A seminar with Grandmaster Ho Kam Ming 何金銘
(part 4)
Biu Jee
After demonstrating the Biu Jee set master Ho inquired, "Does anybody perceive any difference in this Biu Jee set?" After a few moments the discussion shifted to questions concerning the "Buddha Palms" at the end of Biu Jee. In this movement both hands form a prayer and dip down; as the hands press upward the body rises. The hands then open over the head and swing back returning to the prayer position. This is repeated three times and the set closes. There were no kicking techniques at the end of this Biu Jee set. Sifu Fong interjected--these are the basic forms and certain details have been omitted.
Question: Because of the Wu Sau's or single Buddha Palms in Siu Lim Tau, I thought the first form was once known as Saam Bai Fut or Three Bows to Buddha. Could you comment on this?
Master Ho: It's the Three Buddha Palms at the end of Biu Jee which are Saam Bai Fut. Saam Bai Fut is not associated with Siu Lim Tau; it's a technique of Biu Jee.
Question: What's the meaning of this motion?
Master Ho: Let's assume you're falling forward, losing your balance and someone is trying to strike you from above. Your hands go up first to regain your balance; this motion then opens above the head to deflect incoming attacks. Remember, when you learn the forms, don't practice them too fast. Perform them slowly, one by one. Learn to control your motion, control your center of gravity. It's best to practice slowly and to be aware of your moves. At the beginning, if you practice the movements too quickly, you'll lose everything, you won't develop correctly. In the Buddha Palm technique, if you perform it incorrectly, if you don't think about where the hands are placed, when and how the body comes up, if you miss the timing of this motion--instead of blocking you may get hit on the head. In order to time this correctly you open the hands after you are up. You must feel and control the motion; practice it slowly. When you get used to the motions, you can perform them faster.
Question: Is there some relation between the Saam Bai Fut and a Buddhist element here?
Master Ho: That's only the name for the motion. People say, ah, it looks like you're worshipping the Buddha. But there's nothing significant in this.
Question: Near the beginning of the Biu Jee set, you wiggle the fingers after the Huen Sau and before you close thefist. What is the purpose of this?
Master Ho: This allows you to relax your muscles and wrist. When you turn the hand (Huen) and squeeze, you tighten up the muscles of the arm. Thus, you never have a chance to relax the muscles. This motion allows you to relax the whole hand before going on to the next move. I bet you've never seen anyone perform Biu Jee with this motion. This particular motion, Yip Man taught me only. I doubt if you will see this motion elsewhere.
Question: What's the meaning for the snapping hand (Jut Sau) at the beginning of the set?
Master Ho: This develops wrist power. In this way you can generate snapping power from only a short distance. (Here master Ho asked why in the Buddha Palm, at the end of the set, the hands actually come a little behind the body?) You see, the purpose for this is to regain you center of gravity. The main thing is to keep your balance.
Question: What's the application for Fak Sau (Whisking Hand)?
Master Ho: Fak Sau can be used as a type of "asking hand." When someone's hand is in the way, you can use this motion to break open the centerline. In the form, Fak Sau is performed sideways, but in application it is executed forward.
Question: At the beginning of the Buddha Palm motion, what's the purpose of leaning and dipping the hands forward?
Master Ho: This motion assumes you're losing balance. That's why you make yourself go down in this manner.
Question: What's the meaning of the term Biu Jee?
Master Ho: A lot of people think Biu Jee (Shooting Fingers) is for attacking people. But the real meaning behind Biu Jee is not really attacking. Biu Jee promotes and develops many emergency techniques.
Question: Is one of the main purposes of Biu Jee for close fighting? Many of the motions seem to be quite large.
Master Ho: For example, Gwai Jong (Diagonal Elbow) is used like this--you feel and then use it. Like Bong Sau, you don't use it from the outside.
Question: So are most of the motions of Biu Jee for in-close fighting?
Master Ho: They are mostly for emergency use.
Question: After you execute the Biu Sau technique, you turn and chop. Here, you execute the chop with the elbow bent. Why is this?
Master Ho: If the elbow is down, the hand will be solid. For example, with the hand fully extended, the hand is weak. If you keep the elbow in, it's stronger and you can cover yourself.
