Fill the Gap

Chum Que means "seeking the bridge", but what does that mean?  Well I've always attributed this to closing the gap, meaning closing the space between yourself and your opponent, and I'm sure most people have this interpretation.  It's a very important part of combat, and one that translates through all schools.

Out-fighting is somewhat physically different than being connected with your opponent already, like when you start your chi sau drills, but the mentality is the same.  Keep your focus moving toward your opponent and keep your center line/wedge theory.  If someone kicks, kick it.  When someone punches, punch their punch.  Put an amount of energy into your counter to dissipate the necessary energy for their attack to move through.  If they're much stronger than you, your punch/kick will move you out of the way.  If they're weaker, your attack will push them off balance and allow you to follow attack, but there is something here that's tough to consider.

Once you have made contact with your opponents attack, you must move your feet.  It makes sense in battle to maneuver your forces away from the most powerful front of your enemy.  The same can be said in any martial art. Why would you face your opponent straight on, when you can move around their side?  Part of closing the gap is choosing a side, and then moving there when you've made your contact.

When doing chi sau with my students the other day, I thought of another aspect of, "seeking the bridge." The best punches hit without trying to.  Your spring and structure should guide you through any gaps left by your opponent, but how do you seek these gaps?  You cant make them happen or your intention is revealed, and you can't stand still or you'll never find a gap.

With this in mind, I thought, "why not focus on the gaps and try to move my punches into them?"  It works.  A good drill to try is to do lap sao with your training partner.  One person plants their feet, and the other person, while chain punching, steps into an area where their chain punches move around their partner's.

What a good way to show people how to attack! You're not trying to hit your opponent.  You're trying to keep your form.  It shows that when you're off your center line, you create gaps for your opponents, and it shows how you can find someone's gaps just by moving your feet.