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Bong Sao, the Transitional Position
Material is based on the Wing Chun- Book of Concepts – A guide to the Core Concepts of Wing Chun
There are four main hands in Wing Chun, some say three but I think I have a strong case to say four. There is Bong Sao (wing Arm), Taun Sao
(Giving/Serving Hand), Fuk Sao (resting Hand) and Jut Sao (Chopping Hand). All of these positions move and rotate off the fixed or immovable elbow
position.
The Immovable elbow is another major concept in Wing Chun. The elbow is positioned so that it faces the ground. This gives the practitioner
maximum protection of the rib cage. It also is also positioned so that the distance from the on guard stance with the elbow being approximately one
fist distance away from the rib cage, while being only 3-4 inches away from the practitioners’ target.
----Wing Chun, the Book of Concepts – A guide to the Core Concepts of Wing Chun
Sifu Brian Spiegel
The bong sao is considered a temporary position because it is not that structurally sound. Therefore, it raises the question, why would Wing Chun
have such a position as a staple in its arsenal? To answer that question we need to understand that the position is transitional.
Bong sao, temporary and not structurally sound - does not mean that the position has no strength too it. On the contrary, there are rules to the bong
sao just as there are rules to everything we practice. Bong sao if done properly has some resistance but because the arm is extended out from the
shoulder as show in figure 1 below, it has no leverage. Thus, an arm laid on top of it would become heavy and overpowering very quickly.
That is why when in bong sao the hand can either transition into a different, more dominate position or it can be a lead as the body rotates to either
the left or right and allows you to spring board off that position to strike your opponent and causing your opponent to loose control of your and his
centerline. Refer to figure 1 – 3 for more detail.
Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3
When learning bong sao I always make sure that my student is well versed in taun sao and fuk sao first. Some teachers like to teach bong sao in
transition from the taun sao. I find it much easier to teach the proper mechanics of bong sao form the fuk sao position. If you observe the photo
below figure 4 -5, you will notice that the bong sao is merely a rotated fuk sao. The arrows of figure 4 represent that the elbow does not move
backward or forward nut simply swivels upward and downward on an axis.
If you are having trouble figuring out how to get into the correct bong sao position try positioning your hand in fuk sao, then without changing your
hands position simply rotate your elbow upward. You will find that your hand if done properly is in the correct position. A good way to practice this
exercise is in front of the mirror. Picture an imaginary circle around your middle finger while only standing a few inches away from the mirror. As you
begin to rotate your elbow upward try keeping that middle finger inside the imaginary circle. When this exercise is done correctly you will notice you’re
your middle finger barley moves within the circle. although it appears from the pictures above that your arm made a drastic movement your hand and
arm really did not move much at all, that’s because the elbow has never changed its position but only rotated upward and downward.
Figure 4 Figure 5
About the author:
Sifu Brian Spiegel was born and raised in Brooklyn N.Y. At the age of fourteen, he began studying karate and achieved his second-degree black
belt. Like many of his friends in the neighborhood, he spent much of his time trying his best to stay out of trouble. By the time he was twenty years
old, a large majority of his friends that he grew up with were either in prison, dead, or trying to be a member of some organized crime family. Realizing
he needed a little direction and a way out of his neighborhood, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve.
Upon completion of his military training, he returned home and enrolled in Brooklyn College, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy.
During his time in college and beyond, Brian had met and was studying Wing Chun Kung Fu in Flatbush, Brooklyn under the tutelage of one of the
United States most prominent instructors, Master Alan Goldberg. Brian was Master Goldberg's chief instructor for several years. After twelve years of
studying under Master Goldberg’s strict guidance, he was awarded his instructor ranking (sifu) and given permission to teach Wing Chun Kung Fu.
Brian moved to Florida a few years later, and became a Law Enforcement Officer. He currently teaches Wing Chun in a semi private group in the city
of Clearwater. He is recognized in the, Lau Wai Wing Chun family as being the top ranked student/Sifu under Master Alan Goldberg, and was given
the honor to be Master Goldberg’s only student awarded the Wing Chun Bart Chum Do blades (Butterfly Swords). Presently, Brian is passing on his
Sifu's tradition by teaching Wing Chun kung fu to a very select handful of students. Brian Spiegel is the author of Wing Chun, the book of Concepts
(2009) and coming this summer the wooden Dummy set.
Sifu Brian Spiegel currently teaches Wing Chun Kung Fu in Florida - for further information about his school please visit our website at http://www.
kungfuexchange.com. Sifu Brian Spiegel is the author of Wing Chun, the book of Concepts – A Guide to the Core Concepts of Wing Chun (2009,)
and also coming this summer the, Wooden Dummy Set, a full revised version of the Yip Man, 116 wooden dummy movements.
For further information about rooting and centering or other various core concepts of Wing Chun, you can purchase a copy of Wing Chun, the book of
Concepts – A Guide to the Core Concepts of Wing Chun (2009) at our online store.
For further information about our school please visit our website at http://www.kungfuexchange.com.