Question: What's the correct position of this chop? Is it like the Taan Sau?
Master Ho: It's a little bit higher, but according to your own structure. The flowing power from this technique is chopping in, it's not going outward like a Taan Sau. Do you know why you use this kind of motion? Say you're fighting someone in front of you and you're attacked also from the side. Here, you turn and chop to cover yourself. That's called an "emergency technique." If you turn and face the attacker, it's too late. You simply turn and strike. In application, wherever your hand is, that's where you attack from. If it's up or out here, that's where you start your attack; don't come back to the center and then punch. In the beginning, when you practice the basics, you come from the center. But in application, if your hand is here, that's where you start from. If your hand is down, you punch from there; don't bring it back up and then punch. If my hands are down like this, and you punch me, it's too late to bring my hands up--just block from there. (Master Ho executed a long hand wrist snap--Ding Sau.) In this way you save time.
Question: Why are there Fok Sau techniques in Chum Kiu and then Jaam Sau techniques in Biu Jee? These motions look similar, why is this?
Master Ho: Any motion that comes from below is Fok Sau; but from the top is Jaam Sau. For example, from Fak Sau (Wisking Hand), you execute Jaam Sau, etc.
Question: Why in Chum Kiu set, from Fun Sau (Horizontal Chop), do you execute a Fok Sau technique? Fun Sau is a high position and then you execute a Fok Sau. Why is this?
Master Ho: In Fak Sau (in Biu Jee set), the elbow is up, therefore you simply go down into Jaam Sau. In the Fun Sau motion, the elbow is already down, it's low, so you just bring it in--Fok Sau.
Question: If the Biu Jee set makes your fingers strong, why loosen them up in the way you described earlier? Wouldn't it be best to develop iron fingers?
Master Ho: Remember, Biu Jee (Shooting Fingers) is not really for hitting people. Many people think this. This motion you are asking about loosens up the wrist--not the fingers. Anyway, if you think Biu Jee is that way, it's already like that in Siu Lim Tau.
Question: Developmentally, don't you want the wrist strong and tight. Why loosen the wrist?
Master Ho: When you try to make it strong like that, it's not strong--it's stiff. If you want it strong you need to be flexible. If the wrist is stiff, it will break easily; you may break your hand if you hit something. Do you know why when practicing Wing Chun forms we don't use much muscle? In the beginning, if you can control your muscles and motion, if you can develop that ability, this is good. If you can control your power and motion, later you can weight lift with good results. But if you lift weights before you can control your muscles, then you become too stiff, you become like a robot. You won't really be able to apply power.
Question: So, just to make sure I understand this correctly, you never strike with the finger tips?
Master Ho: This is not for hitting, this is for emergency use.
Question: Can you use finger techniques once you are already close?
Master Ho: For example, (from Gwai Jong), if you just use the hand to shoot out, it's not enough. After you touch your opponent's hand, you shoot your hand in and step forward--slide the fingers to the throat. This technique you can apply to the throat. (Master Ho demonstrated a Biu Jee to the throat from a Gwai Jong position). Before, I wasn't allowed to teach this technique. But now, I let this information out, but this isn't so you can go out and fight with people.
Question: What's the right time to applysuch finger strikes?
Master Ho: The timing is based on your opponent and his movement and position.
Question: Are there any knee techniques in the Biu Jee?
Master Ho: The leg and knee techniques come after the Dummy form. Right now, we're studying Siu Lim Tau, Chum Kiu, and Biu Jee. This is still the basic foundation. Until you can do this right, you can't improve your level.
Question: What's the correct position of Gaan Jaam Sau (Upper/Lower Chop)?
Master Ho: Gaan Jaam is applied with the turn of the body, just go with the body--don't emphasize power. Gaan Jaam Sau is an emergency motion. This clears the area from the head to the groin. Sometimes you don't know where you're being attacked--what section, the head, chest, etc. Use the Gaan Jaam technique. By the time you touch the hand and block, then you know what to do next.
Question: So, is using a punch in most cases better than using a Biu Sau?
