what do you think about bong?

 

[Blindside]

I have always particularly disliked the unasked for Socratic method....

Lamont

 

[Flying Crane]

Well, it is no new innovation to say that a block can be a strike, and a strike can be a block. Most arts recognize that.

In my experience bong sau is taught as a block, but I have heard of people using it aggressively to actually break an attacker's arm with it. My sifu's classmate did this to a guy.

On its base level, it is a block, but when understood more deeply, it can be a devastating strike.

 

[ed-swckf]

Can you define bong sau? What is it? How does it work? What are its' characteristics and what makes it different? What are its' weaknesses? What do you like or dislike about this technique?

Its a parry, although you often see it static, its purpose is not to stop and move into the next move. It works by using correct energy to feed other techniques of which there should be limitless variations - at least limitless to type out here. I can't think of a weakness itself in its idea and principle but maybe in certain ways of using or misusing the shape.

 

[Flying Crane]

I can't think of a weakness itself in its idea and principle but maybe in certain ways of using or misusing the shape.

One idea that comes to mind is that your ribs are open during the execution of the bong sau. Of course any time a technique is used, you will be open somewhere, so this is not unique to bong sau.

 

[jfarnsworth]

I have always used it as a block. I suppose you could use it as a strike against the elbow. I just might have to try it.

 

[samurai69]

In its first instance it was taught to me as a block , but then later it becomes more of a fail safe, a sort of back up block, also the shooting out of it can be part of an arm bar/elbow break variation

many things.........yet nothing


also as part of a sticky hands exercise


:jedi1:

 

[ed-swckf]

One idea that comes to mind is that your ribs are open during the execution of the bong sau. Of course any time a technique is used, you will be open somewhere, so this is not unique to bong sau.

Yeah but that would depend on how and when you use it, i mean if you use a right hand bong sau on the outside of a left punch you are exposed but the opponent has no way of exploiting that in that moment. And like you say you will be open somewhere but its a perfectly valid point if you do find yourself exposed like that and hence the teaching of moving to a better position when you find yourself like that.

 

[yipman_sifu]

A Bongsau is a passive move that works for controlling energy that comes toward you (opposite to Tansau). It is like most people already said used for continuing with fluid movement to regain the center position again.
The Bongsau we execute in our forms is different that it looks really fancy and nice. A real application Bongsau would be much more down and little elbow raising. It is by what we know as the "Wing Arms technique".

 

[ed-swckf]

"Wing Arms technique".

So do you think if you get good enough at wing chun, when you bong sau you could fly?

 

[jfarnsworth]

A real application Bongsau would be much more down and little elbow raising. It is by what we know as the "Wing Arms technique".

More of a yielding, block type of application if I read it how you posted your comments?

 

[Jenna]

One idea that comes to mind is that your ribs are open during the execution of the bong sau. Of course any time a technique is used, you will be open somewhere, so this is not unique to bong sau.

A good point! As I recall working the Bong Sau, we used the opposite arm high or low to protect the face or the ribs as necessary.

I'd be interested to know how to use as a strike - I've never seen that but am always keen to learn...

Yr most obdt hmble svt,
Jenna

 

[Robert Lee]

Forarm elbow block or wing block Bong sao. But its more of a defelting parry that can defelct and set up for a lop sao grabbing hand A trap or a counter move. Any movement be it strike or deflction you have a opening Its put of the game. how well you protect your openings is how well you see beyond 1 move. You can coiunter a bong with a lop and forarm press But you can also flow on beyond it with a yield of your strike But agin thats skill and training Bong is a deflecting parry type block common training in wing chun ,Jun Fan and different stages of JKD Blocks or parrys are used to not get hit or to be able to hit But not used to just do either As you hit evade hit agin Then only when need do you block or parry Just as trapping you trap to remove so you can hit never trap to just trap

 

[fightingfat]

I would definitely agree with the definition of a parry. Also it is only strong as it goes forward, once this motion is complete, it is weak and collapses- would you agree?

 

[ed-swckf]

I would definitely agree with the definition of a parry. Also it is only strong as it goes forward, once this motion is complete, it is weak and collapses- would you agree?

I don't think that indicates weakness, like i said the bong sau never stops, it continues on into the next motion. Like once its taken something off the line and parried it you are right that it then colapses from being a bong sau but its actually showing its strength in its ability to become flexible and turn into something else. If you look at it in a different way the bong sau doesn't really collapse, the bong sau has done its job and when it no longer needs to be a bong sau then it collapses or changes to the next motion. If the bong sau collapses with an attack still on your line then something is wrong. Its just one way of looking at it but its like a punch - on the way to its target its a punch, when its done its job its no longer a punch and is in fact a retreating hand (unless of course you are reusing it at its distance travelled to that point). Same in case with the bong sau, theres a point when its just moving to its next shape and no longer needing to be a bong sau and fill that criteria of being one.

 

[fightingfat]

Great points! I agree!