The part where it’s a pak sao and then a sideways palm strike. Why is the pak sao so close? I never pak sao that close unless I’m late getting there. Is that the purpose?
IronFist
Hi Ironfist. I’ve been taught it close and standard distance. Both ways the explanation has been to concentrate more on snapping the elbow energy out to maintain good elbow structure, not on where the hand is… but I do find, as you probably do that the elbow gains a better structure when the pak is further.
It’s probably better to stick to the standard one, or practice both just in case!!
How’s your partner training coming on? Keep us informed!! I think even the naysayers are secretly fascinated at how you do!
pak sao close to the body
Yes, the pak sao you are talking about is close to the body. It is used when your opponent’s strike has penetrated your inside gate. In this kind of pak sao, you pak sao (hand) is vertical. The contact area is your opponent’s forearm near the wrist.
There is another pak sao as Mat has mentioned. It is aimed at the opponent’s elbow. In this case, your pak sao (hand) is horizontal. Usually, it is done together with tan sao. Example: right hand – tan sao, left hand – pak sao on the opponent’s elbow.
Park sau sau can be used either way. Ideally you would be aiming to bridge the gap before the strike has become too close. However a high and close park sau is useful against a hook to the ead when used in combination with a punch.
Regards, Stu
It is aimed at the opponent’s elbow.
I wouldn’t aim at the elbow. If they are sinking their structure through to the elbow and are focuses on you…you aint going to move sh!T.
I didn’t learn this as Pak Sao (ie., the power is not “slapping” but soft and receiving) but as to why there are two different positions in SLT (one close following the Saam Pai Fut, and one further near the end), IMHO, they serve simply to show the range of the movement, from last-moment-saving, to plenty-of-time-intercepting.
Rgds,
RR
I wouldn’t aim at the elbow. If they are sinking their structure through to the elbow and are focuses on you…you aint going to move sh!T.
I should have been more specific and should have said, “… aimed at the side of the forearm, near the elbow”. My mistake, Teebas.
The pak sao I described is used to momentarily disengage your tan sao from the opponent’s attacking arm. Once the tan sao is disengaged, you can transform your tan sao into a strike.
Ironfist, the pak can be at different distances, just like many things in wingchun, they arent always applied like in the forms. But I was told this recently about the close pak. It is close because if it gives you more time. If someone hits you and your pak catches it a little late, the sideways force of your pak, takes the wind out of the strike, and so even if they make contact, if you are doing it right, it shouldnt matter. Does that make sense?
Yeah, that makes sense.
Thanks again on this thread, everyone 
IronFist