Tan-sau

Like many things in Wing Chun, Tan-sau is trained a bit differently here and there. Some have the palm in line with the forearm and the entire angle is pointed upwards a bit, while others feel that a flat palm is more appropriate. Further still, some have a flat palm and "twist" it inward slightly so that the fingers are pointing outward a bit. Is there a "best" or "better" way?

Personally, I train Tan-sau with a flat palm because this allows for some natural tension in the forearm. And this natural tension is what allows Tan-sau to be used the way we use it. When the palm is in line with the forearm, it's somewhat easy to drive through it unless the practitioner employing it "does something" with it.

For example, last night after class, I was talking with a student about this very thing. All of the movements in Wing Chun generally don't "require" a turn of the body or a step to make the movement itself "work." If it requires "something else" for it to work, chances are that something wrong is taking place. And Tan-sau is a good example of that.

If Tan-sau has a tendency to collapse, then more than likely one of two things are occuring: 1.) Tan-sau was the incorrect movement to employ and is being overcome by the opponent, or 2.) Tan-sau is being performed incorrectly. If Tan-sau's the incorrect movement, it's a simple matter of learning more about that particular feeling or situation and employing the "correct" response. But if Tan-sau "is" appropriate yet still being defeated, then we have to ask ourselves what's happening? We need to know the "why's."

Some will employ Tan-sau against hook punches, but in my experience, it requires a great deal of training to make it work. The angle of the elbow is such that it's easy to overcome Tan-sau with a hook punch simply from the sheer power being delivered. Fook-sau, however, with the elbow slightly outward, is fully capable of handling very powerful hooks.

There are also some practitioners that feel that Tan-sau needs to be "reinforced" with the other hand in a Pak-sau like position against it; otherwise, it will collapse. To be honest about it, it doesn't. Those that train this are very good at it, mind you, so I don't want it to sound like I'm detracting from their "take" on things; however, nothing else in Wing Chun is "reinforced" with the other hand, and Tan-sau is no exception. If the concept is understood and applied correctly to the right situation at hand, Tan-sau does not require any type of reinforcement or bracing. If it does, then Tan-sau isn't the most appropriate response for that given situation.

In the end, you'll find a few variations of this most basic concept, and it can be applied in a variety of situations. Like all other concepts, though, it requires training in varied situation to understand the workings of the arm and when it is/ isn't appropriate. All things have their place; it just takes time and training to understand what that "place" is all about.