Master Ho: A straight punch is for attacking on the line. Just punch. But Biu Jee Sau (Shooting Fingers) is for regaining the line. If I have you trapped, you have to regain your line to attack. Here, you can use Biu Sau to regain the line first.
Question: After Turning Elbows, at the beginning of the form, you then repeat almost the same motion omitting the Stepping-In Elbow (Tor Ma Gwai Jong). Why is this?
Master Ho: The first set of turning elbows develops flowing from one elbow to another. In the second, your elbow drops and you immediately get away from that situation.
Question: What's the application of the Huen Sau/Pak Sau motion in Biu Jee?
Master Ho: If the power is coming in too strong, I can't block it. (Master Ho showed how to deflect a punch with a hooking Huen Sau). So, I just hook the punch away; this is an emergency technique. For example, if the punch is too close, if you can't block, you can use your body to circle the attack out. Use your structure to deflect the punch. It's just like a bullfight; you move slightly and the bull passes you by. That's why in Wing Chun, you use technique. If a stronger force comes in, use your technique to deflect the opponent. Don't use muscle.
Question: What's the correct order to learn the forms? Do you learn the Biu Jee first and then Mok Yan Jong? How should one learn the sets?
Master Ho: The right way to learn is this: after the three forms, then you learn the Wooden Dummy set. You learn step by step--after the three forms, you learn Mok Yan Jong.
Question: What's the application of Biu Jee Ma or circle stance (Seung Ma)?
Master Ho: When your opponent moves toward you, then you can circle around his leg. Also remember this, if you're standing forward and you punch out--this is only "hand power." If you use your stance when you attack, you can discharge the opponent more effectively. The stance and hand technique, when combined, is much better. In ordinary technique, people just use the hands. People don't know how to employ the stance to destroy an attackers center. In Wing Chun Kuen, if you can use the stance and hands together, you can destroy the opponent and his center of gravity.
Question: If the opponent's foot is not in the way, do we still use the circle stance (Seung Ma)?
Master Ho: It's not necessary.
Question: Why does the circle stance in Biu Jee return to the Yee Jee Kim Yeung Ma position? Why doesn't it move forward?
Master Ho: The idea is that the foundation is built step by step. Before you perform moving stances, you must be able to find your center of gravity. It's the same as learning the ABC's before being expected to write a composition.
Question: If there's a Gaan Jaam Sau in Biu Jee, why is there no Quan Sau (Rolling Hand)?
Master Ho: You already have that at the beginning of the form, when you roll up from the cross hand position. That's a rolling hand (Quan Sau). You already have that principle; there's no need to repeat it.
Question: What's the most important motion in Biu Jee?
Master Ho: All the motions in Biu Jee are important.
Question: What's the most important concept in Biu Jee?
Master Ho: The main thing is that Biu Jee is for emergency use.
Question: What's the correct position for the Gwai Jong (Vertical Elbow) technique? Exactly what is the line of attack?
Master Ho: The elbow should come straight down.
Question: Does the back of the hand touch the chest?
Master Ho: It should barely touch, don't press the hand against the chest.
Question: Why is the hand open and in this position?
Master Ho: The hand is open for protection. Also, if you don't loosen and open the hand, you can't use the elbow. If you make a fist, you can't swing the elbow down.
Question: Is there any thumb techniques hidden in Biu Jee set?
Master Ho: No, I've never learned anything like that. If you know some perhaps you'd like to teach me.
Question: What's the rising Pushing Hand (Pow Sau) for in Biu Jee?
Master Ho: This motion is executed upward in the form, but in application, you use it low--a low palm. This motion stretches the muscles and teaches one to generate elbow power.
Master Ho asked, "Do you know why you have to swing the Fak Sau technique all the way down and then up?" Fak Sau, when necessary, clears one's entire area. This is an emergency technique. In the old days, martial artists usually fought very low to the ground. (Master Ho showed how a fighter, crouching low, attacks inward using a low blow). If you shorten the Fak Sau motion, you miss the block; you miss the lower section. Fak Sau swings down and then up. In this way, everything is cleared.
-Compiled and edited by Curt James
Included courtesy of Wing Chun Chinese Martial Arts Association