Copyright 2009 (c) All rights reserved
Kung Fu Exchange, Clearwater, Florida
Material is based on the Wing Chun- Book of Concepts – A guide to the Core Concepts of Wing Chun
There are four main hands in Wing Chun, some say three but I think I have a strong case to say four. There is Bong Sao (wing Arm), Taun Sao
(Giving/Serving Hand), Fuk Sao (resting Hand) and Jut Sao (Chopping Hand). All of these positions move and rotate off the fixed or immovable elbow
position.
The Immovable elbow is another major concept in Wing Chun. The elbow is positioned so that it faces the ground. This gives the practitioner
maximum protection of the rib cage. It also is also positioned so that the distance from the on guard stance with the elbow being approximately one
fist distance away from the rib cage, while being only 3-4 inches away from the practitioners’ target.
----Wing Chun, the Book of Concepts – A guide to the Core Concepts of Wing Chun
Sifu Brian Spiegel
The bong sao is considered a temporary position because it is not that structurally sound. Therefore, it raises the question, why would Wing Chun
have such a position as a staple in its arsenal? To answer that question we need to understand that the position is transitional.
Bong sao, temporary and not structurally sound - does not mean that the position has no strength too it. On the contrary, there are rules to the bong
sao just as there are rules to everything we practice. Bong sao if done properly has some resistance but because the arm is extended out from the
shoulder as show in figure 1 below, it has no leverage. Thus, an arm laid on top of it would become heavy and overpowering very quickly.
That is why when in bong sao the hand can either transition into a different, more dominate position or it can be a lead as the body rotates to either
the left or right and allows you to spring board off that position to strike your opponent and causing your opponent to loose control of your and his
centerline. Refer to figure 1 – 3 for more detail.
Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3
When learning bong sao I always make sure that my student is well versed in taun sao and fuk sao first. Some teachers like to teach bong sao in
transition from the taun sao. I find it much easier to teach the proper mechanics of bong sao form the fuk sao position. If you observe the photo
below figure 4 -5, you will notice that the bong sao is merely a rotated fuk sao. The arrows of figure 4 represent that the elbow does not move
backward or forward nut simply swivels upward and downward on an axis.
If you are having trouble figuring out how to get into the correct bong sao position try positioning your hand in fuk sao, then without changing your
hands position simply rotate your elbow upward. You will find that your hand if done properly is in the correct position. A good way to practice this
exercise is in front of the mirror. Picture an imaginary circle around your middle finger while only standing a few inches away from the mirror. As you
begin to rotate your elbow upward try keeping that middle finger inside the imaginary circle. When this exercise is done correctly you will notice you’re
your middle finger barley moves within the circle. although it appears from the pictures above that your arm made a drastic movement your hand and
arm really did not move much at all, that’s because the elbow has never changed its position but only rotated upward and downward.
Figure 4 Figure 5
About the author:
Sifu Brian Spiegel was born and raised in Brooklyn N.Y. At the age of fourteen, he began studying karate and achieved his second-degree black
belt. Like many of his friends in the neighborhood, he spent much of his time trying his best to stay out of trouble. By the time he was twenty years
old, a large majority of his friends that he grew up with were either in prison, dead, or trying to be a member of some organized crime family. Realizing
he needed a little direction and a way out of his neighborhood, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve.
Upon completion of his military training, he returned home and enrolled in Brooklyn College, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy.
During his time in college and beyond, Brian had met and was studying Wing Chun Kung Fu in Flatbush, Brooklyn under the tutelage of one of the
United States most prominent instructors, Master Alan Goldberg. Brian was Master Goldberg's chief instructor for several years. After twelve years of
studying under Master Goldberg’s strict guidance, he was awarded his instructor ranking (sifu) and given permission to teach Wing Chun Kung Fu.
Brian moved to Florida a few years later, and became a Law Enforcement Officer. He currently teaches Wing Chun in a semi private group in the city
of Clearwater. He is recognized in the, Lau Wai Wing Chun family as being the top ranked student/Sifu under Master Alan Goldberg, and was given
the honor to be Master Goldberg’s only student awarded the Wing Chun Bart Chum Do blades (Butterfly Swords). Presently, Brian is passing on his
Sifu's tradition by teaching Wing Chun kung fu to a very select handful of students. Brian Spiegel is the author of Wing Chun, the book of Concepts
(2009) and coming this summer the wooden Dummy set.
Sifu Brian Spiegel currently teaches Wing Chun Kung Fu in Florida - for further information about his school please visit our website at http://www.
kungfuexchange.com. Sifu Brian Spiegel is the author of Wing Chun, the book of Concepts – A Guide to the Core Concepts of Wing Chun (2009,)
and also coming this summer the, Wooden Dummy Set, a full revised version of the Yip Man, 116 wooden dummy movements.
For further information about rooting and centering or other various core concepts of Wing Chun, you can purchase a copy of Wing Chun, the book of
Concepts – A Guide to the Core Concepts of Wing Chun (2009) at our online store.
For further information about our school please visit our website at http://www.kungfuexchange.com.
Copyright 2009 (c) All rights reserved
Kung Fu Exchange, Clearwater, Florida
