The 6 Finger Strikes of Practical Wing Chun

A note on Cantonese

I use the ‘Jyut Ping’ (粵拼) Cantonese writing system as I have found it to be the most accurate. For an excellent way to learn Cantonese pronunciation, see Fluent Forever. For a dictionary see CantoDict or use the Hanping Cantonese App for Android.

INTRO

The 6 Finger Strikes of Practical Wing Chun are:

1. Palm up (hand turned out 45°)

2. Palm down (hand turned in 45°)

3. Palm down – Siu Nim Tao (hand turned in 90°)

4. Palm down – to the body (hand turned in 90°)

5. Palm to the side (hand at 0°/wrist bent)

6. Palm down (hand turned in 90°/wrist bent)

Notes:

1. 0° wrist angle = if you were holding a vertical pole

2. All strikes are from Biu Zi, apart from number 3 which is from Siu Nim Tao

3. All strikes are to the eyes or throat, apart from number 4 which is to the body

4. 1 – 4 use a neutral wrist (鏢指/Biu1 Zi2/Darting Fingers)

5. 5 + 6 use a bent wrist (插/Caap3/Stab)

6. All finger strikes can be combined with same side, outside Gam, Zat, Mang etc

1 – Palm up

鏢指/Biu Zi/Darting Fingers

Where in the Form?

1. Biu Zi 1st Section

2. After Cyun Ging (Inch Punch)

3. Before Cam Zaang (Sinking Elbow)

Notes:

1. Best for diagonal, outside (e.g. right hand to right hand) as you can use the ‘blade’ of your forearm (ulna) to control their arm

2 – PALM down

鏢指/Biu Zi/Darting Fingers

Where in the Form?

1. Biu Zi 1st Section

2. After Waang Zaang (Horizontal Elbow)

3. Before Straight Mang Sau

Notes:

1. Also best for diagonal, outside, however your elbow is slightly wider than ‘palm up’ so make sure their arm is out of the way more so you can successfully pierce through

3 – PALM DOWN – Siu Nim tao

鏢指/Biu Zi/Darting Fingers

Where in the Form?

1. Siu Nim Tao 2nd Section

2. After Fan Sau

3. Before Zat Sau

Notes:

1. Best for inside, same side (e.g. right hand to left hand) as your elbow is even wider than ‘palm up’ and ‘palm down’ so it can be used to deflect their punch

4 – Palm down – to the body

鏢指/Biu Zi/Darting Fingers

Where in the Form?

1. Biu Zi 1st Section

2. After Waang Mang Sau

3. Before 2nd Waang Mang Sau

Notes:

1. Use straight after same side Wang Mang Sau to make sure their attacking arm is safely under your Biu arm

5 – Palm to the side – wrist bent

插/Caap/Stab

Where in the Form?

1. Beginning of Biu Zi 2nd Section – Laap Caap

2. Before Doek Sau (behind your body)

Notes:

1. More power than Biu as the loose wrist means you can throw the fingers more. However since your forearm goes higher than Biu, you often can’t use it to control their arm – you therefore need to combine it with your other hand (Gam, Zat, Mang etc)

6 – Palm down – wrist bent

插/Caap/Stab

Where in the Form?

1. Biu Zi 1st Section

2. After Kap Zaang (High Elbow)

3. Before single-hand Laap Sau

Notes:

1. Same as ‘palm to the side’, however as this Caap moves to the side it is easier to get round their attacking arm

#Moves