Green Sash

中间徒弟 水平一
Zhōngjiān Túdì Shuǐpíng Yī
4th Grading – Intermediate Disciple Grade 1

Upon graduation, the student will be awarded a

Green Sash

This is an exciting time for any student. This grading marks the point at which they are officially among the ranks of the 中间徒弟 (Zhongjian Todai) – the Intermediate Disciples. It is important to remember that the beginners’ learning is never far from the mind of a good practitioner at this stage: you never leave the basics behind. “Basics” does not refer to things which are inferior. The term refers instead to the building blocks which form the foundation of everything. Far from inferior, they are essential in every sense of the word. At this level, the gradings begin to take longer than previous gradings did. Beginner’s gradings can be undertaken in one session, however at this stage there are simply so many more points to be graded on that it becomes impossible to cram a grading into one standard session. Sometimes, venue and commitments permitting, we might extend the training time to start early or finish late, but often the grading will take place over a period of time rather than in just one session.

This stage is when the students’ sparring turns a page and develops. By now, the student will be well-versed in various forms of partner work, from the beginnings and often isolated resistance provided by the initial 碌手 (Luk Sao) stage to the eventually more freeform 单黐手 (Daan Chi Sao) and 双黐手 (Seung Chi Sao), being Single and Double Sticking Hands. They will also have more freeform sparring experience of touch sparring and open-handed sparring, as well as slow-motion sparring which is biomechanically accurate (in the same style as commonly practised in Russian martial arts). By now, however, students have started to put on protective gear and spar with speed, force and intent together. That’s not to say that we’re in the business of smashing each other about regularly! Like any other skill and drill, we build up in small steps with safety as our guide. Padded sparring is medium-contact at this stage. Students at this stage also participate in “Back to Back” sparring on the ground.

At this stage the student begins to learn more powerful striking methods, notably the devastating first set of elbow strikes, and some further development of their arsenal of knee strikes. Defensively, students at this stage start to explore much more challenging but rewarding methods than the parrying they are used to, with their first introduction to head movement (slipping) and using shoulder rolls when things go wrong.

问手  Man Sao (Asking Hand) and 护手 Wu Sao (Protecting Hand) provide the correct context for movement and anchor the roots of the beginner firmly in correct Wing Chun form, working as a refinement of “The Fence”. 耕手 Gang Sao (Cultivating Arm) and 揿手 Gum Sao (Pressing Hand) also feature notably at this stage, heralding a new chapter in 擒拿 Qínná, or Biomechanical Manipulation. The Green Sash student enjoys a greatly increased syllabus in biomechanical manipulation, escaping from more challenging positions of disadvantage and using powerful locking techniques such as 立ち脇固 Tachi-waki-gatame (Standing Armbar), 腕関節 Wan-kansetu (Straight Armlock) and 逆腕関節 Gyaku-wan-kansetsu (Reverse Straight Armlock). The student also learns more powerful takedowns to build on from their prior knowledge, including 踵返 Kibisu-gaeshi (Ankle Pick), 朽木倒 Kuchiki-taoshi (Single-Leg Takedown) and 双手刈 Morote-gari (Double-Leg Takedown). Showing a good, working understanding of the Rooting Principle is thus essential at this stage.

The curriculum of 轻功 (Qīnggōng – Agility and Mobility) at this stage further develops existing skills while incorporating more demanding elements of landing from higher falls.

Students at this level move on with their study of 五步拳 Wǔ Bù Quán – the Five Fundamental Stances – to put the stances together and demonstrate their ability to transition between them through the complete form.

One of the most striking changes to a student’s training at this stage is a much heavier emphasis on 器械 – Qìxiè (Weapons Training), requiring students at this level to understand and use our S.C.A.R. Protocol for dealing with armed assaults using blunt weapons such as a short stick, including the use of disarming techniques.

All in all, this is a very significant step up from previous training and knowledge. At once, the student gains confidence in knowing that they can deal with more situations, and deal with old ones much more effectively now, but also they are reminded that they are not yet even half-way through the path. Confidence coupled with humility is what serves a Green Sash well.