How much forward pressure should someone use?I know u need to have constant forward pressure in order to have the spring effect but one of the sayings of wing tsun is not to fight strenght with strenght!!!
for example when i do chi sau and i am giving a lot of forward pressure my partner or instructor says im too tense and using strenght but when i am all soft i find that my reflex reactions bong sau etc is more sensitive but i lose that spring effect and i really want to have the spring effect.i.e when my partner moves his hand away i dont hit automatically my hand is still in a bong/tan sao shape!!!
so now im real confused is the forward pressure more of a mental thing?
or is it it very light forward pressure?
where does thge forward pressure come from?elbows?sinking of structure etc?how do u remain relaxed whilst at the same time giving forward pressure?
forward pressure is not purely a mental thing. you need to be light in your rolling of your hands so that they are relaxed and “springy” w/out being too light that you aren’t guarding yourself properly. Yet you cannot put too much forward or downward force b/c your partner will be able not only to feel every attack coming but also deflect your forward pressure and beat the ehll out of you 
try this: during a chi sao session, ask your partner to randomly shift his stance. If you pitch forward, you are leaning too much.
The fook sau should cover his bong and tan snugly but without constricting his hand. You just follow with contact but in a loose way. You let yourself be guided by his hand while you try to maintain your proper positioning such as elbows in. Try not to tense up your shoulders or elbows as that makes your hands too tense.
it’s hard to explain like this. you have to see and learn from fellow students and your instructor. you’ll improve with practice so don’t worry about the pressure right now. instead concentrate on proper positioning as bad habits now will be very hard to change later. the “feel” you can always change but positioning is toughter when you get it wrong
Give and take
Hello,
Chi Sau can be played with various types of pressure. Forward pressure, a lot of it, serves one purpose. A very light touch will aid in sensitivity. However, one approach which I have been exposed to and which has some merit, IMO, is to have a bit of give and take.
What I mean by this is that when doing the transition from Taun to Bong or vice versa, I will allow my wrist to come in towards me slightly, not draw back but respond to the opponents pressure. Once a certain point is reached I will then extend my wrist back towards my opponent. It is a bit hard to explain but reveals itself clearly in practice. Basically, you are drawing your opponent in. If he takes the bait and comes forward you take advantage of his forward intent, if he does not then you give a little forward intent to him. This is a good way to retain your sensitivity and also to explore your own structure in Chi Sau.
The key in Chi Sau is not so much how much or how little pressure you exert but how sensitive you are to changes in this pressure and the pressure given by the opponent. You should be “listening” not actively worrying about using a certain amount of pressure or force.
Just an opinion 
Peace,
Dave
Here’s a visual that helps us in my kwoon - think about how a regular screen door works. If you push it, it gives but doesn’t fall back; if you let go, it closes again without slamming. That’s the combo of “sticky/springy” we try to have.
IRONMONK
the trick is in your elbows. keep them relaxed but structured. when anyone’s strength or pressure is acting upon your arms. allow your elbow to respond like a spring. this prevents you from giving too much pressure to the point of rigidness, and lets you hit upon your opponents’ release. ENJOY!
What Roy said. 
Relaxation, and to pry from the elbows is the key, not the hands or shoulders. Your opponent should be afraid to let go, to break contact to go around you, because doing so will result in an immediate hit.
And remember Lut Sao Jit Chung should be done with the whole body, if a person breaks contact and goes out of fist range, your kick should be as springy as your elbows, straight to the knee or groin.
Relaxation, and to pry from the elbows is the key, not the hands or shoulders.
I wish my first WC instructors had been as competent as you guys! Maybe I wouldn’t have problems with my shoulders today.. :mad:
While the elbows are important, they are only one link in the chain. The elbows need to be coordinated with the feet, the knees and the pelvis. In order for a spring to compress, it’s base must be stable. Similarly, in order for my body to act like a spring for the incoming force, my base must be stable i.e. rooted. Once rooted, the harder the opponent presses in, the harder he presses into the ground and not just my body. Leaning into your opponent or using the shoulders and arms to apply constant forward pressure will develop bad habits and limit one’s potential IMHO.
Dzu
wing tsun is not to fight strenght with strenght!!!
~IRONMONK
Yeah, I also agree with Dzu. The pry should come all the way from the floor, via the hips and elbows. We put less emphasis on the knees, however. Without a decent stance, your forward pressure would tend to be just arm strength.
I think the way I was taught is to initially concentrate the forwardness in the elbows, as it is easier to maintain a relaxed forwardness in the arms rather than the whole body. Trying to pry from the whole body at first might result in too much tenseness. Your mileage may vary
regards
Frank
Much Help!
I would like to say thanks for all the great post on this thread. This is one issue that I am dealing with right now and all your help is greatly appreciated.
See what you can do if you put all of your collective knowledge together.
This is the reason for this forum…
Frank Exchange, Dzu, Martial Joe
Exactly!!!
Nicheren, thank you for the complement.
IRONMONK, there is a fine line between forward pressure, and fighting strength with strength. One has to experiment, on how much is too much forward pressure. Enjoy!
I love doing Chi Sau with the girls in my class. I find that us guys push too hard against each other creating a lot of friction on th wrists.
Maybe it’s not true at your school, but try Chi Sau with the women, their soft nature enhances the excersices.
My $0.02, late.
Couch