Blue Sash

中间徒弟 水平二
Zhōngjiān Túdì Shuǐpíng Èr
5th Grading – Intermediate Disciple Grade 2

Upon graduation, the student will be awarded a

Blue Sash

Continuing on their path through the intermediate stage, this is the point at which the student approaches the halfway mark in the succession of the gradings. On earning a Blue Sash, however, they do well to remember that due to the continually increasing demands of our comprehensive syllabus, this constitutes just 35% of their total journey.

Until now, kicks have been mostly rather simple in relation to those explored by these later grades. However this is a good time in the student’s progress to bring this area on and push forward into greater things. This grading builds on existing stepping patterns, stance and weight distribution, etc to begin kicking with new methods and angles, also introducing turning kicks for the first time. This should only be begun once the student is fully competent in the initial kicking skills of course, which is why spinning kicks are not introduced until this point. Coupled with some further development of elbow striking, as well as some less conventional striking methods that are extremely useful in close quarters, the Blue Sash student has a formidable understanding of complex striking methodologies.

Defensive strategies take a very strategic turn here with 托手 Tok Sao (Lifting Hand), 圈手 Huen Sao (Circling Hand), and 拦手 Laan Sao (Barring Arm), all of which are very useful in very specific applications, are featured heavily at this stage, as well as supported blocking, which offers a whole new level of efficacy. While the Wing Chun hand methods above have very specific application, supported blocking has a very broad range of efficacy, providing the student at this level with a balanced and very effective approach, in line with our Simultaneous Parry and Strike Principle.

This grade also introduces some methods to prepare the student for groundfighting, both in terms of dealing with violence while on the ground and also – crucially – for getting back up from the ground quickly and safely while dealing with the violence hurled at us on the way. 腕絡 Ude-garami (Standing Americana), 逆腕絡 Gyaku-ude-garami (Standing Kimura) and catching kicks feature heavily during the standup game, while on the ground students become familiar with a number of basic positions and holds, as well as how to pass and escape from them. In terms of throws, 大腰 O-goshi (Major Hip Throw)
and 腰車 Koshi-guruma (Hip Wheel) are the main players at this stage.

In 轻功 (Qīnggōng – Agility and Mobility) these skills are given more context, as the student continues to develop the skill of vaulting over obstacles in escape, as well as rolling sideways when doing so forwards and backwards are impossible.

In addition to the 五步拳 Wǔ Bù Quán form, students now also incorporate the first four movements of 八段錦 Bā Duàn Jǐn – Eight Shining Brocades: 托天式 Tuō Tiān Shì (Two Hands Hold Up the Heavens), 开弓似 Kāi Gōng Shì (Drawing the Bow), 单举似 Dān Jǔ Shì (Separating Heaven and Earth), and 枭后似 Xiāo Hòu Shì (Wise Owl Gazes Backwards).

器械 Qìxiè (Weapons Training) sees the student at this stage learning how to apply our S.C.A.R. Protocol to dealing with being attacked with long sticks, such as staffs and tools with long handles.