Chu Shong Tin Wing Chun Made Simple...

Everyone knows the basic scientific principle which is Newton's third law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. If I punch you in chest, not only do you have to deal with it,  I have to deal with equal and opposite force coming back through my fist, arm and into my body.

Where Chu Shong Tin wing chun differs from most other martial arts is that the training does not focus on 'getting the punch in', we put our focus on how we will deal with the resultant force from the punch which will come back into us. Relaxing our bodies, finding connections and releasing tension allows force to be absorbed by the whole mass and into the floor. Simply put, when you release your own arm into a tan sau it is not the movement of the arm that is so important it is how the body deals with the resultant  pressure from your toes to the top of the head as well as the arm.  The whole body is involved in every movement, it affects your balance and your relationship with gravity. 

At first it is a slower way to learn, but once you have made a series of breakthroughs it has the potential for producing enormous power with little effort. Whilst others may develop quick techniques from their first lessons, without the support of a relaxed body the crude alignment  behind their moves will not stand up to a stronger opponent. 

If you have not experience this, it may make no sense as it is counterintuitive. It is hard to explain to someone with previous wing chun experience  that you do not 'do' a  bong sau, you relax and release into yourself and the point of contact, and as a result either you can strike or the bong sau happens. There is no concious decision or contrived technique involved.  It is easier for a teacher to sell the idea of a technique than educate that the technique has no validity unless it is a result of a process undertaken  within yourself.

If you have a punch bag, hit it. But remember that for training purposes it is not how far the bag moves that is important it is how the bag is moving you. Work that out and the bag will soon be swinging with seemingly little effort on your part.