Cross hands

--By Derrick Ho
A wing chun fighter is most comfortable when his right arm is in contact with his opponents left arm  and when his left arm is in contact with his opponents right arm.  The reason for this is because the the arm positions are complementing each other.  However, there is a situation where the wing chun man has his right arm touching his opponents right arm OR has his left arm touching his opponents left arm.  This is called Cross hands.

Cross hands are difficult because it becomes a competition of speed and endurance.  If you are in cross hands, no one wants to deviate from the center.  The center is neutral but keeping the fight there is a game of strength and endurance.  My advice to you is to get out of cross hands as soon as you discover that you are in it.

Below are some techniques that can be used to get out of cross hands and on to a superior position. (NOTE** because left and right cross hands are symmetrical, these examples will cover right hand cross hands where you and your opponents right arms are touching)


Pak da Lap da

Hero		Image		Villain
left hand	right hand		left hand	right hand
wu	tan		wu	tan
pak	strike & step
cut or strike	lap

Lap da Pak da

Hero		Image		Villan
left hand	right hand		left hand	right hand
wu	tan		wu	tan
cut or strike	lap
pak	strike

Double lap sau head control

Hero		Image		Villan
left hand	right hand		left hand	right hand
wu	tan		wu	tan
lop elbow	lop wrist
grab chin
pull head to waist level